How Much Does Viagra Cost?

Viagra, otherwise known by its generic name sildenafil, is the best-known medication for treating erectile dysfunction (ED). It’s a common vasodilator that’s also used to treat 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 approved to treat ED in the United States.

ED affects as many as 30 million men, according to the Urology Care Foundation.

The rate of ED increases with age. According to 2006 research, ED occurs in 40 percent of men ages 40 or older, and that number increases to almost 70 percent in men 70 and up. But it’s not exclusive to those 40 and up. One study from 2013 found that 1 in 4 participants under the age of 40 experienced ED.

In the United States, you’ll need a prescription for both name-brand Viagra and generic sildenafil. Costs for both vary.

While Viagra may be the most well-known drug to treat ED, there are several others available as well. We break down the costs for Viagra and where you can purchase it below.

CVS

• A 100-mg (10 tablets) supply of sildenafil starts at about $140, according to Optum Perks.

Pricing for Viagra ranges greatly depending on a number of factors and is not listed on CVS’s website. It’s best to call your local CVS for accurate pricing.

Walgreens

• According to Optum Perks, a 100-mg (10 tablets) supply of sildenafil at Walgreens starts at about $159.

Pricing for Viagra ranges greatly depending on a number of factors and is not listed on Walgreens’ website. It’s best to call your local Walgreens for accurate pricing.

Walmart

Walmart has some of the most competitive prices among retail stores.

• A 100-mg (10 tablets) supply of sildenafil starts at about $10.44, according to Optum Perks.

Pricing for Viagra ranges greatly depending on a number of factors and is not listed on Walmart’s website. It’s best to call your local Walmart for accurate pricing.

Target

• According to Optum Perks, a 100-mg (10 tablets) supply of sildenafil starts at about $140.

Pricing for Viagra ranges greatly depending on a number of factors and is not listed on Target’s website. It’s best to call your local Target for accurate pricing.

When experiencing arousal, the body releases nitric oxide, a molecule that is responsible for causing an erection. However, another enzyme called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) breaks down certain messengers involved in this process, preventing an erection.

Viagra and other similar ED drugs like Cialis (tadalafil) and Levitra (vardenafil) are called PDE5 inhibitors, which means they work by blocking this enzyme. They work by helping relax muscles and arteries inside the penis, which helps more blood reach the penis.

After taking Viagra, the medication starts working after about an hour, but you can take it anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours before sexual activity.

Viagra is for anyone assigned male at birth who has frequent difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection long enough for a satisfying sexual encounter.

It’s important to note that erectile dysfunction can happen from time to time, even in young people, but if it occurs several times in a week and repeatedly over the course of 3 or more weeks, Viagra might be worth considering.

It’s also important to take your sexual lifestyle into account when considering ED medication. Viagra works on an “as-needed” basis and shouldn’t be taken as a daily pill.

Since it only works for a period of time after you take it, Viagra is best for someone who can plan out their sexual encounters — especially since Viagra can take some time to take full effect. It isn’t ideal for someone who often has sexual encounters spontaneously and who isn’t able to easily wait for the pill to take effect.

Teva sildenafil is the generic version of Viagra that treats ED. There’s no real difference between Viagra and sildenafil. Sildenafil is just the generic version of Viagra sold by a different company. However, there are a few distinctions between the cost and medical use of the two pills.

Cost of Viagra vs. sildenafil

Sildenafil is often sold at much lower prices than Viagra, as no marketing dollars are used to sell it. Viagra costs an average of about $70 per pill, while sildenafil can start at about $8.50 a pill, depending on the dosage. By using an online subscription service, sildenafil pills can be as low as $2 per pill.

Sildenafil is approved to treat ED and certain heart conditions

Currently, Viagra is only legally approved for use to treat ED. It’s not prescribed to treat other conditions like pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Sildenafil is legally approved to treat both ED and PAH.

PAH can cause smooth muscle in your lungs to become inflamed and restrict blood flow in certain lung arteries. Sildenafil can help dilate these arteries and reduce your blood pressure.

Sildenafil pills are white, not blue

Another distinction between Viagra and sildenafil is their color. Sildenafil tablets are off-white or white, while Viagra is infamously a little blue pill.

