Price for Viagra Brand Pfizer (Sildenafil)
| Product | Dosage | Quantity | Per tablet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viagra Brand (Pfizer/Viatris) | 25mg | 4 tablets | From C$15.99 |
| Viagra Brand (Pfizer/Viatris) | 50mg | 4 tablets | From C$17.99 |
| Viagra Brand (Pfizer/Viatris) | 100mg | 4 tablets | From C$19.99 |
Viagra (sildenafil citrate 100mg) is now marketed in Canada by Viatris Inc. — the company formed from Pfizer's Upjohn division and Mylan in 2020. It remains the original reference product against which all generic sildenafil formulations are evaluated by Health Canada for bioequivalence. Since Pfizer's Canadian patent expired in 2012, generic sildenafil from licensed Canadian manufacturers — including Apotex, Teva Canada and Mylan — is available at substantially lower cost with identical clinical efficacy.
Remember: your health should always be a top priority. Consult with a healthcare professional before starting Viagra or any sildenafil product. They can assess dosage, potential side effects, and contraindications based on your specific medical history. Canadian telehealth services including Maple, Dialogue and Tia Health provide online consultations and can issue prescriptions where clinically appropriate — typically within the same day.
Viagra at a Glance — Four Numbers Every Canadian Patient Should Know
How Sildenafil Works — The PDE5 Pathway Step by Step
Sildenafil is a selective phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor. Understanding the full mechanism — rather than the simplified "increases blood flow" description — helps set accurate expectations for how and when the medication works.
Brand Viagra vs Generic Sildenafil — What Canadian Patients Need to Know
Since Pfizer's Canadian patent for sildenafil expired in 2012, Health Canada has approved multiple generic sildenafil products. Understanding the actual clinical differences — and the price difference — is the most important practical question for most Canadian patients ordering this medication.
From Dr. Sarah Mitchell, RPh, Ontario College of Pharmacists #234567: For the vast majority of patients, generic sildenafil is clinically indistinguishable from brand Viagra. Health Canada requires demonstrated bioequivalence — the same active ingredient absorbed at the same rate and to the same extent. The price difference of 80–90% is not a quality difference; it reflects the absence of original R&D costs in generic pricing. I recommend generic sildenafil to patients who are cost-sensitive and switching to generics produced by Canadian manufacturers (Apotex, Teva Canada) is safe and appropriate under current Health Canada standards. Brand Viagra may be preferable for patients who have had an established response with the original formulation and prefer consistency.
Dosage — Health Canada-Approved Protocol
Critical Safety — Nitrates: 24-Hour Window
Also absolutely contraindicated with: Riociguat (Adempas). Alpha-blockers (tamsulosin, doxazosin, alfuzosin) may cause symptomatic hypotension when combined with sildenafil — start at 25mg if combination is medically necessary. If you take medication for angina, heart disease or high blood pressure, consult your cardiologist or GP before using sildenafil.
Note on tadalafil (Cialis): The nitrate safety gap for sildenafil is 24 hours. For tadalafil — due to its longer half-life of ~17.5 hours — the required gap is 48 hours. Do not confuse the two.
Side Effects — What to Expect and When to Seek Help
Common (more than 1 in 100)
- Headache — most common; dose-related
- Flushing — warmth and redness of face, neck or chest
- Nasal congestion or rhinitis
- Dyspepsia — indigestion or heartburn
- Dizziness
- Visual disturbances — mild blue tinge (cyanopsia), photophobia, brief blurring. PDE6 inhibition in retina. Specific to sildenafil; transient and dose-related
Less common
- Hypotension — particularly with antihypertensives
- Nausea or vomiting
- Rash or skin reaction
- Abnormal vision beyond mild blue tinge
- Increased sensitivity to light
Note: Unlike tadalafil, sildenafil does NOT cause back pain or myalgia — that side effect is specific to tadalafil's PDE11 inhibition.
