How to Save in 2023

This article talks about companies that sell Viagra and sildenafil and their pricing. It also offers tips on how a person can save money on their sexual health medication.

Here we compare the options in this article by price.

Viagra and sildenafil are available at different prices. The price depends on brand name, retailer, and dose.

It is worth noting that people can use coupons, discounts, and patient assistance programs (PAPs) to save money on sildenafil and Viagra.

Several companies sell Viagra and sildenafil online. The sections below provide a brief overview of each brand.

Learn more about Viagra.

Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.

Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.

CVS

• Price for Viagra: from $179 per 2 tablets
• Price for sildenafil: from $29.86 per 2 tablets

People can find the pricing for Viagra and sildenafil on Optum Perks. According to this platform, CVS pharmacy sells both medications at these prices:

• Viagra: It is available in 25, 50, and 100 mg doses, starting at $179 for 2 tablets.
• Sildenafil is available in 15, 50, and 100 mg and starts at $29.86 for 2 tablets.

Pricing may vary though, depending on the dose the doctor prescribes and other factors.

Walgreens

• Price for Viagra: from $175 for 2 tablets
• Price for sildenafil: from $34.68 for 2 tablets

These are Walgreens’ prices for Viagra and sildenafil according to Optum Perks:

• Viagra: People can opt for the 25, 50, or 100 mg option, starting at $175 for 2 tablets.
• Sildenafil is also available in three doses, starting at $34.68 for 2 tablets.

It is important to ntoe that pricing may vary. People may consider contacting Walgreens directly to know more about the cost.

Walmart

• Price for Viagra: from $177 for 2 tablets
• Price for sildenafil: from $7.66 for 2 tablets

Walmart also offers Viagra and sildenafil. These are the prices, according to Optum Perks:

• Viagra: People can opt for 25, 50, or 100 mg Viagra with pricing starting from $177 for 2 tablets.
• Sildeanfil: Viagra’s generic version comes in 25, 50, and 100 mg at Walmart, starting from $7.66 for 2 tablets.

It is important to ntoe that pricing may vary. People may consider contacting Walmart directly to know more about the cost.

Target

• Price for Viagra: from $179 for 2 tablets
• Price for sildenafil: from $33.38 for 2 tablets

According to Optum Perks, these are the costs of Viagra and sildenafil that people find at Target:

• Viagra: three doses are available, including 25, 50, and 100 mg. Viagra starts from $179 for 2 tablets.
• Sildenafil: comes in three doses and price starts at $33.38 for 2 tablets.

Pricing may vary though, depending on the dose the doctor prescribes and other factors.

The following table lists which drugs each company sells and how much they may cost.

People traditionally pick up their prescriptions from a pharmacy. However, the cost of Viagra from pharmacies can vary widely, and insurance may or may not cover all or part of the cost.

Optum Perks is a free service that collates prices and coupons for drugs to help people save money on their prescriptions.

The service gives the following prices for 30 tablets of 25 milligrams (mg) of Viagra and sildenafil from various pharmacies.

Drug pricing in the U.S. is very complex, and many factors affect how much a drug may cost.

For a long time, the Viagra brand monopolized the oral ED medication market. This is because drug companies have the right to be the exclusive supplier of a newly developed drug for a number of years. Therefore, there is no competition from other brands selling the same product. These exclusivity periods can last up to 20 years and help companies profit from their drug development investment.

There are also relatively few pricing restrictions in the U.S. for prescription drugs from private sector companies — a significant factor in price increases. Viagra’s manufacturer, Pfizer, would have factored in the cost of regulation, research, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, and advertising into the price of this drug.

When Viagra’s patent expired, other companies could sell a generic version of the drug — sildenafil — for significantly lower prices. For instance, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that the price of sildenafil dropped by almost 90% when it approved more generic versions in 2019.

The FDA also writes that generic medication costs less because the companies selling it do not have to repeat the clinical tests that the companies selling brand-name drugs had to when the drug first became available.

However, Viagra prices have not decreased to match its competition. This is because the brand does not aim to compete on price. Instead, it uses its position as a widely trusted household name to compete with generics, which people may know less about and be less likely to trust.

Research from 2020 showed that 65.2% of the 305 primary care physicians in the study believed generic drugs were less effective than branded drugs. It also found that over 60% of the physicians claimed they did not check if a drug was generic or branded when prescribing them to a person. The authors note that greater education about generic drugs improved opinions about their safety, quality, and effectiveness increased.

Additionally, a 2020 study from India showed that out of 345 people, 33.6% of the study participants had heard about generic drugs. The authors wrote that efficacy was the main reason individuals would not take generic drugs. However, 60% of participants believed that generics were safe.

The FDA writes that generic medication can improve access to care and health outcomes, as people can get medications they may not have been able to otherwise.

There are several ways a person may save money when purchasing Viagra.

Choosing generic medication

People may wish to choose sildenafil instead of Viagra. The generic versions of the drug have the same ingredients and are often available in the same dosages.

Learn more about buying sildenafil online.

Discounts

Purchasing Viagra or sildenafil from telehealth companies may be cheaper than a prescription from a person’s primary healthcare professional.

Many telehealth companies offer discounts for first-time buyers. Additionally, some companies offer monthly subscriptions that may cost less than buying Viagra elsewhere.

However, a person should ensure they are using a reputable telehealth company.

People should only purchase medication from an online pharmacy with U.S. licensed pharmacists and other healthcare professionals available to fill prescriptions and answer any questions.

Additionally, people should ensure that the company they use has a seal of approval from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. This means that the company is legal and does not sell counterfeit drugs.

