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Viagra, otherwise known past its generic name sildenafil, is the best-known medication for treating erectile dysfunction (ED). It'due south a common vasodilator that's also used to care for pulmonary arterial hypertension.

The drug was patented in 1996 and approved for ED by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March 1998. It was the first oral treatment canonical to treat ED in the Usa.

ED affects as many as xxx million men, according to the Urology Care Foundation.

The rate of ED increases with historic period. According to 2006 enquiry, ED occurs in 40 percent of men ages 40 years or older, and that number increases to about seventy per centum in men lxx and up.

In the The states, y'all'll need a prescription for both name-brand Viagra and generic sildenafil. Costs for both vary.

Viagra costs an average of near $70 per pill, while sildenafil can cost about $forty per pill, depending on dosage. There are some online subscription services that can lower the overall price.

While Viagra may be the most well-known drug to treat ED, at that place are several others available as well.

Roman

Pricing with Roman is always forthright. The service offers free deliveries and no subconscious fees.

For sildenafil, the per pill breakdown past milligram (mg) is as follows:

  • 20 mg: $2
  • 40 mg: $4
  • 60 mg: $6
  • eighty mg: $8
  • 100 mg: $10

For make-name Viagra, all dosages (25 mg, fifty mg, and 100 mg) are $lxx per pill.

The website offers a $15 off promotion for new customers.

Hims

With Hims, you can buy Viagra and sildenafil on a 1-time footing or with a monthly subscription. Subscriptions commencement at nearly $20 per month. In that location'due south a erstwhile $5 medical fee the commencement time you gild. Hims doesn't piece of work with insurance.

  • Sildenafil: Six forty-mg pills for $24 each month
  • Viagra: V 50-mg pills for $425 each calendar month

Lemonaid

Sildenafil at Lemonaid starts at $two for a xx-mg pill. You can get a monthly subscription of 30 pills for $60. There'southward a one-time medical consult fee of $25.

Lemonaid offers a promotion of $xxx off your first order.

Gratuitous shipping is included. Y'all can abolish your subscription any time.

RexMD

RexMD offers Viagra and sildenafil with free two-day shipping. Y'all tin go sildenafil in 25 mg, fifty mg, or 100 mg for $ten per pill. Branded Viagra costs $90 per pill.

RexMD doesn't accept HSA or FSA and doesn't piece of work with insurance.

CVS

At brick-and-mortar pharmacies, ED drug prices can vary widely depending on location. Insurance is more likely to cover these drugs, at least partly, considering yous'll demand a prescription to obtain them. The website GoodRx allows you lot to compare prices per pharmacy.

2 pills of branded Viagra at CVS cost virtually $136.02. Generic sildenafil costs nigh $32.38.

Costco

Information technology'due south no surprise that Costco has some of the best prices for sildenafil.

Two pills of generic sildenafil costs about $seven, while a thirty-day supply costs $16.99. A xxx-24-hour interval supply of branded Viagra will be more than than $ii,000.

Walgreens

At Walgreens, a 10-pill supply of sildenafil costs $168.10. A 90-pill bottle costs $1,467.90.

Walmart

Walmart has some of the most competitive prices among retail stores. A 10-pill supply of sildenafil costs but $20.12. A 30-pill supply costs $26.35. A 90-pill bottle is $49.thirty.

Similar whatever medication, there are potential side effects when taking Viagra. It's important to check with your doctor before taking this medication if you have any underlying weather or are currently taking other medications.

ED can sometimes be a symptom of a larger health concern, such as diabetes or slumber apnea. Getting treatment for an underlying concern may salve ED symptoms.

Side furnishings of Viagra include:

  • headache
  • heartburn
  • flushed skin

Some people tin take a severe reaction if used with alcohol.

Additionally, if you accept protease inhibitors or have HIV, steer clear of Viagra to avert complications. And if yous're taking certain medications, such equally nitrates, using Viagra could make your claret pressure drop too depression.

In general, most insurance companies won't cover name-brand Viagra, merely they might embrace the generic, sildenafil.

Depending on where you purchase the medication, it may be covered. If you go through an online telehealth medicine service for male enhancements, it's likely you'll need to pay out of pocket or with funds from your HSA or FSA.

There are plenty of ways to save money on Viagra and sildenafil.

Telehealth services such as Roman, Hims, or Lemonaid often offer multiple-calendar month subscription services for a discounted cost and provide both brand proper noun and generic.

Get-go-time customer coupons and occasional special promotions are common on these online wellness sites.

Mass-marketplace pharmacies similar CVS, Walmart, and Walgreens also offer discounts and coupons yous can find online.

A gap in insurance coverage doesn't mean you should pay full price for ED drugs. Some patient assistance programs (PAPs) volition assistance comprehend the cost of these medications. PAPs are mostly sponsored by pharmaceutical companies, though some are run by states and nonprofits.

While in that location's no standard enrollment form, most PAPs ask you to testify the following:

  • Yous're a permanent, legal resident of the United States or Puerto Rico.
  • You don't have insurance, or your insurance doesn't cover your medication.
  • You meet certain income eligibility requirements.

When should yous consider using Viagra?

Viagra may exist a good solution to treat ED in men of any age. You can consider using Viagra if you feel ED that affects your self-esteem or relationships, whether information technology'south an irregular outcome or something that occurs often.

If using Viagra, have it about 1 hr earlier engaging in sexual practice.

Its furnishings can last about four hours.

Does Viagra always work?

Although Viagra is often constructive equally a treatment for ED, some people discover that Viagra never works for them, or gradually stops working after they've used it successfully.

The causes of ED are circuitous and tin can include mental and physical aspects. Erections happen from and are influenced by a complicated combination of:

  • physical mechanisms
  • sensations
  • your emotions

Viagra may not work for yous if y'all accept:

  • any malfunction of nerves
  • Peyronie's disease
  • anxiety
  • depression
  • stress or relationship issues

As well, Viagra can lose its effectiveness over fourth dimension because of changes in your body or in your health.

If that happens, you can try switching to another medication in the same drug course (PDE5 inhibitors).

Is Viagra covered past insurance?

Many insurance plans don't comprehend brand-proper name Viagra, but some plans do embrace the generic version, sildenafil.

Every health insurance company has different policies most which drugs it will cover and which ones it won't. Your best bet is to telephone call your insurance provider to verify which medications are covered and under what circumstances.

For case, some large group plans under Bluish Cross Blue Shield cover a portion of the cost of Viagra and other PDE5 inhibitors. Cigna also seems to encompass these medications under some of its plans.

Viagra is the most common prescription drug for treating ED, and it'due south the first approved by the FDA.

While name-brand Viagra can be plush, the generic version, sildenafil, is also available from many manufacturers, and a much cheaper selection.

Do your research before you lot buy, as many pharmacies and telehealth services offer competitive pricing.


Tracee Chiliad. Herbaugh is a writer and journalist in the Boston area. She writes about family, relationships, lifestyle, civilization, and news. Her piece of work tin can be seen in The Washington Post, Salon, The Week, The Associated Printing, Al Jazeera, and more.