Is Generic Viagra Safe and Effective?

The short answer is: it may be effective, but most experts would agree that it is not safe since none of it is medically approved (yet).

The FDA, Pfizer, and many doctors and professionals frequently warn patients and consumers against fake medications sold online, including the many generic versions of Viagra offered in a large number of “online pharmacy” sites.

So, why all the warnings about generic Viagra traded over the Internet? The following are the main reasons why generic Viagra is generally considered bad.

Legitimacy: Viagra is a registered trademark of Pfizer Inc, and so no other company is authorized to make a product (drug) and name it Viagra unless they have Pfizer’s permission to do so. Also, sildenafil citrate (the active ingredient of Viagra) is patented worldwide by Pfizer, and so no other drug maker can manufacture sildenafil citrate (generic Viagra) in any form until Pfizer’s patents on this drug expire (in 2011–2013). Simply put, any form of generic Viagra that is currently being manufactured and sold (mostly on the Internet) is illegal.

Effectiveness: There are some pharmaceutical companies that (illegally) make generic Viagra that is identical to, and acts as effective as, the genuine drug. However, studies have shown that a lot of the generic Viagra pills sold over the Internet contain no effective ingredients, i.e. pure scams.

Safety: Since generic Viagra is manufactured unlawfully, it is usually made in unlicensed factories and under unhealthy conditions where standards and regulations are absent. In fact, many investigations proved that generic Viagra promoted online often contains unknown/dangerous ingredients, non-approved substances, and harmful (or even fatal) overdoses.

What applies to Viagra also applies to Cialis (generic: tadalafil) and Levitra (generic: vardenafil).

Cialis maker, Eli Lilly, currently holds the patent for this drug, and until the patent expires (in 2016) all generic versions of Cialis made by other drug companies are not legitimate. Levitra’s manufacturer, Bayer, also has worldwide patents on this ED drug, first of which expire in 2018.

The video displayed below is made by the FDA to educate patients about faux drugs on the Internet and help them avoid such scams.