Stimulation increases blood flow
When you get aroused, your body produces a molecule called cGMP which helps to stimulate an erection by increasing blood flow to the penis.1


All content on this page has been medically reviewed by: Hassan Thwaini, Clinical Pharmacist and Copywriter, Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) on 30 March, 2026. GPhC Registration: 2221320View profile
Viagra Connect was the first erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment available in the UK without a prescription. It contains sildenafil, the same active ingredient found in prescription Viagra, which is a medicine that’s been trusted by millions of men worldwide since it first came to market in the late 1990s.
Launched as an over-the-counter option in 2018, Viagra Connect was developed to make ED treatment more accessible and discreet. Instead of needing a GP appointment, it can now be purchased directly following a short consultation or assessment with a pharmacist.
Viagra Connect, which contains sildenafil, typically takes around 30-60 minutes to start working and lasts for up to 4 hours.1
Stimulation increases blood flow
When you get aroused, your body produces a molecule called cGMP which helps to stimulate an erection by increasing blood flow to the penis.1
Restricted blood flow inhibits an erection
However, for people experiencing erectile difficulties, an enzyme known as PDE5 normally breaks cGMP down, restricting blood flow and causing the erection to subside.1
Medication promotes a firmer erection
Viagra Connect blocks the action of PDE5, allowing more blood to flow to the penis. The resulting erection is firmer and usually lasts long enough to allow for satisfying sex.1
The difference between Viagra and Viagra Connect is that Viagra is only available via a prescription, whereas Viagra Connect can be bought over the counter without a prescription.
| Feature | Viagra Connect | Viagra |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Sildenafil citrate | Sildenafil citrate |
| Manufacturer | Pfizer | Pfizer |
| Prescription requirement | No - can be purchased over the counter | Yes |
| Available doses | 50mg | 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg |
| Mechanism of action | Improves blood flow to help achieve and maintain an erection when sexually aroused | Improves blood flow to help achieve and maintain an erection when sexually aroused |
| Duration of effect | Up to 4 hours | Up to 4 hours |
Numan isn’t just here to hand out pills. We’re a holistic health platform built to help you take control, with treatment, guidance, and ongoing support that actually works. When you choose Viagra Connect with Numan, you’re not just getting medication, but complete care designed to help you perform your best.
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If hormone issues related to erectile dysfunction are suspected, Numan offers access to a dedicated team who provide personalised treatment, monitoring, and support.
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With thousands of successful patients behind us, our approach is tried, tested, and trusted.
Viagra Connect has the same side effect profile as both Viagra and generic sildenafil. Some of these side effects can be found in the table below, and for a full list of side effects, please read the Patient Information Leaflet found in each box.2
| Common | Uncommon |
|---|---|
| Headache | Upper abdominal pain |
| Nausea | Acid reflux |
| Indigestion | Skin rash |
| Stuffy nose | Pain in arms or legs |
| Dizziness | Vomiting |
| Changes to vision | Feeling hot |
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Viagra Connect is a type of ED treatment known as a PDE5 inhibitor. It works by blocking the action of an enzyme which causes erections to soften. As a result, there’s more blood flow into the penis, encouraging a harder erection that lasts longer.
Contrary to popular belief, taking Viagra Connect won’t result in an instantaneous erection. You need to be sexually aroused for it to work. Likewise, Viagra Connect does not enhance your libido or sexual desire. It simply allows more blood to enter the penis when you become aroused so you can experience firmer erections that last longer.
No, Viagra Connect can not be taken more than once a day. Taking Viagra Connect more than once a day may increase the likelihood of experiencing side effects.
Viagra Connect lasts for up to four hours. If the four-hour window provided by Viagra Connect is not long enough for you then you can do a free online consultation with one of our clinicians as tadalafil or Tadalafil Daily might be more suitable erectile dysfunction treatment options for you.
A four-year study looking into the safety and effectiveness of Viagra suggested that Viagra is safe when taken over a prolonged period of time.