Like any 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 conditions or are currently taking other medications.

Sometimes, ED can be a symptom of a larger health concern, such as diabetes or sleep apnea. Getting treatment for an underlying concern may relieve ED symptoms.

Side effects of Viagra include:

• headache
• heartburn
• flushed skin

Some people can have a severe reaction if Viagra is taken with alcohol.

Additionally, if you take protease inhibitors or have HIV, avoid Viagra to prevent complications. If you’re taking certain medications, such as nitrates, using Viagra could make your blood pressure drop too low.

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

Telehealth services such as Roman, Hims, or Lemonaid often offer multiple-month subscription services for a discounted price and provide both brand-name and generic options.

First-time customer coupons and occasional special promotions are common on these online retailers.

Mass-market pharmacies like CVS, Walmart, and Walgreens also offer discounts and coupons you can find online.

A gap in insurance coverage doesn’t mean you should pay full price for ED medications. Some patient assistance programs (PAPs) will help cover the cost. PAPs are mostly sponsored by pharmaceutical companies, though some are run by states and nonprofits.

While there’s no standard enrollment form, most PAPs ask you to prove the following:

• You’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.

In general, most insurance companies won’t cover name-brand Viagra, but they might cover the generic, sildenafil.

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

ED can be caused by physical issues, psychological factors, or a combination of both. Your doctor should be your first stop for ED diagnosis. ED has many potential causes, so you may need a comprehensive physical examination to diagnose it.

Your doctor may refer you to a urologist if you don’t have any underlying health or mental conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, or anxiety, but you still have symptoms of ED.

It’s important to schedule an appointment with your urologist if you start experiencing any signs and symptoms of ED. However, some urologists recommend that you talk with a specialist if you’re unable to get an erection more than 50 percent of the time.

When should you consider using Viagra?

Viagra may be a good solution to treat ED in men of any age. You may want to consider using Viagra if you experience ED that affects your self-esteem or relationships, whether it’s an irregular issue or something that occurs frequently.

If using Viagra, take it about 1 hour before engaging in sexual activity.

Effects can last about 4 hours.

How much does Viagra cost?

Viagra is a brand-name drug, so the price per pill will be higher than with generic sildenafil. Viagra prices can also vary widely based on where you buy it and if your insurance covers it.

Without insurance, you can generally expect to pay between $35 and $90 per pill. If your insurance provider covers Viagra, your plan will cover a portion of the cost, meaning a lower out-of-pocket cost for you.

How much does generic Viagra cost?

Generic Viagra or sildenafil — as it is most often called — will be available at a much lower cost. Because Pfizer (the manufacturer of Viagra) doesn’t manufacture generic sildenafil, it can be created and sold at a lower price.

Without insurance, you can expect to pay between $2 and $10 per pill on average. However, the price could drop even more if the pill is covered by your insurance plan.

If you are considering sildenafil to treat your ED symptoms, it’s worth contacting your insurance provider to see if it is covered.

Does Viagra always work?

Although Viagra is often an effective treatment for ED, some people discover that Viagra never works for them, or it gradually stops working after they’ve used it successfully.

The causes of ED are complex and can be a result of mental and physical conditions. Erections may be influenced by a complicated combination of:

• physical mechanisms
• sensations
• emotions

Viagra may not work for you if you have:

• any nerve malfunction
• Peyronie’s disease
• anxiety
• depression
• stress or relationship issues

Also, Viagra can lose its effectiveness over time because of changes in your body or in your health.

If that happens, try switching to another medication in the same drug class, such as PDE5 inhibitors, if recommended by your doctor.

Is sildenafil the same as Viagra?

Sildenafil is the generic version of Viagra, containing the same active ingredient as Viagra and Viagra Connect. Because all three treatments contain sildenafil citrate as their active ingredient, they all work in exactly the same way.

Viagra is the most common prescription drug for treating ED, and it’s the first approved by the FDA.

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

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

Tracee M. Herbaugh is a writer and journalist in the Boston area. She writes about family, relationships, lifestyle, culture, and news. Her work can be seen in The Washington Post, Salon, The Week, The Associated Press, Al Jazeera, and more.