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Generic Viagra: Side Effects and Where to Buy It Online in 2023

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Generic Viagra (sildenafil) is an alternative to the branded Viagra drug that can be used for treating erectile dysfunction (ED). It’s now sold by many manufacturers, including online pharmacies like Roman, Hims, and Lemonaid.

  • Best generic Viagra service with clear and transparent pricing:Roman | Skip to review
  • Best for generic Viagra and other sexual health-related products:Hims | Skip to review
  • Best for generic Viagra and other health and wellness medications:Lemonaid | Skip to review
  • Best price for generic Viagra when bought in bulk:Optum Store | Skip to review

If you are experiencing the symptoms of erectile dysfunction (ED), you may have considered using Viagra or a similar ED medication as a possible treatment.

But if you’ve searched for places to buy Viagra online, you will have no doubt noticed its price tag, too. Since Viagra is a brand-name medication, the price of Viagra is very high and may not currently work within your budget.

Thankfully, a generic version of the popular medication — sildenafil — is now widely available from a number of different drug manufacturers at a fraction of the cost. But with so many different providers out there, it can be a challenge researching which companies or online services you can trust.

To help clear things up, we took a closer look at many of the top services that can prescribe and ship sildenafil directly to your home so that you can have the facts you need to get your ED treatment started.

While some of what’s sold as generic Viagra online is fake, several reputable companies sell sildenafil online. Each of the companies below has been vetted by our team for medical and business standards. Learn more here.

Best generic Viagra service with clear and transparent pricing

Roman Sildenafil

Healthline ‘s review

Roman is a telehealth company that focuses on treatment for ED, including generic Viagra (sildenafil). With Roman, you can make online and in-person doctor’s appointments and get your prescription filled and refilled.

Roman offers the following ED treatments:

Sildenafil is available through Roman by prescription in 25-, 50-, 100-mg pills and ranging in price from $4–$10 per dose. Brand-name Viagra is also available through Roman in 25-, 50-, 100-mg pills for $90 per dose.

Pros & cons

  • A licensed doctor in your state can meet with you and prescribe ED medication over a video call.
  • Roman’s website has a side-by-side pricing page for easy comparison.
  • Treatment options for premature ejaculation are also available.
  • The price of ordering medication through Roman might be higher than similar medications covered by insurance.

Product details

  • Delivery time : 2 business days
  • Prescription needed : yes
  • Accepts insurance : no
  • Location availability : available in the United States
  • Price per dose : $4–$10
  • Returns : no returns on prescription medication
  • Shipping : free shipping

Best for generic Viagra and other sexual health-related products

Hims Sildenafil

Healthline ‘s review

To purchase medication from telehealth company Hims, you’ll need to fill out a health questionnaire, which is then reviewed by an on-staff doctor.

The company offers the following ED treatments:

Sildenafil is available through Hims by prescription in 25-, 50-, 100-mg pills starting at $4 per dose. Brand-name Viagra is also available through Hims in 25-, 50-, 100-mg pills for $139 per dose.

Pros & cons

  • Scheduling online doctor consultations and receiving a prescription can all happen within 24 hours of sign-up.
  • Medications are shipped to your home.
  • Premature ejaculation treatments are also available.
  • Doctor’s visits are limited in scope and not great for addressing larger health concerns.

Product details

  • Delivery time : 2–5 business days
  • Prescription needed : yes
  • Accepts insurance : no
  • Location availability : available in the United States (Alaska and Hawaii included)
  • Price per dose : $3–$10
  • Returns : no returns or refunds
  • Shipping : free shipping

Best for generic Viagra and other health and wellness medications

Lemonaid Sildenafil

Healthline ‘s review

Lemonaid is a telehealth company that offers a wide range of services. You can connect with a doctor online without having to take time off to go to an in-person appointment.

The company has a mail-order pharmacy that allows you to get meds delivered straight to your door. The downside, though, is that they don’t take insurance — even for non-ED drugs.

