Is Viagra Available Over The Counter?

September 22, 2020

4 mins

Viagra® is the most popular and widely used medication for erectile dysfunction (ED) globally.

And while it’s been available for over 20 years in the U.S., Viagra® requires a prescription written by a medical doctor. Viagra® (sildenafil) is not available over the counter (OTC).

Getting a prescription for Viagra® may sound daunting for men with ED, an issue that most guys don’t readily discuss, but the reality is that it’s not as hard or expensive as you might imagine. In many cases, you don’t even need to see a doc in person to get a Viagra® prescription. 

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Quick Facts About Viagra® OTC

Viagra® (sildenafil) is not available OTC.

Viagra® (and generic sildenafil) require a prescription from a medical doctor in the U.S.

None of the other effective, FDA-approved ED meds like Cialis® (tadalafil) or Levitra® (vardenafil) are OTC either.

Can You Find OTC Viagra®?

Medications are regulated in the U.S. by the Food and Drug Administration, an enormous government body tasked with overseeing the accessibility of medications so that Americans get effective and safe products. 

It’s one of the most respected regulatory bodies in the world, considered the gold standard globally for evaluating healthcare interventions.

Viagra® (sildenafil) is a prescription medication, meaning the FDA requires that a licensed U.S. physician evaluate and recommend this solution by writing a prescription that can be filled by a pharmacy. You cannot buy Viagra® (sildenafil) over the counter (OTC).

Five years ago, a Viagra® prescription required a visit to your family doctor, then a visit to the pharmacy to pick up your medication. 

Today, telehealth is making that much simpler. 

With platforms like Rex MD, you can be evaluated by a physician remotely, often without the need for a video or even phone call. In most cases, a medical questionnaire and a blood pressure measurement is enough for a physician to evaluate whether ED meds are a good fit for you. From there, they can write your prescription and have it filled by a mail-order pharmacy that specializes in delivering prescription medications anywhere in the country. 

Telehealth has made generic ED meds available almost anywhere and with minimal effort. No more scheduling a doctor visit. No more driving to the office and sitting in a waiting room. No more stopping at the pharmacy every month for refills. And no more big doctor bills.

Rex MD is a trusted provider of telehealth solutions, and we’re making prescription medications easy for men to access with generic ED pills available online affordably and simply. 

Do OTC ED Pills Work?

Over-the-counter ED meds do exist – but they’re poorly tested and often lack the safety and efficacy rigors required by the FDA.

Two of the OTC remedies you may see (often at gas stations, of all places):

Red Ginseng for ED

Red Ginseng is an herbal supplement long rumored to help with the symptoms of ED. One meta-analysis of human studies found that red ginseng may have a beneficial effect in ED, but concluded that the “quality of the primary studies were too low to draw definitive conclusions. Thus more rigorous studies are necessary.”

Horny Goat Weed (epimedium) for ED

Horny goat weed refers to a variety of herbs that are sometimes used to treat ED by, theoretically, improving blood flow. Epimedium, the active part of horny goat weed, is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. This is also how medications like Viagra® and Cialis® work, though epimedium extracts have so far proven less potent and less effective. The use of horny goat weed supplements and other nutraceuticals is so far unproven. 

Two issues with many of these OTC products is the lack of transparency and the potential for contamination. Products brought in from overseas have been known to contain trace amounts of all sorts of things, sometimes including real, FDA-approved medications (like sildenafil). While that may help them "work", it could also be dangerous as they lack any oversight from regulators like the FDA. In 2019, the FDA took action to warn the public about one of these supplement makers. 

With Rex MD, you don’t have to worry about buying Viagra® over the counter; now, you can have generic ED meds delivered right to your door with the safety of a doctor's assessment and prescription.