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9 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Viagra Online

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Highlights:

  • Buying Viagra online is easy, but you can encounter scams, counterfeits, and lookalikes if you’re not careful.
  • Viagra is prescription-only, so pharmacies are legally required to check for a prescription or offer screening from a licensed medical professional.
  • Good pharmacies have clear policies, encrypted sites, offer competitive pricing, and take steps to protect your information.
  • Look for positive reviews, accreditation, and good customer service when shopping for ED treatment online.
  • Watch out for these red flags so you can shop safely.

It’s the golden age of pharmacy shopping. Today, you can easily buy Viagra online from the comfort of your own home—no more awkward doctor’s visits or long pharmacy lines.

But not all online pharmacies are safe and reputable. You’ve surely seen pop-up ads and unsolicited email messages about cheap Viagra. But if you don’t understand how to shop safely, there are risks to buying Viagra online.

You can avoid scams, dangerous counterfeits, or leaked personal data if you shop wisely. 

Avoid These Mistakes When Buying Viagra Online

Some red flags are easy to see, but others are hidden. Avoid these common errors when buying Viagra online so you can shop with confidence.

1. Not Verifying Pharmacy Credentials

Whenever you purchase any medication online, your first step should be verifying the pharmacy’s credentials. At the very least, legitimate online Viagra pharmacies must be licensed by relevant regulatory authorities. In the United States, this is the government-operated FDA.

Standards and Credentials to Look For

The FDA regulates the sale of prescription medications, and any legitimate pharmacy will comply with its safety standards:

  • Sell only FDA-approved medications.
  • Follow proper storage and shipping procedures.
  • Require prescriptions for regulated substances like Viagra.

Most quality pharmacies will also be accredited by the independent, international, and impartial organization called the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). This service confirms that pharmacies are licensed and in good standing with their board of experts.

How to Check NABP Verification

Checking for verification is easy. Simply enter your pharmacy information into this NABP Verification tool to confirm. Not all online pharmacies are registered with the NABP, but those that are have been carefully vetted.

If a pharmacy doesn’t provide proper contact information or a way to verify its certifications and accreditations, steer clear.

2. Skipping Medical Consultation

young male patient on a video call with his doctor

It may be tempting to skip a doctor’s consultation to avoid the hassle, expense, or embarrassment of an office visit, especially for a condition as personal as ED. But without a medical consultation—either from your own doctor or a licensed provider offered by the pharmacy—you could be risking your health.

Like all medications, Viagra can have side effects, some of which can be serious. Viagra is not right for everyone, including men who take nitrates, have severe high blood pressure or certain heart conditions, and anyone not suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED).

If you don’t speak with a medical professional before you start an ED medication like Viagra, you could risk drug interactions or even worsened sexual health.

3. Falling for “No Prescription Required” Claims

No reputable pharmacy can legally sell Viagra without a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider. While all FDA-approved ED medications are safe for most men to take, there’s a reason it’s not available over the counter.

Legal Prescriptions Keep You Safe

Getting a prescription is a legal requirement that ensures you’re getting safe, appropriate, and effective treatment for your specific health needs. 

Remember, ED can be related to underlying issues like heart disease, diabetes, or mental health. It’s important to identify and treat these conditions—or rule them out—before beginning a treatment regimen for erectile dysfunction.

Warning Signs of Illegal Pharmacies

To avoid illegitimate Viagra websites and potentially counterfeit medications, look for these red flags:

  • No prescription needed for prescription-only medications.
  • Vague details (or none at all) about licensing and accreditation.
  • Pressure to “buy now” using unsecured payment systems.
  • No licensed pharmacist or healthcare professional available to answer questions.
  • No address or other contact information on the site.

4. Ignoring Red Flags in Pricing

Everybody loves a bargain—but only if you’re getting a quality product. When the prices don’t line up with expected market rates or a pharmacy offers astonishingly good deals, keep an eye out for scams.

Understand Market Rates

You’ve heard that if a bargain seems too good to be true, it probably is. That’s always been good advice. However, the price of Viagra can vary greatly—especially if you’re considering generic sildenafil. 

We’ve seen brand-name Viagra cost over $90 per pill, but sildenafil is often available for less than a dollar. Watch the prices from well-known pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS to get an understanding of the normal price range.

Suspicious Discounts, Scams, and Hidden Fees

Even if the price of your medication is typically low, watch out for huge discounts. Urgent sales tactics, bonus pills, or unexplained markdowns should raise a red flag that you might purchase a counterfeit product or fall for a scam. 

If the pricing doesn’t look suspect, watch out for hidden fees for shipping and handling, processing, or subscription services tacked on at checkout.

5. Overlooking Website Security

cybercriminal on the phone

You might be vigilant about avoiding counterfeit products, and you know which Viagra online scams to avoid—but what about your personal data? Buying from an unsecured website puts your personal and financial information at risk.

