Amazon’s entry into the retail pharmacy industry has created some stiff competition for other pharmacies, particularly around popular erectile dysfunction medications Viagra and sildenafil. Let’s look at what the numbers look like compared to the industry average and discuss whether Amazon is the right online pharmacy for you.
Amazon Pharmacy’s Viagra Prices
The way Amazon Pharmacy quotes drug prices can be confusing, as the prices aren’t always for the same quantities. We’re going to standardize the data by calculating and reporting the price per dose, which we get by dividing the price listed on Amazon by the listed quantity. For example, if the price is $100 for 10 tablets, we calculate that as $10 per tablet.
This is a good point to remember when shopping, as everyone uses Viagra or sildenafil differently. If you’re only taking it occasionally, it might not make sense to buy a large quantity.
Comparing this to the average price per dose at other retail and online pharmacies surveyed by eDrugstore.com will give us an idea of how much you may or may not save by buying from Amazon.
Here’s what you can expect to pay in May 2023 for Viagra and sildenafil 50 milligram and 100 milligram tablets at Amazon Pharmacy:
| Drug | Strength | Price | Quantity | Price/Tablet | Average Retail Price/ Tablet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viagra | 50 mg | $830.70 | 30 | $27.69 | $40.58 |
| Viagra | 100 mg | $1,107.40 | 20 | $55.37 | $81.17 |
| Sildenafil | 50 mg | $9.60 | 30 | $0.32 | $3.41 |
| Sildenafil | 100 mg | $18.90 | 30 | $0.63 | $6.83 |
Viagra
At their price of $830.70 for 30 tablets at a dosage of 50 milligrams, that comes out to $27.69 each, just shy of $13 less than the national average in May 2023.
For 100 milligrams, at $55.37, Amazon remains just under $26 below the industry average.
Sildenafil
For sildenafil 50 milligrams (30 tablets), Amazon is currently charging $9.60, or 32 cents each in May 2023, over $3 less than the average.
For 100 milligrams, Amazon charges 63 cents, almost $6 less than the $6.83 retail average.
Useful Facts About Viagra
First put on the market in 1998 by Pfizer, Viagra works by inhibiting the enzyme phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5), which in turn relaxes the blood vessels in the body. This allows more blood into the penis, allowing for a better chance of getting and keeping a firmer erection. Viagra won’t cause an erection in the absence of stimulation.
Viagra usually begins to work 30 to 60 minutes after taking it, and can be taken with or without food. Take Viagra only once a day.
The active ingredient in Viagra is sildenafil, which is also the name of the generic drug. Generic drugs have the same active ingredients as the brand-name medication. They will have the same effects but may use different flavorings and inactive ingredients. Generic sildenafil has been widely available since 2018 and is manufactured by Pfizer itself.
Sildenafil is approved for use in men over 18 to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) and can also be used under a different brand name, Revatio, to treat pulmonary hypertension in men and women.
Who Shouldn’t Take Viagra/Sildenafil
If you’re taking nitrates for heart disease or drugs that treat pulmonary hypertension by relaxing the blood vessels, you shouldn’t take any ED medication. Don’t combine Viagra with any other PDE5 inhibitor, including any herbal supplements that claim to treat ED “naturally.” These often contain unregulated pharmaceuticals that may have adverse reactions with sildenafil.
Amazon Isn’t Always the Right Price at The Right Time
Despite the hype, our analysis over time of Amazon Pharmacy has highlighted two important trends. First, while Amazon has generally among the lowest prices on brand-name Viagra, with generic sildenafil, they only tend to be on the lower end of the spectrum, not the lowest price.
With brand-name Viagra, it may make more sense to talk to your doctor about prescribing the 100 milligram strength, which you can easily cut into two 50 milligram doses with a pill splitter. Notice, however, that Amazon tends to price its 50 milligram tablets at almost exactly half as much as its 100 milligram ones, so you can’t use this method for any meaningful savings.
Secondly, buying medication from Amazon is like buying anything else from the site: If you spot a deal, you’ll need to act fast or it might disappear on you. We’ve seen significant pricing instability over time with medications across the board, where costs swing wildly from unbelievable deals to more than twice the industry average.
Why this happens isn’t entirely clear, as Amazon doesn’t disclose the reasons behind its pricing. It seems that Amazon regularly switches suppliers to find the best deal, which can lead to some instability. In some cases, we’ve even seen medications disappear from the storefront altogether, with no warning or explanation.
Another issue we’ve observed is that Amazon might use your purchase data for other reasons. While Amazon Pharmacy does offer a feature to track possible adverse drug events (ADRs) to alert customers to risk, it remains unclear to what extent your purchase history is visible within Amazon or to other vendors — or how it might be used.
Why Not a One-stop Shop?
If you need a prescription, it may be to your benefit to work with an online health facilitator like eDrugstore.com. We offer more value for your dollar, as we can connect you to a telehealth physician licensed in your state for a free, confidential consultation and prescription, if appropriate.
From there, we can ship your prescription right to your door for no extra charge. Click here to get started.
Elizabeth Nichols is an experienced and flexible author with extensive experience in both popular media and academic publishing. She specializes in health, medical and travel writing.