The headlines read “Tesco to sell half-price Viagra over the counter” and “Viagra goes on high street sale”. With all the media hype over Viagra and the generic version sildenafil now available in pharmacies, the natural assumption is that Tesco and Boots are the places to buy it – the cheapest and easiest avenues to get your sex life back on track.
Update April 2018: Viagra Connect now available without prescription.
But while it would be easy to simply walk into your nearest Tesco or Boots pharmacy and ask for a pack from behind the counter, let’s investigate whether it really is possible to buy Viagra during a trip to the supermarket, and if there is another, more convenient alternative out there.
The premise of offering Viagra through pharmacies is simple. It is considered a low toxicity drug with relatively few side effects, and can be safely prescribed following a straightforward medical consultation to rule out contraindications.
Buy online from 95p per tablet from a fully UK regulated online doctor and pharmacy.
Tesco and Boots require potential patients to schedule a consultation with a specially trained pharmacist. There they will be weighed, have their blood pressure taken, their cholesterol levels checked, and they will be asked a series of questions. At the end of the consultation Viagra or other ED medicine may be issued if suitable.
This in-store consultation process is on a private (commercial) basis, and not NHS-funded. There will be a charge for the consultation with the pharmacist plus a charge for the supply of medicine each time it is required.
Private prescriptions
You can also of course visit a private doctor to undergo an assessment and obtain a private prescription to buy Viagra or sildenafil and take the prescription into the pharmacy instore. Doctor’s charge for private prescriptions, usually £8-£20 but can be as high as £150 in some areas of London.
Prices (at time of writing) with a private prescription for Viagra and sildenafil at Tesco and Boots are as follows:
Tesco:
- Sildenafil 50mg x 8: £20.91
- Viagra 50mg x 8: £51.80
Boots:
- Sildenafil 50mg x 8: £20.00
- Viagra 50mg x 8: £57.43
NHS prescriptions are subject to the standard charge unless exempt – see Sildenafil on the NHS article.
So, though it may seem like you can buy Viagra without a prescription, getting it from Tesco and Boots still requires a face-to-face visit with a medical professional – the attending pharmacist, or a private doctor and subsequent prescription.
Is buying online cheaper?
At the time that most of the information about widespread availability of Viagra was published, it was still legally unavailable for purchase online. This has changed, however, with several online pharmacies including Dr Fox, now able to offer Viagra and sildenafil for purchase after an online consultation. Online consultations do not replace face-to-face visits to the doctor. Men wishing to obtain ED treatment online must first have consulted their regular doctor. Test and investigations may be needed and a full assessment including examination are normally carried out.
Dr Fox allows patients to complete a medical questionnaire from the comfort of their home on their computer or tablet screens. The questionnaire serves the same purpose as a face-to-face consultation, helping to determine if the medicine can be taken safely by the patient. If suitable, the patient is prescribed Viagra, sildenafil, or their preferred ED medication.
Patients already undergoing treatment for erectile dysfunction can also buy Viagra to supply existing prescriptions, and often at lower online prices.
With an online prescription from Dr Fox online doctor:
- Sildenafil 50mg x 8: £11.90
- Viagra 50mg x 8: £59.50
There is also a small varying prescription fee for prescriptions offered through an online consultation, and a delivery fee (£2.90 in UK). However, the benefits of ordering online can greatly outweigh any difference in price.
Tesco does not sell erectile dysfunction tablets online.
The Dr Fox service allows patients to avoid describing embarrassing symptoms in person, and even saves a trip out of the house. Convenience is key for many patients to receive treatment, so the choice is yours! Check prices from Tesco and Boots before you buy Viagra, but keep in mind that you may also be able to receive treatment at competitive prices from Dr Fox.
