Erectile dysfunction used to only be experienced by older men. But recent studies suggest that an increasing number of younger men are going to healthcare professionals after experiencing some symptoms of erectile dysfunction (1).
Fortunately, a lot of treatment options are now available to address the condition. Viagra was released in 1998 as the first FDA-approved oral medication for treating erectile dysfunction.
Since then, it has proven its benefits through several clinical trials (2), which made it a blockbuster hit not only among men suffering from erectile dysfunction but also among those who need a little help with their sexual performance.
With rumors that Viagra can increase libido and endurance in the bedroom, the little blue pill became so in demand that a movie was even created around it.
But for men who don’t have the budget to pay as much as $75 per pill, generic Viagra is the next best option. But what does generic Viagra look like?
How Did Viagra Come to Be?
Viagra was discovered by accident. Pfizer researched the drug Sildenafil initially for treating hypertension, but it ended in failure.
However, researchers discovered that while Sildenafil couldn’t lower blood pressure, male patients administered the drug had an unusual yet welcome side effect, improved erections (3).
Pfizer conducted another set of tests focusing on the sexual effects of the drug and soon applied for a patent naming the drug Viagra.
Why Are There so Many Fake Viagras in the Market?
With the immense popularity of Viagra, the black market started seeing a lot of counterfeit products claiming to treat erectile dysfunction (4).
This trend grew, even more, when Pfizer’s patent of the product ended in 2018, 20 years after it was created.
This is because the Medicine and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) only grants a company an exclusive license of a product for up to 20 years, after which other companies are going to be allowed to sell the same kind of medication.
With the growing number of counterfeit Viagras in the market, it’s very important to ask the question: what does generic Viagra look like? This will allow you to know whether you’re buying an authentic drug or a fake.
What Does Generic Viagra Look Like?
There is such thing as generic Viagra. These products contain the same active ingredient Sildenafil, which means that they may have the same effects as Viagra, but they’re a lot cheaper (5).
But why do they cost less than the one made by Pfizer? For one, these drugs may not be intended specifically for erectile dysfunction. Some are developed for hypertension and other medical conditions that are somehow related to erectile dysfunction, which is why they’re cheaper. You also don’t need to pay for the brand of the drug, which adds to the cost.
Think of it like buying designer clothes where you have to pay more because of their popularity but you’re still getting almost the same quality as generic products.
The actual Viagra is a diamond-shaped blue pill with the initials “VGR” inscribed on one side and the dosage—25, 50, or 100—on the other. But this color, style, and shape are all patented by Pfizer, so you can’t expect to find it in other similar pills.
The generic Viagra, on the other hand, would look like an ordinary pill and may also be a lighter shade of blue or white. Instead of the “VGR” inscription, you’ll see “SL” on the tablet.
