- TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Introduction
- What the Survey Found
- Generic Prices by Pharmacy Chain
- Savings Over Brand Name
- How Do Generics Differ?
- How Widespread Is Generic Use?
- Why Order Drugs Online?
Introduction
The American debut of two generic versions of Viagra in December 2017 ushered in a new era in the treatment of erectile dysfunction caused by insufficient blood flow to the penis. After nearly two decades on the market, Pfizer’s revolutionary little blue pill finally faced lower-priced competition from generic alternatives. This trend picked up speed later in 2018 with the introduction of generic alternatives to Cialis.
Sold under the name of Viagra’s active ingredient, sildenafil citrate, its generic alternatives offer the same effects as Viagra but at a lower price. The two generic formulations of Viagra that are currently on the U.S. market include one manufactured and marketed by Teva Pharmaceutical, the world’s leading producer of generic drugs. The other comes from Greenstone LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pfizer that specializes in generic medications.
eDrugstore.com’s nationwide survey of prices for a 50-milligram dose — the recommended starting dose — of generic Viagra bases its findings on the average price for half a 100-milligram tablet. Savvy consumers have long recognized that the cost difference between a 50-milligram tablet and one of 100 milligrams is insignificant. So to save money, men who require a 50-milligram dose to produce the desired results buy 100-milligram tablets and split them in half, essentially getting two doses for the price of one.
In early-December 2018, eDrugstore looked at generic Viagra prices in six major U.S. cities — Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, and Seattle — and compared those with the prices charged by eDrugstore for the same dose. The average cost of a 50-milligram dose of generic Viagra was calculated by adding the average price per dose in each of the six cities to the average price per dose charged by eDrugstore and dividing by seven. Using that formula, the average price per 50-milligram dose of generic Viagra works out to $25.83.
What the Survey Found
| City | Pharmacy Name | Price 10x100 MG (Equal to 20 Doses of 50 mg) | Average Price Citywide per 50-mg dose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | CVS Pharmacy | $506.88 | $26.56 |
| Chicago | Walgreens | $582.30 | |
| Chicago | Take Care Health Center | $504.73 | |
| Dallas | CVS Pharmacy | $506.88 | $26.00 |
| Dallas | Kroger Pharmacy | $471.75 | |
| Dallas | Tom Thumb Pharmacy | $581.14 | |
| Los Angeles | CVS Pharmacy | $506.88 | $27.89 |
| Los Angeles | Rite Aid Pharmacy | $584.49 | |
| Los Angeles | Walgreens | $582.30 | |
| Miami | CVS Pharmacy | $506.88 | $26.02 |
| Miami | Walgreens | $582.30 | |
| Miami | Winn-Dixie | $472.00 | |
| New York | CVS Pharmacy | $506.88 | $27.89 |
| New York | Duane Reade/ Walgreens | $582.30 | |
| New York | Rite Aid Pharmacy | $584.49 | |
| Seattle | Bartell Drugs | $504.73 | $26.57 |
| Seattle | CVS Pharmacy | $506.88 | |
| Seattle | Walgreens | $582.30 | |
| Nationwide | eDrugstore.com | $397.50 | $19.88 |
Generic Prices by Pharmacy Chain
The survey looked at prices posted for generic Viagra in six major cities across the United States, but it found little variation between the prices charged by CVS, Rite Aid, or Walgreens from one city to another. For example, CVS’s price for 10 tablets of 100 milligrams each was $506.88 in all six cities surveyed. Likewise in the five cities where it posted a price, Walgreens’ price for 10 tablets was the same — $582.30.
Some of the lowest prices quoted were those from regional supermarket chains. In Dallas, the lowest price available was that posted by Kroger Pharmacy, while in Miami, Winn-Dixie, a regional supermarket chain, posted the lowest price.
Savings Over Brand Name
When compared with prices for brand-name Viagra at nationwide outlets of CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, and Walmart, generic Viagra represented a savings of at least $10 per 50-milligram dose. These savings can add up quickly depending on how frequently you use these ED medications.
Prices for generic Viagra ordered online from eDrugstore.com are listed at $397.50 for 10 tablets of 100 milligrams each for both the Greenstone and Teva formulations.This represents a significant savings over eDrugstore’s posted price for brand-name Viagra — $853.40 for 10 tablets of 100 milligrams each.
How Do Generics Differ?
The manufacture and marketing of generic medications are subject to stringent regulations enforced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. To win approval from the drug regulatory agency, a prospective generic drugmaker must demonstrate that its generic drug candidate contains the same active ingredient as the brand-name medication for which it would be an alternative.
The generic drug candidate must also have the same strength as the brand-name drug and use the same dosage form — tablet, capsule, or liquid, for example — and same route of administration. Medications can be administered orally, topically, or intravenously.
As noted above, generics must contain the same amount of active ingredient as the brand-name drug. However, FDA rules do not mandate that the generic’s nonactive ingredients be the same as those in the brand-name formulation of the drug. Such ingredients are generally used as filler material or coloring agents.
How Widespread Is Generic Use?
According to the FDA, generic drugs account for roughly 90 percent of all prescriptions filled in the United States. Generics help to keep prices of all prescription medications competitive, according to the agency.
When a new brand-name medication is introduced, the drugmaker responsible for its development receives a patent that provides a period of market exclusivity during which no identical copy of that drug can be marketed. This provides an incentive for pharmaceutical researchers to develop innovative medications that improve on the state of medicine as currently practiced.
When the developer of the drug loses its patent, generic competition can begin. Depending on the overall demand for the drug, one or several generic equivalents of a medication may be introduced. Two generic formulations of Viagra are now on the market, and additional generic versions are likely in the foreseeable future.
Why Order Drugs Online?
The pitfalls of ordering prescription drugs online are well documented. Unless you’ve researched your prospective supplier closely, you run a serious risk of wasting your money and, worse yet, endangering your health.
eDrugstore.com, a longtime online facilitator, has been in business since the late 1990s and is a trustworthy supplier of FDA-approved ED drugs, as well as a limited selection of other lifestyle medications. A member of the Secure Medical family of online drugstores headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, eDrugstore not only offers the lowest prices for generic Viagra but a number of free extras as well. If you don’t have a doctor’s prescription, eDrugstore can set up a complimentary online consultation with a licensed U.S. physician who can authorize a prescription if appropriate.
Each first shipment includes a free pill splitter, which allows consumers to split higher-strength tablets in two, giving them two doses for the price of one. And, of course, the convenience of ordering from a reliable online supplier saves them a trip to the pharmacy.
If you’d like to save both time and money the next time you order generic — or brand-name — Viagra, pay a visit to eDrugstore’s Erectile Dysfunction page to learn more about all its services.
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