Viagra pills to be sold over the counter

VIAGRA is to be sold over the counter in pharmacies for the first time, following a ruling by health chiefs.

Currently, men wanting pills to boost their sex lives have to get a prescription from a GP.

But this will no longer be necessary after Viagra was reclassified by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The decision to change the status of Viagra Connect, which contains 50mg of the drug sildenafil, was taken after a public consultation.

Counterfeit

It is hoped the move will encourage more men with erectile dysfunction to seek medical help – and deter a huge multi-million pound criminal trade in counterfeit drugs online.

The ruling is due to take effect from next spring.

Dr Berkeley Phillips, UK medical director of manufacturer Pfizer, said: “We understand some men may avoid seeking support and treatment for this condition, so we believe giving them the option to talk to a pharmacist could be a real step forward.”

Mick Foy of the MHRA, which has seized more than £50million-worth of unlicensed and fake erectile dysfunction medicines in five years, said: “This is good news for men’s health.”