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This module will help keep you up to date on advising on erection problems (EPs) in the pharmacy. It contains different learning activities to follow as you scroll down the page.
Objectives
Understand the types of customers who may benefit from VIAGRA CONNECT
Be familiar with the erection hardness scale and how this may impact your customer
Be able to address common customer concerns around the use of VIAGRA CONNECT
Product information and adverse event reporting information can be found at the end of this module
VIAGRA CONNECT – a name men know
VIAGRA CONNECT (sildenafil 50mg) has been available over the counter from pharmacies in the UK since 2018, helping over 1 million men who suffer from erection problems (EPs).1*
But who are typical VIAGRA CONNECT customers?
What do you think of this statement? “EPs ONLY AFFECT OLD MEN.”
FIND OUT THE FACTS
What is the prevalence of EPs in men under the age of 40? 2
25%
15%
10%
5%
It’s higher than that!
Yes, 1 in 4 men under 40 years report having EPs
What percentage of VIAGRA CONNECT users do you think are aged between 25 and 54? 3
20%
35%
45%
60%
It’s higher than that!
Yes, 60% of those using VIAGRA CONNECT are aged between 25 and 54
*Estimated from reported VIAGRA CONNECT use since launch (Kantar 2019) & UK male population 35+ years.
WHO MAY BENEFIT FROM VIAGRA CONNECT?
Your customer requests treatment for EPs. They satisfy all the criteria as set out in the Pharmacy Checklist. They have never used medication for EPs before and aren’t sure what to expect. Would it be appropriate to supply VIAGRA CONNECT?
Yes
Yes, that’s correct. VIAGRA CONNECT is a good option to consider in first-time users who are not sure what to expect. It has been available for many years and is an effective treatment – around 3 in 4 men report improved erections at the dose of 50mg sildenafil found in VIAGRA CONNECT. 4
No
That is incorrect. VIAGRA CONNECT is a good option to consider in first time users who are not sure what to expect. It has been available for many years and is an effective treatment – around 3 in 4 men report improved erections at this dose. 4
Your customer is sexually active more than 3 times a week. They satisfy all the criteria in the Pharmacy Checklist. Would it be appropriate to supply VIAGRA CONNECT?
Yes
Yes, that’s correct. The maximum dose of VIAGRA CONNECT is one tablet daily, 4 allowing men to be sexually active every day if they choose to. Not all oral OTC treatments for EPs are recommended for continuous daily use. 5
No
That answer is incorrect. The maximum dose of VIAGRA CONNECT is one tablet daily, 4 allowing men to be sexually active every day if they choose to. Therefore, it is a suitable choice. Not all oral OTC treatments for EPs are recommended for continuous daily use. 5
You have a customer who meets all the necessary criteria for supplying medication for their EPs but they are only 22 years old. Could VIAGRA CONNECT be a suitable option?
Yes
Yes, VIAGRA CONNECT may be a suitable choice. Younger customers (aged 18 and over) can suffer from EPs. Evidence suggests that they are also more likely to smoke cigarettes or use illicit drugs, 2 which contribute to EPs.
No
That answer is incorrect. VIAGRA CONNECT may be a suitable choice. Younger customers (aged 18 and over) can suffer from EPs. Evidence suggests that they are also more likely to smoke cigarettes or use illicit drugs, 2 which contribute to EPs.
Supplying VIAGRA CONNECT is not appropriate for all men with EPs. The VIAGRA CONNECT Pharmacy Checklist 6 is a useful aide-memoire to help determine whether supply would be suitable. Click here to download a copy.
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
VIAGRA CONNECT IS INDICATED FOR MEN AGED 18 YEARS AND OVER WHO HAVE ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION (ED). 4
ABILITY TO PLAN
VIAGRA CONNECT can help men get back control over their sex lives by allowing them to plan for sexual activity. VIAGRA CONNECT gets to work in as little as 25 minutes and can work for up to 4 hours 4
REMEMBER
ED is a marker of increased cardiovascular risk 7,8 and has been associated with conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. 9 Therefore, men starting on VIAGRA CONNECT should consult with a doctor within 6 months of taking it for the first time. 4 The sooner long-term conditions are diagnosed, the sooner effective treatments can be started
LIFESTYLE MATTERS
Appropriate lifestyle advice should be offered to all men seeking treatment for EPs. 10 Making healthy lifestyle changes will improve their general health, help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and also help to reduce risk factors for EPs. You can offer advice on the following, where appropriate:
Weight management
Healthy eating
Regular exercise
Reducing stress
Quitting smoking
Reducing alcohol consumption
Avoiding recreational drugs
ABILITY TO PLAN
VIAGRA CONNECT can help men get back control over their sex lives by allowing them to plan for sexual activity. VIAGRA CONNECT gets to work in as little as 25 minutes and can work for up to 4 hours 4
REMEMBER
ED is a marker of increased cardiovascular risk 7,8 and has been associated with conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. 9 Therefore, men starting on VIAGRA CONNECT should consult with a doctor within 6 months of taking it for the first time. 4 The sooner long-term conditions are diagnosed, the sooner effective treatments can be started
LIFESTYLE MATTERS
Appropriate lifestyle advice should be offered to all men seeking treatment for EPs. 10 Making healthy lifestyle changes will improve their general health, help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and also help to reduce risk factors for EPs. You can offer advice on the following, where appropriate:
Weight management
Healthy eating
Regular exercise
Reducing stress
Quitting smoking
Reducing alcohol consumption
Avoiding recreational drugs
ABILITY TO PLAN
VIAGRA CONNECT can help men get back control over their sex lives by allowing them to plan for sexual activity. VIAGRA CONNECT gets to work in as little as 25 minutes and can work for up to 4 hours 4
REMEMBER
ED is a marker of increased cardiovascular risk 7,8 and has been associated with conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. 9 Therefore, men starting on VIAGRA CONNECT should consult with a doctor within 6 months of taking it for the first time. 4 The sooner long-term conditions are diagnosed, the sooner effective treatments can be started
LIFESTYLE MATTERS
Appropriate lifestyle advice should be offered to all men seeking treatment for EPs. 10 Making healthy lifestyle changes will improve their general health, help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and also help to reduce risk factors for EPs. You can offer advice on the following, where appropriate:
Weight management
Healthy eating
Regular exercise
Reducing stress
Quitting smoking
Reducing alcohol consumption
Avoiding recreational drugs
THE ERECTION HARDNESS SCORE
The effect of sildenafil has been studied in relation to erection hardness as a very specific treatment outcome. 11 VIAGRA CONNECT helps men achieve a grade 4 erection hardness. 12 Achieving a rigid erection is an important and legitimate treatment goal from medication for EPs. 13
Watch the video below for more information on the erection hardness score and how it can support your conversations around treatment goals.
