Viagra and Sildenafil Prices at CVS

In February of 2023, the price of brand-name Viagra rose over previous months at CVS while the price of generic sildenafil held steady.   

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Our investigation into the lowest-cost options for Viagra and sildenafil takes into account both the per-day price and the hidden costs of time and energy involved in buying at traditional pharmacies versus online from eDrugstore.

CVS Prices Held Steady for Viagra

In February 2023, CVS’s prices on brand-name Viagra continued to rise and were among the highest across all retailers. CVS’s price of $90.23 was topped only by Walgreens at $90.85. Across all retailers, the average cost of Viagra in February 2023 for 100 milligrams was $81.18, putting CVS almost $9.00 above the national average. 

Pricing for generic sildenafil remained remarkably mixed in February 2023, with four major retailers offering 100 milligrams of sildenafil for $1.00 or less. Despite this competition, the price of sildenafil at CVS stayed at $16.92 in February, well over the national average of $6.50.

CVS and Target

CVS, which also owns the pharmacies at Target stores, is the biggest pharmacy chain in the United States. CVS filled more than $36 billion in prescriptions in 2020. Closely followed by Walgreens, they’re the second-largest pharmacy chain in the U.S. 

Because they’re the biggest player, it should not be surprising that CVS can offer some of the largest and deepest discounts on drugs such as Viagra and sildenafil. Yet this status doesn’t translate out into savings for the consumer.

Viagra vs. Sildenafil

Viagra, as the original erectile dysfunction medication, is the most well-known ED drug, beginning the current boom in ED medications with its approval in 1996. Viagra was being tested as a drug for pulmonary hypotension — which is still used under the brand name Revatio — when its impact on ED was discovered.

Sildenafil is the active ingredient in Viagra, and that name is used to refer to generic versions of Viagra. Generic sildenafil first became available in 2017, and Pfizer’s patent ran out in 2020. Generic sildenafil is basically the same drug as approved by the FDA, without the branding and advertising associated with the better-known Viagra and with slightly different inactive ingredients. 

FDA rules require that any generic drug have the same dosage of the same active ingredients as the brand-name medication, so many people don’t notice much difference between the two. However, everyone’s body chemistry is different, and factors such as allergies to inactive ingredients may require you to switch formulations.

What To Know About Viagra

Viagra is part of a class of drugs called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. PDE5 is an enzyme that constricts blood vessels in the body. By allowing more blood to flow into the penis, sildenafil makes it easier to obtain and keep an erection.

The most common side effects of PDE5 inhibitors are headaches, nasal congestion, and flushing. This is because they act on blood vessels across the entire body, not just the penis.

More rarely, people taking PDE5 inhibitors may experience changes in vision. Some of these drugs may also affect other enzymes, like PDE4, found in the eye, causing blurred vision or a bluish tinge called cyanopsia. 

Sildenafil has only been approved by the FDA for men over the age of 18 for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. It hasn’t been extensively studied in other populations, so Viagra is not recommended for other populations.

Viagra impacts liver enzymes, slowing down the metabolization of some drugs. Check with a doctor about what medications you’re taking to ensure they won’t build up in your system. Viagra also should not be taken with nitrovasodilators like nitroglycerin or PETN, as this could cause a sudden and dangerous drop in your blood pressure.

Ordering Online May Be the Best Deal

While the giant retailers are able to offer lower prices per day on ED drugs, frequent massive fluctuations mean that men can’t plan or budget for their monthly medications, making buying from the big stores a fiscal adventure every month. Ordering online can save you time, money, and stress.

Other Advantages to Ordering with eDrugstore

Buying your ED meds online from eDrugstore brings you the following benefits:

Convenience

eDrugstore offers the convenience of ordering from your home, from your office, or from anywhere that you can access the website. There is no driving, no fighting traffic, and no standing in line. You will never have to plan your day around when you will get to the retail pharmacy. 

There’s no need to wade through a huge store to get to the pharmacy and no waiting in uncomfortable chairs or in a drive-through line to pick up your medication.

Privacy and Discretion

If you have a prescription already, you can fax it to eDrugstore or scan and email it directly to the site. This saves you the hassle of dealing face to face with a person. 

If you don’t yet have a prescription, eDrugstore will set up a complimentary online consultation with a licensed physician in the United States who can authorize the medication for you. You will not have to lose time or sit in an uncomfortable waiting room.

Cost Savings

If you take advantage of the complimentary consultation, you will avoid the costs associated with a doctor’s visit. The copays and deductibles are written into your health insurance. In addition, you will save the cost of transportation to a doctor and pharmacy. 

Shipping is free with eDrugstore, and we’ll include a complimentary pill splitter with your first order.

Consider eDrugstore for Your ED Needs

eDrugstore is a well-established U.S. company based in Tempe, Arizona, that has been providing safe, legal, convenient, and private consultations and prescription services since the 1990s.

Browse our medication guide or call us at 1-800-467-5146 for a free medical consultation with a U.S.-licensed physician. We will issue your prescription and send your medication discreetly to your door. With eDrugstore, virtual health visits and shipping are always free.