Medically reviewed by: Thomas Fischer (Pharmacist). This article has been written according to strict guidelines and medical standards. More InfoThis content is based on the current state of medical knowledge. All information has been carefully researched and sources are listed at the end of the article. Our articles meet a high quality standard. Our goal is to present medical topics in a comprehensible language.
Medically reviewed by: Thomas Fischer (Pharmacist) More InfoThis content is based on the current state of medical knowledge. All information has been carefully researched and sources are listed at the end of the article. Our articles meet a high quality standard. Our goal is to present medical topics in a comprehensible language.
If you’ve ever purchased Viagra, you know it can be costly. When it first came out in 1998, it cost about $60 a pill, and the price has not changed much since then. Generic versions of Viagra were authorized in 2017, giving consumers a chance to save money. Generics offer the same chemical composition at a lower price.
You may be wondering where you can get cheap Viagra or its generic alternative (sildenafil). You can find both online or at your local pharmacy. Read on to see price comparisons.
Why American Men Look for Cheap Viagra Online
There are numerous reasons why you may consider buying Viagra online. Maybe you dislike going to the doctor to renew your prescription. You may prefer to obtain your medications online. Perhaps you value lower prices and think the internet is the place to find them.
Prescription Requirements
Some medications that require a prescription in the U.S. are offered online without a prescription. This may seem like a good option for someone who wants to avoid going to the doctor. However, this practice can pose serious health risks.
Self-diagnosing is never a good idea. A doctor visit is necessary to determine whether Viagra is a good fit for you. Your primary care physician can evaluate its safety for you in light of other health conditions or medications you take.
Lower Prices
Cost is another common reason men are interested in buying Viagra online. Overseas pharmacies tend to offer drugs at lower prices than U.S. pharmacies. However, the risks are significant, as the FDA does not control these medications for their content or concentration of active ingredients. This can lead to
How Much Does Viagra Cost Online?
If you search online for Viagra, your search results will likely bring up a long list of results. However, upon clicking on these links, your browser may give you a security warning or ask if you want to continue. It is not recommended that you buy at online pharmacies that your web browser or antivirus program warns are unsafe.
Buying Viagra online can be tricky. Sometimes the site will advertise Viagra, but when you go to look at the products they offer, they are not selling original Viagra, but a generic version. Many sites label generic sildenafil as Viagra and original Viagra as Brand Viagra.
After searching the internet, we found only a few online pharmacies that sell original Pfizer Viagra. They were all located outside the United States, and few of them ship to the United States.
Prices for four tablets of Viagra at these online pharmacies were in the following ranges:
- 25mg - $29.86 to $40.10 ($7.47 to $10.03 per pill)
- 50mg - $36.27 to $44.42 ($9.07 to $11.11 per tablet)
- 100mg - $28.99 to $49.35 ($7.24 to $12.34 per pill)
Cheap Viagra Online - What is The Best Prices?
The lowest prices for four tablets of Viagra at online pharmacies were:
- 25mg - $29.86 ($7.47 per pill)
- 50mg - $36.27 ($9.07 per tablet)
- 100mg - $28.99 ($7.24 per pill)
It is often beneficial to buy larger quantities. For example, the price per pill goes down when you purchase 36 pills on one website. The lowest cost per pill found was $4.89 per pill.
Can I Purchase Viagra Online Cheaper Than at My Local Pharmacy?
You can compare prices at large pharmacy chains by searching online. Price comparisons are available for pharmacies like:
- Albertsons
- Costco
- CVS
- Kroger
- Rite Aid
- Safeway
- Target (CVS)
- Walgreens
- Walmart
Some price comparison sites let you input your zip code to compare prices at stores near you. Then you can see the lowest prices available to you. The average price for four pills of Viagra at local pharmacies is $257.60, regardless of the dosage. This includes dosages of 25, 50, and 100mg and comes out to $64.40 per pill.
Is It Safe to Buy Cheap Viagra from India? – Danger and Risks
Brand-name Viagra from Pfizer is not available from India. If you visit sites of Indian pharmacies, you will see that their products are made by other companies and are usually listed as generics.
There are several possible problems with buying Viagra substitutes from Indian pharmacies. One concern is that this process usually involves self-diagnosing. You can also experience problems with fake or incorrect ingredients and drugs that are expired or contaminated.
Self-diagnosing
It can be risky to diagnose yourself and buy prescription medication online without a prescription. Periodic input from a doctor is also necessary while you are taking the drug. Dosage adjustments may be required for best results.
Medicines from internet pharmacies can have dosage problems. For example, they may have no dosage instructions or many contain the wrong concentration of the active ingredient. They may also lack other essential information, such as warnings regarding side effects.
Quality Control Issues
When you order from the internet without enough information about the pharmacy and how the medication was made, you can easily end up purchasing fake Viagra. You may also receive poor quality drugs that do not work. These substances can cause serious harm to your health.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warnings that fake versions of Viagra have been found crossing the U.S. border. Viagra and other drugs for erectile dysfunction are some of the most widely counterfeited drugs.
