How to Buy Viagra Safely

Viagra is a prescription medication, which means it can only be purchased in the United Kingdom after consultation with a licensed doctor. They will then approve the prescription and the treatment will be dispensed from an approved and registered pharmacy.

However, buying Viagra online through other mediums can be dangerous if the distributor does not conform to certain levels of integrity and strict guidelines of the actual product being sold. Many online "pharmacies" sell unregulated Viagra, including generic versions or herbal Viagra, which could be potentially dangerous and ineffective in treating impotence.

Dr Hilary Jones talks about how to recognise fake Viagra

What are the dangers of buying Viagra online?

Unless you're using a trusted online pharmacy, the biggest danger that exists is purchasing a product that is unsafe and may cause you harm. When you get your medication you should therefore make sure it looks like the examples provided in the below table:

All Viagra boxes should have the above features and contain a batch number and expiry date. Viagra pills are diamond shaped with writing on both sides of the tablets. One side should contain the dosage information and the other the manufacturer name. In the UK Viagra is sold in boxes and comes in blister packs of four. When you get your Viagra, make sure that the foil contains the medication as well as the manufacturer name.

Generic and herbal Viagra often fall into this bracket because of the nature of their components. These products are not regulated, nor have they gone through appropriate clinical studies like genuine Viagra, and may contain any number of harmful toxins. Reports have even suggested that to make up the dosage of certain "products", chemicals like rat poison or growth hormones are added.

The second danger of buying Viagra online is misinformation. Viagra is a prescription treatment for men suffering from erectile dysfunction; it is not a cure but a medication to assist with the management of the condition. Certain online outlets will advertise their products unrealistically and promise unachievable results. They may also "push" their product by avoiding the warnings and advice all prescription medication carries. This is so patients can avoid the medication should a possible health risk be a result of treatment.

Finally, the last danger of buying Viagra online is paying for an inferior product. Impotence treatments are not inexpensive and purchasing them should be a safe and confidential process. Potential patients, and repeat patients, should be able to provide payment details and information in full confidence that these will not be misused. Many websites are only interested in receiving as much money as possible as quickly as possible, and do not value the integrity of their patients.

What can I do to avoid this?

When you buy Viagra online you should not be afraid to demand the points mentioned in the below tick list – you are paying for a service and are trying to avoid the dangers of buying Viagra online.

• Do not be tempted to buy inferior products like generic Viagra or herbal Viagra as these may be ineffective and dangerous
• Insist on secure transactions and confidential interactions – contact the website for their credentials and support in this matter to protect your details
• If you're purchasing from the UK or Europe and do not first consult with a doctor, leave the site immediately – Viagra may not be dispensed without a prescription from a registered doctor.