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For many of us, sex is essential to maintain a bonding connection in relationships. Sex can ease stress and can be beneficial for overall health.
As we age, our ability to function during intimacy can change. Erectile dysfunction (ED), a condition where men* are unable to get or maintain an erection during sexual activity, impacts millions of people every year. [1] National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Definition & facts for erectile dysfunction. July 201 It can feel taboo or embarrassing to talk about sexual concerns with partners or health care providers, but you don’t need to feel ashamed, and you certainly aren’t alone. In a poll we conducted of 360 men, 58% of respondents said they were reluctant to bring up their ED to a health care provider, and many waited for months—some even years—before seeking medical help.
“When dealing with erectile dysfunction or any other sexual dysfunctions as a couple, effective communication becomes paramount,” said Rhiannon John, a sexologist at Bedbible. “Health concerns such as ED can significantly impact the dynamic of a relationship, affecting both partners emotionally and physically. Therefore, it’s crucial to communicate any changes or concerns with your partner openly. This communication allows both individuals to address each other’s needs and concerns effectively, fostering understanding, support, and intimacy within the relationship.”
ED could be caused by a lack of blood flow and easily treated with medication, or it can be a symptom of a more serious condition like high blood pressure, diabetes, or psychological issues. [2] National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Symptoms & causes of erectile dysfunction. July 2017 It’s important to be seen by a doctor who can determine any underlying cause and recommend treatment. [3] Burnett AL, et al. Erectile dysfunction: AUA guideline. The Journal of Urology. 2018. And you won’t need to compromise your sense of comfort or privacy to get that treatment. With telehealth, and platforms like GoodRx, talking to a doctor about ED can happen in the privacy and comfort of your home. Our Reviews Team thoroughly assessed GoodRx, its offerings, and how to access ED medication at a discount.
*For brevity, we refer to all people assigned male at birth as men throughout this guide.
We shopped online and conducted focus groups with men who have used GoodRx and similar telehealth platforms. We wanted to get first-person testimony of their experience meeting with providers, receiving a diagnosis, and getting prescriptions for medications like Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil).
GoodRx offers many medications at a discounted price without having to jump through hoops with insurance. We found this telehealth platform easy to use, and we liked that the coupons ensured a lower cost compared to retail prices.
Two types of ED medication your provider may prescribe are:
“I’ve used my prescription in-person using GoodRx because they go through different vendors like RiteAid, CVS, or wherever you can get the best price. I’ve used a GoodRx coupon, and it’s quick and easy.” — Focus group participant
GoodRx lists providers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Once you have seen a provider on GoodRx through a telehealth appointment, you can receive ED medication through GoodRx Care or by using a GoodRx coupon when you fill a prescription at your pharmacy.
GoodRx Care is a telehealth platform that connects users to health care providers who can prescribe various medications for health concerns, including erectile dysfunction. GoodRx advertises prescription medications at discounted rates, which can be applied with a GoodRx coupon.
GoodRx is able to offer discount prices on medications by partnering with pharmacies and pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs). PBMs negotiate with drugmakers for lower prices, usually for employers or insurance companies. When someone uses a GoodRx coupon, the pharmacy shares some of the profit with the PBM, which then gives some of that revenue to GoodRx.
You can use the same coupon for medication refills, but GoodRx recommends getting a new coupon each time because the price may fluctuate.
To get a prescription drug at a reduced cost with GoodRx, you must pay for a visit with a health care provider—whether through GoodRx Care or another provider. Appointments for ED through GoodRx Care cost $59. Consider appointment prices when budgeting as part of the overall cost of this telehealth platform.
Telehealth visits for ED can sometimes miss the underlying causes of ED, which can be a vital component of long-term treatment. In-person consultations can include a physical exam and lab or blood work, which you cannot receive via telehealth. If you have existing medical conditions such as diabetes, obesity, or cardiac disease, we recommend seeing an in-person provider for a diagnosis and prescription, which you can then fill with a telehealth platform.