One 2012 study found that fake Viagra contained one or more of the following ingredients:
- Amphetamines
- Antifungal medication
- Commercial paint
- Diabetes drugs
- Drywall
- Printer ink
- Talcum powder
- Unidentified material
Ordering from foreign pharmacies offering “Viagra” cheaply online can be dangerous. Some men who have done this have experienced serious health consequences.
Because of these quality control issues, it is more important than ever to get your medication from a licensed U.S. pharmacy. You can check a pharmacy’s license through the license database at your state board of pharmacy.
If you cannot confirm that a given pharmacy is licensed in the U.S., the safest option is to find another pharmacy. In addition to having a license to dispense medication in your state, a reputable pharmacy should:
- Request a valid prescription from a licensed physician
- List their physical address, located in the United States
- Provide a U.S. phone number
- Have a licensed pharmacist you can talk to
Legal Issues
U.S. law prohibits the importation of drugs that are available within the United States. This means that customs officials are authorized to seize any unauthorized shipments of drugs into the country.
Is Cheap Generic Viagra a Good Option?
According to the FDA, generic drugs are designed to be chemically identical to their name brand counterparts. They are bioequivalent, meaning they cause the same effect in the human body.
They are required to have the same quality, dosage form, strength, safety, administration route, and performance characteristics as the original drugs. Even though they are technically equivalent to the innovator drugs, generics are usually much cheaper.
The FDA guarantees that the generic drugs they have approved meet the same standards as the original drug. This means the generic drug must:
- have the same active ingredients as the innovator drug
- be bioequivalent
- have the same indications for use
- meet the same requirements for quality, purity, strength, and identity
- have the same administration route and dosage form
- be manufactured under the FDA’s strict standards for good manufacturing practice
Considering the FDA’s guarantee that generics are equal to their innovator counterparts, generic Viagra (sildenafil) is an excellent option. That is, it is guaranteed safe and effective if sold in the U.S., where it is subject to FDA regulation.
Sildenafil is significantly cheaper than Viagra, so it is a great alternative to buying Viagra from overseas. You can easily find sildenafil for sale within the United States.
Best Prices for Generic Viagra
Generic Viagra (sildenafil) is much easier to find online than brand-name Viagra. Both certified mail-order pharmacies and local pharmacies keep it in stock. These prices include only licensed U.S. drug providers.
Mail-order Pharmacies
The best price we found for 30 tablets of sildenafil 25mg was $45.00. Dosages of 50mg and 100mg come a little cheaper, with the lowest price being $38.40 for 30 pills. This works out to $1.28 per tablet.
Since the higher dosages are cheaper per pill, you may be able to talk with your doctor about the possibility of pill-splitting to save money. For example, if you need a dosage of 25mg, you can purchase 50mg tablets which are cheaper and cut them in half.
You can even buy 100mg pills and split them in fourths. Of course, this can only be done if your physician is willing to prescribe the higher dosage for you to cut.
Local Pharmacies
Our internet search of major pharmacies showed a low price of $12.98 for 30 tablets of sildenafil 25mg. The lowest price for 30 pills of sildenafil 50mg was $10.36, while the same number of 100mg tablets could be found for $15.19. This puts the price per pill between 35 and 51 cents.
Many local pharmacies offer coupons or discounts that make prices more accessible. Make sure you pay attention to these savings tools to get the best prices possible.
Conclusion
Finding the best prices for Viagra can be complicated. Between online and in-person pharmacies, there are many different options to consider. If you have no problem with generics, sildenafil is the obvious choice. It is much cheaper than brand-name Viagra, no matter where you choose to buy.
If you want brand-name Viagra, expect to pay about $64 per pill at your local pharmacy. Some online pharmacies may offer it for under $5, but you run the risk of getting counterfeit medication or having your order confiscated in customs.
Generic Viagra (sildenafil) can be found for as little as 35 cents per tablet at licensed U.S. pharmacies. This makes it an excellent choice, as the FDA guarantees its quality. You may also try to save on Viagra by purchasing larger quantities. You can ask your physician about prescribing a higher dosage so you can cut the pills to save money.
Regardless of whether you choose Viagra or generic sildenafil, consider searching for discounts that can reduce your cost. By doing your homework, you can be sure to get the lowest possible prices.
- “Sildenafil Citrate”. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Retrieved 29 July 2020. URL: drug.com
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. VIAGRA® (sildenafil citrate) Tablets. January 2020. URL: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2015). Sildenafil. URL: medlineplus.gov
- Oh SS, Zou P, Low MY, Koh HL (2006). “Detection of sildenafil analogues in herbal products for erectile dysfunction“. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Part A. 69 (21): 1951–58.
- Webb, D.J.; Freestone, S.; Allen, M.J.; Muirhead, G.J. (4 March 1999). “Sildenafil citrate and blood-pressure-lowering drugs: results of drug interaction studies with an organic nitrate and a calcium antagonist“. Am. J. Cardiol. 83 (5A): 21C–28C.