Stop immediately — seek medical care
- Priapism — painful erection lasting more than 4 hours. Medical emergency. Go immediately to an ER or call 911. Permanent erectile dysfunction can result
- Sudden loss or significant decrease in vision (possible NAION)
- Sudden hearing loss, tinnitus or dizziness
- Chest pain — do NOT use nitrates; call 911
- Allergic reaction (facial swelling, difficulty breathing)
Drug Interactions
| Drug / substance | Interaction | Action required |
|---|---|---|
| Organic nitrates (GTN, isosorbide, poppers) | Severe, potentially fatal hypotension | Absolute contraindication — 24h minimum gap |
| Riociguat (Adempas) | Severe hypotension | Absolute contraindication |
| Alpha-blockers (tamsulosin, doxazosin, alfuzosin, prazosin) | Symptomatic hypotension, dizziness, syncope | Start at 25mg sildenafil; medical supervision |
| Antihypertensives (all classes) | Additive blood pressure reduction | Monitor; medical advice recommended |
| CYP3A4 inhibitors (ketoconazole, ritonavir, clarithromycin, erythromycin) | Increased sildenafil plasma levels; prolonged effect | Reduce dose to 25mg; max 25mg with ritonavir |
| Grapefruit / grapefruit juice | CYP3A4 inhibition — elevated sildenafil levels | Avoid within 4 hours of dosing |
| CYP3A4 inducers (rifampicin, carbamazepine) | Reduced sildenafil efficacy | Dose adjustment may be needed; consult GP |
| Other PDE5 inhibitors (tadalafil, vardenafil, avanafil) | Additive effect; increased adverse events | Do not combine |
| Alcohol (>2 standard Canadian drinks) | Additive hypotension; impairs erectile function | Limit alcohol intake |
Contraindications
- Current use of any organic nitrate or nitric oxide donor in any form
- Current use of riociguat (Adempas)
- Severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class C)
- Recent stroke, MI or life-threatening arrhythmia (within 90 days)
- Unstable angina or angina during sexual intercourse
- Severe hypotension (systolic BP below 90 mmHg) or uncontrolled hypertension
- Hereditary degenerative retinal disorders including retinitis pigmentosa (PDE6)
- Previous episode of NAION (non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy)
- Hypersensitivity to sildenafil citrate or any tablet excipient
- Persons under 18 years of age; women; children
Frequently Asked Questions — Viagra in Canada
Does brand Viagra work better than generic sildenafil?
No. Health Canada's bioequivalence standard requires that a generic must produce the same peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the curve (AUC) as the brand-name product — within a narrow acceptable range (80–125%). In practice, bioequivalent means clinically equivalent: the same onset, the same duration, the same efficacy. The blue diamond shape and the Pfizer/Viatris name do not add pharmacological value. For the vast majority of patients, generic sildenafil produced by Canadian manufacturers (Apotex, Teva Canada) is an appropriate and far more cost-effective substitute.
Can I get a Viagra prescription online in Canada?
Yes. Canadian telehealth platforms allow you to consult a licensed physician and receive a prescription without visiting a clinic in person. Services including Maple (getmaple.ca), Dialogue (dialogue.co) and Tia Health offer consultations available to patients across most Canadian provinces, typically within hours. A prescription is required for both brand and generic sildenafil — it is a Schedule I prescription-only medication under Canada's Food and Drugs Act.
Why does Viagra sometimes not seem to work?
The most common reasons for reduced sildenafil efficacy are: taking it after a high-fat meal (reduces peak concentration by ~29% and delays onset by up to 60 minutes); insufficient sexual stimulation (sildenafil requires arousal — it does not work without it); using alcohol in excess; taking it too soon or too late relative to activity; or using an insufficient dose. If consistent non-response occurs at 100mg with optimal conditions, discuss alternative medications (tadalafil, vardenafil) or underlying causes with your GP.
How is Viagra different from Cialis (tadalafil)?
The key clinical differences are duration and food interaction. Sildenafil (Viagra) lasts 4–6 hours and is significantly reduced by fatty meals. Tadalafil (Cialis) lasts up to 36 hours and is not affected by food. Tadalafil may cause back pain (PDE11 effect); sildenafil may cause visual changes (PDE6 effect). Both are equally effective for erectile dysfunction — the choice is based on lifestyle preference and tolerability. See also Cialis Generic and Cialis Super Active.
Is Viagra covered by provincial drug plans in Canada?
Generally, no. Sildenafil (brand and generic) is not covered by most provincial formularies for erectile dysfunction in Canada as it is classified as a lifestyle medication. Some private insurance plans provide partial coverage. Generic sildenafil is considerably less expensive than brand Viagra, which substantially reduces out-of-pocket cost for patients without coverage.
This product page was reviewed by Dr. Sarah Mitchell, RPh, Ontario College of Pharmacists #234567 (Canadian Pharmacists Association). Information is for general guidance only and does not constitute personalised medical or pharmaceutical advice. Sildenafil is a prescription-only medication in Canada — consult your physician or pharmacist before use.