Protect Your Personal Information

Untrustworthy pharmacies are skilled at parting people from their money. It might be convenient and feel more private to use alternate forms of payment—like wire transfers, cryptocurrencies, or peer-to-peer payments—but this can be an open door for fraud. 

Be sure you know what you’re doing if you choose to use an unconventional payment method.

Check for Secure Payment Systems

Safe online pharmacies will have a secure payment system to handle your sensitive information. 

Look for these signs that they take security seriously:

  • HTTPS encryption on the website URL.
  • Secure payment platforms like credit/debit, PayPal, etc.
  • A clear, easily accessible privacy policy.
  • No requests for information that’s not necessary to fulfill your order. 

6. Missing Authentication Features

pharmacist stocking the shelves at a drugstore

Once you’ve received your medication, double check that it’s authentic. Viagra is one of the most-counterfeited drugs on the market today, and without proper verification, your medication might not meet the same safety and quality standards as the real thing.

FDA-Approved Medication Markers

Genuine Viagra has specific markers on the packaging to indicate that it’s FDA-approved. You can check the FDA website to make sure that your specific batch or version of Viagra is approved for sale. If the pharmacy can’t provide this information, there’s a good chance it’s not a legitimate product.

How to Spot Fake Viagra Online

Pharmacies now use “track and trace” systems that include serial numbers or QR codes to follow the product from manufacturing to distribution. Look for packaging that clearly lists the brand name, active ingredient, dosage, expiration date, and lot number. And of course, tamper-evident packaging must remain intact.

7. Not Reading Customer Reviews

Did you know that most Americans read reviews before making a purchase online? Reviews can help you decide if a pharmacy is trustworthy, if the product is authentic, and what the shopping experience is like. 

Read the available feedback to make sure the reviews are just as reliable as the pharmacy.

Find Legitimate Reviews

A five-star rating doesn’t tell the whole story. Shady online merchants purchase positive reviews in bulk to make themselves look better. Watch out for scripted-sounding, overly positive, or generic reviews—especially if they all seem to be posted around the same time.

You can find real reviews from real people through third party websites like Trustpilot, Better Business Bureau (BBB), or Google Reviews. Pharmacies can’t manipulate these platforms as easily.

Pharmacy History Matters

Beyond reviews, a track record of quality service and products are a good sign that your pharmacy is legal and ethical. Pharmacies with a long-standing reputation in the industry are less likely to be fraudulent—especially if they’re listed with regulatory organizations like NABP.

8. Not Safeguarding Your Personal Information

One of the most important safe online Viagra purchase tips is to keep your personal, medical, and financial information private.

Before You Share Information

  • Verify the pharmacy displays a clear, accessible privacy policy.
  • Confirm they use secure, encrypted connections (look for “https://” and a padlock icon).
  • Check that they’re HIPAA-compliant and based in your country.
  • Only provide information that’s strictly necessary for the prescription.

Red Flags to Watch For

  • Requests to share medical information over unsecured email.
  • Unclear or missing privacy policies.
  • No mention of HIPAA compliance (for US pharmacies).
  • Requests for unnecessary personal details.
  • Offers to sell or share your data with partners.

Remember: Legitimate online pharmacies prioritize your privacy and will never sell your information to third parties. If a site’s privacy practices seem questionable, or you suddenly begin getting email from similar companies, consider it a warning sign and look elsewhere for your medication.

9. Being Unaware of Quality Guarantees

A reputable pharmacy should provide clear quality guarantees that ensure the medication is stored, shipped, and handled properly.

Storage and Shipping Standards

Reputable pharmacies store medications in climate-controlled environments, and they choose shipping methods that protect the product’s quality

Cheap or flimsy packaging can be a sign of low quality control standards. Slow shipping can suggest the pharmacy doesn’t keep Viagra in stock or they’re shipping from an undisclosed location.

Return Policies and Customer Support

Good pharmacies stand behind their product. Fair return and refund policies will provide clear instructions on how to handle problems with your order. A dedicated team of customer support representatives should be available to help. 

Ideally, customer support would be available 24/7, but you should always be able to find contact information, such as phone numbers, email addresses, or live chat links, on the site.

Buying Viagra Online from eDrugstore 

young man ready to take a viagra pill while his girlfriend waits for him in bed

If you’re not careful, it’s easy to make mistakes buying Viagra online. Great pharmacies have a long track record of satisfied customers, a quality guarantee, a secure website, and follow all legal requirements to keep you safe.

To double check that your pharmacy is legitimate, check the FDA’s search tool to confirm that it is licensed in your state. Always choose a pharmacy that requires a prescription, like eDrugstore.

eDrugstore makes it easy to find the genuine, effective ED treatment that’s right for you.

Your Trusted Online Pharmacy Since 1998

Over a million customers have trusted eDrugstore to provide authentic Viagra and other ED treatments since 1998. Based in Tempe, Arizona, and staffed with licensed medical professionals to provide prescriptions and answer questions, eDrugstore is your reliable source for buying Viagra online.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about health and related topics but is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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