ADDRESSING COMMON CONCERNS ABOUT EPs
Your customers may have questions or concerns about using VIAGRA CONNECT.
“WHAT IF IT DOESN’T WORK?”
As we have seen, VIAGRA CONNECT is an effective treatment in 74% of men.4 The 2 main reasons why customers may fail to respond are incorrect use and getting their medicine from an unregulated source. 14
You can reassure your customer about the product’s effectiveness. Highlight that they will need sufficient sexual stimulation and should wait for enough time between taking the medication and trying to have sex. You can also assure them that the pharmacy is a reputable source of supply.
“I AM WORRIED ABOUT GETTING AN ERECTION AT THE WRONG TIME OR FOR LONGER THAN I NEED.”
VIAGRA CONNECT doesn’t work without sexual stimulation. 4 Just taking the tablet on its own will not cause an erection. It can work for up to 4 hours after taking the dose, but an erection will not be constant and will subside after sex. If an erection persists for longer than 4 hours, the customer should seek urgent medical attention to prevent tissue damage in the penis. 4
“COULD THIS PROBLEM BE RELATED TO SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS?”
EPs are a marker of increased cardiovascular risk.7,8 Ensure you ask relevant questions and provide appropriate lifestyle advice to your customer where applicable. Remind them to make an appointment with their GP for further investigations within 6 months of starting VIAGRA CONNECT. 4
“WHAT IF IT DOESN’T WORK?”
As we have seen, VIAGRA CONNECT is an effective treatment in 74% of men.4 The 2 main reasons why customers may fail to respond are incorrect use and getting their medicine from an unregulated source. 14
You can reassure your customer about the product’s effectiveness. Highlight that they will need sufficient sexual stimulation and should wait for enough time between taking the medication and trying to have sex. You can also assure them that the pharmacy is a reputable source of supply.
“I AM WORRIED ABOUT GETTING AN ERECTION AT THE WRONG TIME OR FOR LONGER THAN I NEED.”
VIAGRA CONNECT doesn’t work without sexual stimulation. 4 Just taking the tablet on its own will not cause an erection. It can work for up to 4 hours after taking the dose, but an erection will not be constant and will subside after sex. If an erection persists for longer than 4 hours, the customer should seek urgent medical attention to prevent tissue damage in the penis. 4
“COULD THIS PROBLEM BE RELATED TO SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS?”
EPs are a marker of increased cardiovascular risk.7,8 Ensure you ask relevant questions and provide appropriate lifestyle advice to your customer where applicable. Remind them to make an appointment with their GP for further investigations within 6 months of starting VIAGRA CONNECT. 4
“WHAT IF IT DOESN’T WORK?”
As we have seen, VIAGRA CONNECT is an effective treatment in 74% of men.4 The 2 main reasons why customers may fail to respond are incorrect use and getting their medicine from an unregulated source. 14
You can reassure your customer about the product’s effectiveness. Highlight that they will need sufficient sexual stimulation and should wait for enough time between taking the medication and trying to have sex. You can also assure them that the pharmacy is a reputable source of supply.
TIPS TO MAXIMISE BENEFIT
Sharing the following specific advice with your customer will help ensure VIAGRA CONNECT works as well as it should: 4,10
ALCOHOL
Drinking excessive alcohol can temporarily reduce a man’s ability to get an erection and cause VIAGRA CONNECT to be less effective
VIAGRA CONNECT may take longer to work if taken after a high-fat meal
HIGH FAT MEALS
GRAPEFRUIT AND GRAPEFRUIT JUICE
These should be avoided as they can affect the way VIAGRA CONNECT works
These may cause EPs so should be avoided. Recreational drugs known as “poppers” (which contain amyl nitrite) must not be taken with VIAGRA CONNECT as the combination could lead to a dangerous fall in blood pressure
RECREATIONAL DRUGS
FURTHER LEARNING RESOURCES
Visit the VIAGRA CONNECT resources page for an extensive range of learning for designed for different knowledge levels, whether new to pharmacy or wanting to refine and develop existing knowledge.