Doctors can prescribe the following ED treatments:

Sildenafil is available through Lemonaid by prescription in 20-mg pills for $2 per dose. Hims and Roman doses of sildenafil begin at 25 mg, which means that Lemonaid may be an option for people who find that a 25 mg is too much.

Pros & cons

  • Online doctor video calls are available and Lemonaid covers a wide range of medications focusing on men’s and women’s health, hair loss, and mental health.
  • There’s a small consultation fee to meet with a doctor.
  • Consultation fee and prescriptions are not covered by insurance.

Product details

  • Delivery time : 2–3 business days
  • Prescription needed : yes
  • Accepts insurance : no
  • Location availability : available in the United States
  • Price per dose : $2
  • Returns : no returns on prescription medication
  • Shipping : free shipping

Best price for generic Viagra when bought in bulk

Optum Store Sildenafil

Healthline ‘s review

To purchase generic Viagra (sildenafil) and brand-name Viagra through Optum Store, you must fill out a questionnaire, upload a photo ID, and provide a recent blood pressure reading. The results will then be evaluated by a licensed physician in the United States who can determine if sildenafil could treat your ED symptoms.

Optum Store offers the following ED treatments:

Sildenafil is available through Optum Store by prescription in 20-, 25-, 50-, 100-mg pills. Optum Store allows for bulk ordering in a 30-, 90-, and 180 day supply. The price will vary based on the size of your order. The price per dose can cost you less than $1 each if bought in a larger monthly supply.

Brand-name Viagra is also available through Optum Store in 25-, 50-, 100-mg pills starting at $80 per dose if purchased in bulk.

Pros & cons

  • Free online consultation and free shipping on medications.
  • Medications arrive within 5 business days and can cost less than $1 if purchased in 30-day to 180-day supplies.
  • Only two insurance plans are accepted, so you likely won’t be able to use your insurance for a reduced medication cost.

Product details

  • Delivery time : 5 days
  • Prescription needed : yes
  • Accepts insurance : limited number of carriers accepted
  • Location availability : available in the United States
  • Price per dose : $1–$6
  • Returns : no returns on prescription medication
  • Shipping : free shipping

Sildenafil citrate (sildenafil), often referred to as “generic Viagra,” is the same active ingredient used in Viagra. Viagra also contains small amounts of inactive ingredients. These ingredients give the pill its form and make it easier for your body to metabolize them.

One of the primary causes of ED is a buildup of the phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) enzyme that restricts blood flow to the penis and prevents or lessens the firmness of an erection. Sildenafil works as a PDE5 inhibitor, which blocks the effect of PDE5 and allows more unrestricted blood flow — making an erection more likely.

How do PDE5 inhibitors work?

Sildenafil doesn’t cure ED. It treats ED symptoms. Likewise, sildenafil doesn’t cure pulmonary hypertension (PH) — elevated blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs and in the right side of the heart. It just helps control blood pressure in the arteries in the lungs.

Sildenafil is in a class of medications called PDE5 inhibitors. These drugs restrict the action of phosphodiesterase enzymes, which break down cyclic guanosine monophosphate. This is a type of molecule that relaxes smooth muscle tissue in the body, such as those in the blood vessels that allow the penis to become erect. Taking sildenafil improves circulation by helping the arteries relax enough to fill more easily with blood.

Sildenafil is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, reaching a maximum concentration in about 1 hour for most users. Generic Viagra, like other PDE5 inhibitors, can cause a drop in blood pressure. If you take medications for blood pressure control or tend to have low blood pressure, ask your doctor if it’s safe to use sildenafil.

Sildenafil doesn’t trigger an erection on its own, nor does it increase sexual desire. Sexual stimulation is still required. However, for most healthy people, sildenafil can make an erection easier to get.

A 4-year study published in 2007 found that sildenafil is generally safe to use over the long term. Other data pulled from clinical trials in 2016 noted that sildenafil is effective without severe side effects regardless of age.