If you might need multiple telehealth visits for your ED or other conditions, you may want to select the GoodRx Gold premium membership for approximately $19 per month. Compared to GoodRx Care, the GoodRx Gold plan provides lower-cost medical visits, prescriptions, and free delivery of certain medications to your front door. You can expect to pay $10 or less for more than 1,000 medications with the premium GoodRx Gold plan. At the time of this writing, you can get 30 (100mg) Viagra tablets for $14.42 with a GoodRx Gold membership, compared to $19.99 with just the GoodRx coupon. A membership may mean shorter wait times to see providers and access to premium customer care, according to GoodRx.
You can choose from two GoodRx Gold plans:
GoodRx Gold can be a cost-saving alternative to the one-time appointment fee if you need multiple sessions with a provider. There is a free 30-day trial, so you can try it before deciding to subscribe.
You can pick up your prescription at your local pharmacy, big box stores like Walmart and Costco, and grocery stores that have pharmacies, or you can opt to have them delivered to your home. Costs of medication will vary depending on where you fill your prescriptions.
The following table includes the estimated prices of ED prescriptions in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, if you use a GoodRx coupon at CVS compared to the average retail price without a coupon. These figures were collected at the time of writing and may be subject to change.
| Medication* | GoodRx Price at CVS | Average Retail Price |
|---|---|---|
| Cialis (tadalafil) | $24.24 (price for 30 pills (5mg)) | $262 |
| Viagra (sildenafil) | $23.70 (price for 30 pills (100mg)) | $1,291 |
| Staxyn (vardenafil) | $40.21 (price for four orally disintegrating tablets (10mg)) | $134 |
| Generic Levitra (vardenafil) | $55.28 (price for 10 tablets (20mg)) | $379.50 |
| Edex (alprostadil) | $232.74 (price for two cartridges (20mcg)) | $251.80 |
| Caverject Impulse | $223.89 (price for two injection systems (20mcg)) | $388 |
| Stendra (avanafil) | $340.60 (price for 5 tablets (200mg)) | $561.82 |
| Muse (alprostadil) | $490.96 (price for six suppositories (1000mcg)) | $973.49 |
| Caverject | $858.02 (price for six vials (40mcg)) |
*Dosages vary
Medication discounts that you can apply at the time of payment can be found on the GoodRx website or app . Prices may vary daily or based on your location.
You can send these coupons to yourself via text message or email from the GoodRx website or app. Present the coupon card to the pharmacist when picking up, filling, or refilling your prescription. Not all pharmacists may be aware of GoodRx, but if GoodRx partners with their pharmacy, they must honor the coupon price.
GoodRx members can get ED medications in a variety of doses. The following table features a few of the medications available for ED via GoodRx prescription.
| Medication | Milligrams (mg) | Number of tablets |
|---|---|---|
| Viagra (sildenafil) | 25, 50, or 100 | Six, 10, 20, 30, or custom amount |
| Generic Viagra (sildenafil) | 25, 50, or 100 | Six, 10, 20, 30, 90, or custom amount |
| Cialis (tadalafil) | Daily: 2.5 or 5 On-demand: 10 or 20 | Four, 10, 15, 30, 90, or custom amount |
| Generic Cialis (tadalafil) | Daily: 2.5 or 5 On-demand: 10 or 20 | 10, 20, 30, 60, 90, or custom amount |
You may get your prescription filled at your pharmacy within 30 minutes of your telehealth appointment or mailed to your home in five to 12 days. GoodRx medications are shipped in plain, discreet packaging to ensure your privacy.
You can sign up for GoodRx on the website or download the app. We like using the app, which you can download on Apple or Android devices, for its convenience. Once you enter your personal information and address, the app takes you through a questionnaire about your physical, mental, and sexual health, including:
GoodRx states their providers are available seven days a week and you don’t need to set up an appointment once you have a prescription. You can connect with providers online or in the GoodRx app to chat with a provider, review your treatment plan, and ask questions directly in the online message center.
GoodRx does not accept insurance, but accepts major credit cards, debit cards, and cash if you are paying in store. GoodRx does not accept health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) cards for telehealth visits, but you can use funds from your HSA for prescription purchases, according to the GoodRx website.
Depending on your insurance plan, the copay of seeing a health care provider in person may be less than what you would pay on GoodRx. Make sure to check your plan to compare prices.
