Boots has become the first pharmacy to offer an erectile dysfunction treatment without a prescription. The treatment, which is effective for up to 36 hours when sexually aroused, is now available in 22 Boots stores across Nottinghamshire including Beeston and Nottingham's Victoria Centre.
It comes as earlier this year, the treatment - namely Cialis Together - was reclassified from a prescription-only medicine to a pharmacy medicine, making it more accessible. It lasts longer than other erectile dysfunction medicines available over-the-counter, aiming to offer greater flexibility, longevity and spontaneity
Boots Pharmacist Vuyani Chinyowa encourages people experiencing erectile dysfunction (ED) to visit their local pharmacy for advice and support. Cialis Together is also available on the Boots' website, and in 1,300 Boots stores across the UK in total.
It is available over-the-counter as a pharmacy medicine, enabling men aged 18 or over who are having erection difficulties to obtain treatment more conveniently. It continues to be available to patients on the NHS who obtain a prescription from their prescriber.
Cialis Together contains 10mg of the active ingredient tadalafil, which temporarily increases blood flow to the penis to help men get or keep an erection when they are sexually aroused. The treatment starts working from 30 minutes after taking it.
Tadalafil is effective for up to 36 hours when sexually aroused, which is much longer than erectile dysfunction treatments containing the active ingredient sildenafil, which is effective for up to four hours when sexually aroused. Research shows that ED affects up to one in five men in the UK, which is roughly 4.3 million people.
Boots Pharmacist Vuyani Chinyowa encourages patients to visit their local pharmacy as their first port of call if they are worried, adding: “Most men have difficulties getting or keeping an erection at some point in their lives and is nothing to be embarrassed about.
"If you have any concerns, you can visit your local pharmacy for a private chat for advice and to find what over-the-counter treatments might help you. Other steps you can take to help with erection difficulties include making sure you are at a healthy weight by eating a healthy balanced diet and doing regular exercise, manage daily stress levels, reducing alcohol intake, getting enough sleep and stopping smoking.”
Vuyani continued: “If you continue to have problems getting an erection on a regular basis, you should speak again to your local pharmacist or GP as soon as possible. Erection difficulties can be a symptom of an underlying medical condition so it’s really important to get this checked out.”
Cialis Together was reclassified from a prescription-only medicine to a pharmacy medicine by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) earlier this year. Before purchasing the treatment at Boots, patients are required to have a consultation with a pharmacist, who will ask them a few questions to ensure it is suitable for them. If they are purchasing Cialis Together via the website, access to treatment is subject to an online consultation.
Cialis Together costs £21.99 for a pack of four tablets and £37 for a pack of eight. Boots is offering 10 percent until September 12. Access to prescription-only treatments is also available through the Boots Online Doctor Erectile Dysfunction Service.
Full store list in Nottinghamshire
· Nottingham Victoria
· Nottingham Long Eaton High Street
· Nottingham Clifton
· Bingham Eaton Place
· Nottingham Hucknall High Street
· Nottingham Giltbrook Retail Park
· Mansfield St Peters Retail Park
· Mansfield 4 Seasons
· Nottingham Riverside Retail Park
· Nottingham West Bridgford
· Newark Stodman Street
· Newark Northgate Retail Park
· Southwell King Street
· Nottingham Mapperley
· Grantham High Street
· Nottingham Netherfield Vic Retail Park
· Nottingham Sherwood
· Nottingham Arnold
· Nottingham Cripps
· Nottingham Beeston
