The Internet is teeming with contradictory information on purchasing Viagra online. Some sources claim the medication can be bought easily, no prescription required. Others argue this and emphasize the importance of having a licensed doctor order the drug after a careful examination of the patient’s physical health.
To put any doubts to bed for good, let us discuss the issue in detail: Viagra and other drugs that contain sildenafil citrate as their chief active ingredient belongs to the group of prescription-only medicines in the USA and most European countries. For this very reason, physical and online pharmacists are not allowed to dispense these medications without there being a valid prescription present.
Getting the doctor to authorize the use of Viagra and write out a prescription might not be easy, though. First off, because a visit to a medical professional for proper health screening takes time, but mostly because it requires the patient to talk openly about the sexual hardships he is experiencing, which can be awkward for many. The situation is further complicated by the fact that plenty of online pharmacies invite their customers to order Viagra and other ED medicines over the Internet without any prescription necessary. It leaves a man with a hard decision to make of whether to risk it and buy the drug quickly from an unknown seller or go the long way and see their doctor first.
On the usefulness of prescriptions
After being around for over two decades, Viagra is still one of the most extensively used erectile dysfunction meds trusted by millions of men, young and senior alike, for its incredible effectiveness and reliable safety. The only thing that prevents Viagra from getting even more popular is the need to get a prescription before purchasing the drug, as it implies a visit to the hospital and sharing uncomfortable details of one’s sexual unfitness. It also does not help that, even now, the topic remains highly stigmatized and hushed up, which discourages many patients from seeking professional medical assistance.
Unlike some Asian countries, where the state usually exercises less control over the circulation of ED medications, making them easily available to all patients in need, the US, Canadian, and European authorities choose to strictly oversight their prescription and distribution. The reasoning behind this is that unsupervised use of ED medicines like Viagra without an adequate account of the patient’s characteristics, possible contraindications, and dosage requirements can have some grave health consequences.
A good example of Viagra misuse would be when a patient with an undiagnosed heart condition starts taking sildenafil-based ED meds without consulting their physician first. For some, this can lead to heart failure during sex or even be lethal. Equally unsafe is the situation where a patient on organic nitrates decides to boost his sexual prowess with Viagra, which he is strictly forbidden to do as these drugs interact dangerously with one another. Lacking proper medical knowledge and training, most men may not be able to recognize the threat in time and will thus put their health at great risk.
With health literacy among the adult US population being as low as it is now, self-prescription of any medications and their uncontrolled use is a dangerous practice. However, recently the growing need for effective ED treatments has forced the UK to reconsider and relax a little the procedure of purchasing Viagra. There is a good chance that, in the nearest future, other EU countries and possibly the USA will follow suit, making the drug more easily accessible to their citizens via enabling on-site medical consultations at dispensing pharmacies.
Take Viagra responsibly
A quick search of the Internet shows that numerous online drugstores offer to buy affordable ED pills over-the-counter. Whether or not such businesses operate legally depends on the country of their location and the regulations that this country enforces upon the local pharmaceutical retail market.
Today, Viagra and the likes are easy to buy without a prescription in India and China, which makes many people wonder if it is also possible to order those drugs there and have them shipped over to another country that restricts their distribution.
There is no simple answer to this question. On the one hand, the import of non-FDA approved prescription medications to the USA is illegal even for personal use. Without a clear understanding of who and how makes these drugs, there is no way to guarantee their safety and effectiveness. On the other hand, the customs services may sometimes fail to identify such medicinal drugs upon examination and allow them to pass.
It is hard to tell which one of the two scenarios is more favorable. As a customer, you may like the idea of getting the prescription medications you so desperately need effortlessly and at a reduced price. However, when purchasing your ED meds from a foreign company, you are the only one responsible for the possible unwanted and unsafe consequences these medications will have on your health.
Viagra is not the harmless male-enhancement pill that many think it is, but a potent and sometimes unpredictable medication designed to treat a particular health condition. Taking ED meds without informing your doctor and getting his approval first can be lethally dangerous.
Visit a doctor regularly
As unfortunate as it is, erectile dysfunction is still seen by some as a discreditable and shameful condition that should not be discussed publicly. The statistics reveal that only around 22% of the 150 million men affected by ED today dare to ask for help. The rest prefer to keep their sexual health problems to themselves, foregoing a visit to a medical specialist in favor of self-treatment. The outcome is predictable: the failure to obtain a professional diagnosis and undergo comprehensive treatment often leads to complications and aggravation of one’s condition.
There can be a few causes of ED, both organic and psychological ones. Often, it is due to age-related changes that deteriorate the work of the man’s blood vessels and make a penile erection more difficult to produce. Stress, anxiety, and depression may also serve as contributing ED factors. Sometimes, ED is not the main problem but a worrying sign of another condition, like type 2 diabetes or ischemic heart disease. Without due medical knowledge and skills, it is impossible to identify those in time, which is why a visit to your physician is so important when you first notice any of the ED symptoms.
Only a trained medical professional can determine the real cause of your ED and advise on adequate treatment. Apart from the initial examination and medical background history check, the physician may suggest running some additional tests and seeking consultation from other specialists like a cardiologist or an endocrinologist.
The key conclusion
Seeing your doctor for a Viagra prescription is not just a technicality you can easily disregard. Doing so will allow you to avoid possible complications related to improper use of the drug and also to rule out dangerous health conditions that might be provoking your ED symptoms.
While it is not wise to use the Internet to self-diagnose erectile dysfunction or self-prescribe drugs like Viagra, there are certain things you can safely do online that will let you cut down your medication bills and avoid frequent hospital visits to get your prescription renewed:
- Consider buying generic versions of Viagra and other ED medications from a trusted online pharmacy. Generics are internationally recognized, safe, and effective equivalents of branded drugs that cost many times less than their patented counterparts.
- Search for a reputable and trusted pharmacy that hires licensed medical practitioners/pharmacists and can offer you medical advice online. Today, an adult patient in the USA can legally obtain a professional medical consultation and be e-prescribed drugs.
Many tech-savvy online pharmacies today are working hard to expand their assortment of affordable and effective erectile dysfunction medications as well as to facilitate their customers’ access to these drugs, using modern means of communication technology. These companies seek to turn their online platforms into a one-stop shop where ED patients could seek professional medical advice, get a valid e-prescription, and purchase quality, inexpensive medications. Even though Viagra is still a prescription-only medicinal product in many countries, its accessibility is increasing thanks to the introduction of generic drugs and the employment of innovative technologies.