You can reach GoodRx customer service by:
In 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a $1.5 million civil penalty for violating the Health Breach Notification Rule. [5] Federal Trade Commission. FTC enforcement action to bar GoodRx from sharing consumers’ sensitive health info for advertising. Feb. 1, 2023 The FTC charged this fine for GoodRx’s use of software tools to collect consumer personal and health information for advertising purposes on Facebook, Google, and other sites and failing to alert consumers of this activity.
GoodRx paid the fine but issued a statement denying any wrongdoing. They continued, “While we had used vendor technologies to advertise in a way that we believe was compliant with all applicable regulations and that remains common practice among many health, consumer, and government websites, we are proud that we took action to be an industry leader on privacy practices.”
Based on our expert consultations, research, and testing, we determined the following factors to be essential for our readers when signing up for an erectile dysfunction medication platform:
We had all of our reviews medically reviewed by an expert in the field to ensure the information is appropriate for NCOA readers’ needs.
Viagra and Cialis may be ineffective or dangerous based on your health history and current medications. Make sure you discuss any medications you take with your health care provider before taking ED medications.
Some of the most common chronic conditions affecting older adults—including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes—can damage penile blood vessels and nerves, leading to new or worsening ED that doesn’t respond to Viagra or Cialis. [6] Defeudis G, et al. Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews. 2022. Erectile Dysfunction and Diabetes: A Melting Pot of Circumstances and Treatments. Fortunately, several other ED treatments are available, including penile injections, vacuum erection devices, and a discreet penile prosthesis. [7] Footnote: McMahon CN, et al. BMJ. 2006. Treating Erectile Dysfunction When PDE5 Inhibitors Fail
ED can also appear as one of the first symptoms of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, anxiety, and other chronic health concerns. If you haven’t had a physical exam within the last year, don’t try to get ED medication online. Visit your doctor in person to ensure underlying conditions are diagnosed and treated alongside ED.
Viagra and Cialis shouldn’t be taken with some of the medications that are used to treat chest pain, high blood pressure, or lower urinary tract symptoms. Viagra should also be avoided in men taking protease inhibitors—a specific class of medications used to treat HIV.
Combining nitrates or alpha-blockers with ED pills may cause a severe, life-threatening drop in blood pressure, which can be associated with feeling dizzy, fainting, falling, and even death.
This is not a complete list of medications that should not be taken with Viagra and Cialis. Talk to your provider about everything you take—including recreational drugs—when discussing potential ED treatments.
Cialis and Viagra also shouldn’t be taken by people with low resting blood pressure, uncontrolled high blood pressure, inherited disorders of the eye or retina, recent heart attack or stroke, or uncontrolled heart disease. Cialis and Viagra may worsen abdominal pain in men with stomach ulcers.
We understand discussing ED openly with your medical provider can be difficult, and you may have considered taking certain supplements or pills found in gas stations instead. We must caution you not to do so.
Many of these pills are unregulated supplements known to contain hidden ingredients that can be dangerous for people with high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol. [8] US Food and Drug Administration. Tainted sexual enhancement and energy products. Jan. 30, 2024. If you have taken these unregulated pills for sexual enhancement and have experienced adverse effects—chest pain, severe headaches, or prolonged erections—contact your doctor right away. [9] US Food and Drug Administration. Platinum 69000 Rhino 69 contains hidden drug ingredient. May 5, 2023.
Getting care for erectile dysfunction can be an important first step to improving your sexual wellness. GoodRx provides coupons to get generic or name-brand ED medications at a discount. You can schedule visits with telehealth providers to receive medical diagnoses and prescriptions from the privacy of your home.
Yes, GoodRx can prescribe Viagra and its competitors like Cialis. First, you must see a doctor via a telehealth visit, and they can then prescribe medication if deemed necessary.
Although there are many places to buy ED medication online and in person, the best place is one in which you are seen by a health care professional who can prescribe the medication at a dosage that is right for your needs. If you’re looking for discounts on ED medication, GoodRx may be the right platform for you.
Yes, if you are looking for ED medication at a discounted rate, GoodRx is a good platform to use. GoodRx providers can prescribe medications you can pick up from one of the 70,000 pharmacy locations across all 50 states or have them mailed directly to your home.
GoodRx is accepted in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. You can use your discount card at most retailers, including CVS, Costco, Rite Aid, Safeway, Target, Walgreens, and Walmart.