If you find yourself using Viagra (or any other erectile dysfunction tablets) for an extended amount of time, we recommend looking at the underlying causes with your doctor. An at-home blood test can also give you an insight into your health to help you get to the bottom of your ED.
Viagra Connect’s effects last for up to four hours, which means that you should be able to get an erection within a four-hour window after taking it.
For optimal results, it’s best to take it an hour before sex (because it takes about an hour to kick in).
Note: taking Viagra Connect with a heavy meal may delay its effects by approximately one hour.
Yes, it’s safe to buy Viagra Connect online as long as the provider of the Viagra Connect is reputable and certified.
We’re regulated by the Care Quality Commission (England’s independent regulator of health and social care) and follow strict safeguarding guidelines by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) to ensure it’s as safe as possible for you to buy ED medications online.
We also provide a free online consultation for anyone who requests an ED treatment through us to make sure the treatment is safe for you to take and doesn’t conflict with any medication you’re taking. Each consultation is personally and privately reviewed by a clinician who checks your answers to see if your chosen erectile dysfunction tablets are appropriate for you.
For most people, yes. Multiple studies have shown that sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra Connect) is an effective erectile dysfunction treatment that helps to relieve erectile dysfunction symptoms and encourage harder erections.
However, it’s important to remember that different people react to Viagra in different ways. For most people, Viagra Connect 50mg (the recommended starting dose) is strong enough to improve erections and reduce erectile dysfunction symptoms. On the other hand, some people may only need Viagra 25mg to experience stronger erections. If neither Viagra Connect 50mg nor Viagra 25mg improves your symptoms, then you may need the 100mg dose. This requires a prescription, so if you have taken Viagra Connect 50mg on multiple occasions and it hasn’t worked for you, then you should consider speaking to our clinical team.
Persistent erection problems can be a sign of an underlying condition, so if you experience erectile issues for a long time (even after taking erectile dysfunction tablets) you should consult your doctor.
Although there are an array of supplements out there that claim to be able to treat erectile dysfunction, ED treatments such as Viagra Connect, sildenafil, or tadalafil are clinically proven and far more likely to promote stronger, longer-lasting erections.
Many people also favour these trusted erectile dysfunction treatments over lesser-known supplements because buying supplements for erectile dysfunction online can be risky. Vendors offering ED supplements online are often unregulated, meaning unusual or even harmful ingredients can slip into supplements and make them dangerous to take.
We’re regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) - the regulator of all health and social care services in England - to ensure the service we provide is safe and effective.
The ED treatments we provide such as sildenafil have been extensively tested for years to understand their safety and effectiveness. Sildenafil is generally safe for most people to take and the 50mg dose of sildenafil (which is the recommended starting dose) has helped 78% of men achieve stronger erections. Likewise, all the other erectile dysfunction treatments we offer are clinically proven to treat ED and are well-tolerated by most.
The 'best' dosage always depends on the outcome of a clinical consultation. However, Viagra Connect only comes in one dose: 50mg. There are two reasons why. First, Viagra Connect 50mg is the recommended starting dose for those who wish to treat their erectile problems, which means it’s usually strong enough to encourage harder erections in most men. Second, Viagra Connect is the over-the-counter version of Viagra, meaning you don’t need a prescription to buy it. Any other dosage of Viagra (i.e. Viagra 100mg and Viagra 25mg) requires you to get a prescription before you can purchase it.
Some people may still experience erectile problems when taking Viagra Connect 50mg, so if this is the case for you, then you should speak to a clinician about changing your ED treatment to one that is stronger (such as sildenafil 100mg).
If you continue to experience erection problems even after taking sildenafil 100mg on multiple occasions, you should consult your doctor as it may be a sign of an underlying health condition.
Smith BP, Babos M. Sildenafil. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025.
Viagra Connect 50 mg film-coated tablets. Org.uk. [accessed 27 Oct 2025] Available from: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/8725/smpc
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