Learn more about buying ED pills online safely.

Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs)

Some pharmaceutical companies may offer PAPs to help cover the costs of Viagra.

Pharmaceutical companies may offer prescription drugs to people without insurance for a lower cost. Each company will have its own criteria for eligibility, but people will likely have to provide proof of their citizenship and income.

People can either contact a pharmaceutical company directly by telephone or complete forms on the company’s website. Many PAP forms require a doctor’s signature.

Coupons

Some pharmacies may offer coupons that can help reduce the cost of prescription medication.

A person can search their local pharmacy’s website or go into the store to speak with an employee to determine if the pharmacy offers coupons and discounts.

Find out more about prescription discounts.

Private health insurers may cover part of the costs of generic sildenafil but may not pay for Viagra. A person should check their insurance coverage before purchasing sildenafil or Viagra to ensure they do not incur unexpected out-of-pocket costs.

However, Medicare may cover part of the costs of sildenafil or Viagra.

Learn more about whether Medicare covers Viagra.

Medicare coverage

Medicare Part A benefits people in the care of a skilled nursing facility. However, it does not cover ED medications.

Medicare Part B offers coverage for a person’s treatment in clinical settings if Medicare deems the treatment medically necessary. It is unlikely Medicare will cover the costs of Viagra or sildenafil for ED. However, in most cases, it may benefit people who receive ED treatment in sexual health clinics.

Medicare Part D offers prescription drug benefits. Medicare will not cover the costs of prescription Viagra for ED as it does not deem the drug medically necessary.

Research from 2022 notes that sildenafil is a safe treatment for ED. Additionally, another study states sildenafil is effective across different age groups, including those 75 years and older.

Before taking sildenafil or Viagra, a person should be aware of the side effects it can cause, which include:

Viagra or sildenafil may not be suitable for everyone. For example, people should not use this drug if they:

Viagra is a branded medication that contains sildenafil as the active ingredient and is FDA-approved to treat ED. It can start at $80 per dose, which can be expensive for some people.

Doctors may offer other brands that seem to be more affordable. Generic medications may also be an option if a person has a low budget.

Some of these medications that may help improve erectile function include:

• Vardenafil: It is available under the brand names Levitra and Staxyn and is a regular and disintegrating tablet. It is a phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor that helps improve blood flow to the penis. The cost of the generic drug starts from $39 per tablet.
• Tadalafil: It is available under the brand names Cialis and Adcirca. It comes as a tablet and helps treat ED and symptoms of an enlarged prostate. The tadalafil price may start from around $240 per month.
• Avanafil: It is the generic version of Stendra and sometimes healthcare professionals may also prescribe it off-label for multiple sclerosis. The branded version may cost around $60 per use.

Below are answers to common questions about Viagra.

Can I just go buy Viagra?

People can purchase Viagra from a pharmacy or via telehealth services online if they have a valid prescription from a healthcare professional.

Is sildenafil the same as Viagra?

Sildenafil is the generic version of Viagra. Viagra’s active ingredient is sildenafil.

Both of these drugs treat ED the same way. Many companies sell Viagra and sildenafil, although sildenafil is often less expensive than Viagra.

How much does sildenafil cost?

The cost of sildenafil can vary depending on the company that sells it and any discounts a person may have.

However, telehealth companies sell sildenafil starting from $2 per dose. Some companies may sell sildenafil for a certain amount per month, which may be cheaper depending on the drug a person requires.

How much does Viagra cost per pill?

Viagra often costs more per pill than sildenafil.

The price per pill may depend on factors such as which company a person purchases from and the required dosage. However, people can expect to pay around $80 per dose.

How much does Viagra cost with insurance?

Medicare does not cover the cost of Viagra in most cases as it does not deem the drug medically necessary.

A person should check with their private health insurance company whether it covers all or part of the costs of Viagra.

However, a person may be able to receive support with the costs of their medication through PAPs and by using discounts and coupons from their local pharmacy. Additionally, some telehealth companies may offer discounts for first-time users.

Where is the cheapest place to get Viagra?

The prices for Viagra vary. Through Optum Perks, people can buy Viagra for around $13 from local pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens.

A person can also consider sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, which is often cheaper than its branded counterpart. Some retailers, such as Roman, sell sildenafil for $2 per dose.

Why is Viagra so expensive?

One reason that brand-name Viagra is expensive is that companies in the U.S. private sector do not face pricing restrictions. This means they can set their prices for their drug. Viagra also dominated the oral ED medication market when it first became FDA-approved, meaning no generic drugs were competing with it for price.

However, prices for branded Viagra may not always decrease when more affordable generic drug versions are available. Instead, the Viagra brand competes based on its popularity and consumer trust rather than price. This is because some people believe branded drugs are more effective than generic versions, despite the FDA insisting that branded and generic versions of drugs work in the same way and are equally effective.

Is there an over-the-counter Viagra?

Viagra is only available with a doctor’s prescription, even if a person buys it from an online provider, such as Hims or REX MD. If it is too expensive for them, they may consider getting sildenafil, its generic version, a prescription medication.

Can you buy Viagra over the counter at Walmart?

No. Viagra is available at Walmart at a discounted price, but people still need to present their prescriptions.

Viagra is a medication that doctors may prescribe for ED. The drug is available with a prescription from local pharmacies and online telehealth companies.

The price of Viagra may vary depending on the dosage and whether the company offers the generic version, sildenafil. While Medicare and private health insurance may not assist with costs, people can contact pharmaceutical companies directly for PAPs or check whether their local pharmacy offers discounts and coupons.