Viagra: Prices and Savings Tips
Viagra costs an average of about $70 per pill, while the generic pill sildenafil can cost about $40 a pill, depending on dosage, according to online retailers. By using an online subscription service, sildenafil pills can be as low as $2 per pill.
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.
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.
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.
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 that is sold by a different company. However, there are a few distinctions between the two pills’ cost and medical use.
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 cost about $40 a pill, depending on 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, whereas Viagra is infamously a little blue pill.
Roman
Pricing with Roman is forthright. The service offers free deliveries and no hidden fees.
For sildenafil, the per pill breakdown by milligram (mg) is as follows:
For brand-name Viagra, pills begin at $34 per dose.
The website offers a $15 off promotion for new customers.
With Hims, you can purchase Viagra and sildenafil on a one-time basis or with a monthly subscription. Subscriptions start at about $20 per month. There’s a one-time $5 medical fee the first time you order. Hims doesn’t work with insurance.
- Sildenafil: six 40-mg pills for $24 each month
- Viagra: five 50-mg pills for $425 each month
Lemonaid
Sildenafil at Lemonaid starts at $2 for a 20-mg pill. You can get a monthly subscription of 30 pills for $60. There’s a one-time medical consult fee of $25.
Lemonaid offers a promotion of $30 off your first order.
Free shipping is included. You can cancel your subscription at any time.
RexMD
RexMD offers Viagra and sildenafil with free 2-day shipping. You can get sildenafil in 25 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg, starting at $8.50 per pill. Branded Viagra costs $90 per pill.
RexMD doesn’t accept health savings account (HSA) or flexible savings account (FSA) funds and doesn’t work with insurance.
A note on pharmacy pricing
Since a prescription is needed to get ED medications, insurance may cover the cost of them — at least partly. At brick-and-mortar pharmacies, ED medication prices can vary widely depending on location. The website GoodRx allows you to compare prices per pharmacy.
A 30-day supply of sildenafil starts at about $84, according to GoodRx.
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.
Costco
It’s no surprise that Costco has some of the best prices for sildenafil.
As of the author’s last check, a 30-day supply of sildenafil begins at about $15, depending on dosage, according to GoodRx.
Pricing for Viagra ranges greatly depending on a number of factors and is not listed on Costco’s website. It’s best to call your local Costco for accurate pricing.
Walgreens
According to GoodRx, a 30-pill supply of sildenafil at Walgreens starts at about $21.
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 30-pill supply of sildenafil starts at about $17, according to GoodRx.
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.
Due to supply chain disruptions at the time of publishing, pricing among retailers is fluctuating significantly. Be sure to call the retailer or your local pharmacy for up-to-date pricing.
| Retailers | Viagra | Sildenafil |
| Roman | starts at $70 per dose | starts at $2 per dose |
| Hims | starts at $70 per dose | starts at $6 per dose, subscriptions available |
| Lemonaid | available, no price advertised | starts at $2 per dose, subscriptions available |
| RexMD | starts at $90 per dose | starts at $8.50 per dose |
| CVS | call local pharmacy for pricing | starts at about $84 for 30-day supply (through GoodRx) |
| Costco | call local pharmacy for pricing | starts at about $15 for 30-day supply (through GoodRx) |
| Walgreens | call local pharmacy for pricing | starts at about $21 for 30-day supply (through GoodRx) |
| Walmart | call local pharmacy for pricing | starts at about $17 for 30-day supply (through GoodRx) |
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.
- 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.
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 medicine service for male enhancements, you’ll likely 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-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.
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.
