In a move designed to improve patient safety, Pfizer announced plans this week to launch its Viagra® home delivery program, which allows users to order the drug from a legitimate, online pharmacy. The site is accessible through Viagra.com, and offers men with erectile dysfunction (ED) the ability to purchase Viagra home delivery in the privacy – and safety – of their own homes.
Viagra was the first oral ED medication and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1998. Viagra has been studied for more than 15 years, in more than 136 completed and ongoing clinical trials, involving more than 23,000 men with ED. Viagra has been proven to help men with all degrees of ED. However, the lure of convenience, privacy, and economy has made many men vulnerable to the ploys of unscrupulous people on the Internet.
With Viagra home delivery, men with ED can fill a new prescription or refill an existing one. An established pharmacy handles back-end functions, including the authentication of prescriptions, and patients can use insurance and estimate their co-payment requirements. Free shipping is available, but fees apply to requests for expedited delivery.
Beware of fake Viagra
Anyone with an email address knows the frequency of offers claiming to provide Viagra online, but most of those sources operate fraudulently and present serious risks to drug purchasers. A recent review by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) shows that as few as 3 percent of websites selling prescription drugs are legitimate pharmacies, and up to half offer foreign or non-FDA-approved drugs.
When is Viagra not Viagra? “We have seen counterfeit medicines manufactured in filthy and deplorable conditions, yet some people do not realize the risks that this poses to their health and safety, our top priority,” said Matthew Bassiur, vice president, Pfizer Global Security. “Counterfeit medicines often contain the wrong or incorrect levels of active ingredient, as well as potentially dangerous contaminants. Samples of counterfeit Viagra tested by our labs have contained pesticides, wallboard, commercial paint and printer ink. These findings motivate us to continue our aggressive global efforts to stop those who prey on unsuspecting patients.”
“Through our ongoing analyses, we’ve seen how fake pharmacy websites can lure consumers into buying counterfeit medicines with what seems to be an easy purchasing experience, but it may be putting their health at risk,” said Carmen Catizone, executive director of NABP. “We’re pleased to see companies collaborating to develop and support solutions that will help patients obtain legitimate prescription medications online.”
Viagra home delivery offers patients a safe and private option for obtaining the drug and improving their quality of life.
Read more in our Erectile Dysfunction Health Center.
