Viagra strengths & dosages

Viagra is an erectile dysfunction (ED) medicine which is used to help men achieve an erection hard enough for sex. Developed for men aged 18 and over, Viagra contains the active ingredient sildenafil which causes blood vessels to the penis to relax. This allows blood flow to improve, which can help men to maintain an erection.

Viagra, known as the blue pill, can be prescribed by doctors or clinicians in strengths of 25mg, 50mg and 100mg. Most doctors or clinicians will usually prescribe the 50mg tablet at first to patients who are just starting to take Viagra. 

Viagra Connect 50mg is another option for men looking to help treat symptoms of ED (subject to stock availability & pharmacist approval. Contains sildenafil. Always read the label.) Viagra Connect is available as an over-the-counter medicine, whereas Viagra must be prescribed. 

What strengths of Viagra are available from the Boots Erectile Dysfunction Online Clinic?

Our Erectile Dysfunction Online Clinic offers Viagra Connect 50mg and Viagra 100mg, amongst a selection of other oral ED medicines (subject to availability and clinician approval). Viagra 25mg is no longer offered as part of the treatments in our clinic, but the clinic does offer access to generic Sildenafil in 25mg, 50mg and 100mg. Sildenafil is the active ingredient in Viagra and Viagra Connect.

Sildenafil makes it easier for men to get and keep an erection which is hard enough for sex. It’s not an aphrodisiac, and can’t treat low libido. Men who take it must be sexually aroused to get an erection. 

Boots will always need you to answer questions before giving you access to Viagra or Viagra Connect. If you order with Boots, your consultation will be reviewed by a clinician or a pharmacist who will decide if Viagra or Viagra Connect is suitable for you – if it’s not, you’ll be given advice on seeing your GP.

Viagra Connect 50mg

Viagra Connect is available through our clinic or an over-the-counter medicine. Whichever route you decide to go down, you’ll still need to answer a number of questions to make sure that the treatment is suitable for you. 

Viagra Connect contains 50mg sildenafil and is generally the starter strength for people new to Viagra. A clinical study found that 74 percent of men reported that taking Viagra Connect (50mg sildenafil) helped them achieve and keep an erection hard enough for sex.

Viagra 100mg

Viagra 100mg is the highest strength of Viagra which is available through the Boots Erectile Dysfunction Online Clinic. The 100mg dose may be considered by men who find that Viagra Connect 50mg isn’t quite giving them the desired results. Viagra 100mg will only be available for first time users of our clinic if they have been previously prescribed Viagra 100mg or Sildenafil 100mg in the past. 

How often should I take my Viagra dosage?

You should only take the Viagra strength that’s been prescribed to you once a day, regardless of what strength you’ve been prescribed. Taking more than the dose you’ve been given through our clinic or by your GP won’t increase the effectiveness of the drug, but may cause an increase in the side effects and their severity. 

If you accidentally take more Viagra than you’re supposed to, you should contact your GP or call 111 immediately. 

What side effects could I get from Viagra?

You may get side effects with all oral ED treatments, and Viagra is no different. The most common (may affect up to one in 10 people) side effects you could get when taking Viagra include: 
• Headaches
• Indigestion
• Flushing (blushing or going red, not just in the face)
• Stuffy nose
• Changes in vision (like colours turning slightly blue and or images blurring)
• Nausea or feeling sick
• Feeling lightheaded or dizzy

You should always read the patient information leaflet before taking any medicine. The patient information leaflet for Viagra will tell you who Viagra isn’t suitable for, as well as any other side effects that people taking Viagra could experience. Before prescribing you Viagra, an online clinician or a GP will always check to make sure that the medicine is suitable for you.

What should I do if my Viagra dosage doesn’t work for me?

You should try taking your Viagra dose on eight separate occasions. If it hasn’t worked as you would have liked, you could consider moving on to a higher strength or a different form of oral treatment for ED. 

Treatments available from our Erectile Dysfunction Online Clinic include Cialis, Levitra, Spedra and Tadalafil. If Viagra hasn’t worked for you then it’s unlikely that generic Sildenafil will as both contain the same active ingredient.

Be aware that Viagra can be affected by what you eat and drink prior to taking it, as well as your lifestyle. Smoking and alcohol consumption can affect how Viagra works.

When should I speak to my doctor?

You should always speak to your doctor if you’re experiencing symptoms of ED. They’ll be able to run tests that will help you understand and help treat any underlying cause of your erectile dysfunction.

ED can be caused by conditions including:
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Stress
• Depression
• Parkinson’s disease

Once you have a better idea of why you’re experiencing ED, you’ll have a better idea of how to treat it. It could be that your GP suggests that you make some improvements to your lifestyle. If you’re overweight, for example, you could try losing weight with a combination of regular exercise and a healthy and varied diet. You could also try stopping smoking, watching your alcohol intake and managing stress levels to help improve your ability to get an erection.

Counselling may also help for psychological problems preventing an erection, or/and you might benefit from treatments such as topical creams, injections or pumps. 

It’s understood that 4.3 million men in the UK have experienced erectile dysfunction in their lives, but discreet help is available from your doctor or from Boots.