For millions of men who suffer from erectile dysfunction, Viagra is nothing short of a miracle Drug. Pfizer’s little blue pill offers them a safe and effective way to temporarily regain erectile function and resume a relatively normal sex life. However, nearly two decades after its introduction in 1998, Viagra remains a relatively expensive medication, posing a financial challenge for men who’d like to find out whether the drug is effective for them and free of any troublesome side effects.

Some good news. The beginning of a downtrend in prices is in sight. Before the end of 2017, a generic formulation of Viagra will be introduced by Teva Pharmaceuticals USA. Generics offer a less expensive alternative to brand-name drugs, and their introduction almost always triggers competitive pressures that eventually lower the prices of both brand-name medications and their generic alternatives.

Check with Your Doctor

However, for men who’d like to obtain a free sample of Pfizer’s iconic little blue pill now, a few possibilities are worth pursuing. Your doctor or urologist may be able to provide you with one or more free tablets of the ED drug upon request. However, the availability of such samples may be very limited because the drug has been on the market for such a long time, and doctors tend to have free samples of prescription medications that are newer. Nevertheless, an inquiry at your doctor’s office will cost you nothing and could land you with one or more free samples of the drug.

Like most other major pharmaceutical companies, Pfizer has a program that offers a wide array of assistance plans to members of low-income households who might find it difficult, if not impossible, to purchase the company’s drugs at regularly posted prices.

Pfizer Assistance Program

That program, called Pfizer RxPathways, is easy to access. Those in search of help to access one of Pfizer’s prescription medications, such as Viagra, are prompted to type in the name of the medication that they have been prescribed. Type in “Viagra,” and you’ll be asked to supply the answers to three questions.

The first question addresses the type of prescription coverage the applicant has — public, as in Medicare or Medicaid; private, such as that offered under an employer-provided or individual health care plan; other; and none. The second question asks the applicant to supply the total number of people in his household, and the third asks the applicant to specify the household’s total annual or monthly pre-tax earnings.

See If You’re Qualified for Help

Based on one’s responses to these three questions, Pfizer’s assistance website will then list the plan or plans under which the applicant may be able to obtain the Pfizer drug in question for free or at sharply reduced prices. Under one such plan, the Pfizer Patient Assistance Program, free Pfizer brand-name drugs are supplied “to eligible patients through their doctor’s office, at home, or — in some cases — via a co-pay card that will cover the entire cost of their co-pay at the pharmacy.”

Other plans available through Pfizer RxPathways can sharply reduce the amount of co-payment that applicants with prescription drug coverage must pay to purchase Pfizer drugs, such as Viagra.

Viagra’s Active Ingredient

The active ingredient in Viagra is sildenafil citrate, a member of a family of chemical compounds known as PDE5 inhibitors. Other drugs in this family include vardenafil hydrochloride, the active ingredient in both Levitra and Staxyn; tadalafil, the active ingredient in Cialis; and avanafil, the key ingredient in Stendra.

PDE5 inhibitors get their name for their unique ability to temporarily disable an enzyme known as phosphodiesterase-5, which can interfere with optimal blood flow to the penis. And insufficient blood flow to the penis is the No. 1 cause of erectile dysfunction.

Start with a Single Tablet and Split It

If you are unable to obtain samples of Viagra from your doctor or through Pfizer RxPathways, your best bet is to buy a single 100-milligram tablet of the medication. The recommended starting dose for Viagra is 50 milligrams, so a 100-milligram tablet can be split into two 50-milligram doses. One such dose is adequate for most men.  This should give you a reasonable idea of how well the drug works for you and what, if any, side effects it causes.

To purchase Viagra in any quantity, you must first have a prescription. You can get this from your doctor, but remember to ask that he specify a single 100-milligram tablet. With that prescription in hand, you can get it filled at the local chain pharmacy or opt instead to order the drug online. If you prefer the convenience and privacy of the latter option, be sure you’re dealing with a trustworthy online supplier, such as eDrugstore.com.

How to Order from eDrugstore

If you decide to order the drug from eDrugstore, you can fax your doctor’s prescription or scan and email it along with your order. If you don’t yet have a prescription, eDrugstore can set up a complimentary online consultation with one of its team of licensed U.S. physicians. If your symptoms and overall health history make you a candidate for the drug, eDrugstore’s doctor will authorize a prescription.

The price for a single 100-milligram tablet of Viagra at eDrugstore is $87, or $43.50 per 50-milligram dose. All first orders from eDrugstore come with a complimentary pill splitter. In business since 1998, eDrugstore is a member of the Secure Medical family of online drugstores. Based in Tempe, Arizona, eDrugstore sells only FDA-approved medications, all of them sourced from licensed U.S. pharmacies.

If you decide to order your ED drugs through eDrugstore.com, you can get started by paying a visit to the website’s Erection Problems page. There you will find additional information about erectile dysfunction, as well as profiles of all FDA-approved medications for the treatment of ED.