It appears that Pfizer Inc. is about to apply to the Food and Drugs Agency in the US for Viagra to be sold over the counter at pharmacies without a prescription (OTC.) Pfizer has never before commented publicly on its plans for Viagra, but it is believed that competition from Eli Lilly’s Cialis has forced the company to consider making Viagra more freely available.
Industry analysts have indicated that it is highly unlikely that Viagra will achieve over the counter status as the complications that can arise if combined with other medications can be very serious – even fatal – so it is essential that a doctor makes the judgement whether Viagra is a suitable medication. Patients being treated for heart problems such as angina, for example, may be taking a nitrate based medication which, if taken in combination with Viagra, could cause blood pressure to fall to dangerously low levels.
Viagra was considered for OTC status by the MHRA in the UK a few years ago but this was not approved.