Can I get Viagra on the NHS?

I’ve had several questions recently about the use of Viagra. One was from a lady in her mid-60s, with her husband in his early 70s. They still enjoy a fulfilling sex life, but he now needs a little help – but she feared their doctor would say they’re too old for Viagra.

The good news is that age is no barrier to using PDE-5 inhibitors - the clinical name for Viagra, Levitra and the longer-lasting Cialis. Viagra doesn’t create desire, but it should help with the hydraulics - however old you are.

What is a barrier, though, is that men who are already taking nitrate-based medicines must steer well clear. Viagra works by relaxing the blood vessels, so an erection is facilitated by more blood flowing to the penis. However, if combined with other drugs also designed to relax blood vessels (such as Nitrostat, used in treating heart conditions) then blood pressure can drop to life-threatening levels. So always get Viagra from a doctor who can first take a look at your overall health picture (there may be other factors contributing to erectile dysfunction anyway) and never risk buying it online.

Unfortunately the little blue pill isn’t cheap, hence the supposed ‘bargains’ on the Internet. NHS availability is limited - only patients with certain conditions, including diabetes, prostate cancer and Parkinson’s disease, are eligible. A private prescription from your GP will vary in price according to strength. There are three strengths: 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg (lower doses are usually recommended for men over 65) and you should expect to pay between £7 and £9 per tablet.