Buying Viagra online is easy; sorting through the thousands of online pharmacies to find a reputable store is the hard part. However, if you obtain a doctor's prescription and follow some straightforward guidelines when selecting an online pharmacy, you can learn how to by Viagra online without having to go to your local drugstore.

Millions of men use Viagra, but erectile dysfunction is a sensitive topic that causes embarrassment for some people. However, the Internet provides a way to obtain Viagra safely, legally and discreetly in the comfort of their home. Mahalo has put together the following guide to help you or a loved one buy Viagra online.

According to Pfizer's Web site, you must have a prescription to get Viagra. This means going to the doctor, talking to the doctor about your concerns, and answering a few questions about your medical history. Check Mahalo's page on How to Get Viagra for more information.http://www.viagra.com/getting-viagra-prescription.aspx

In brief, to get a prescription you will need to:

1. Schedule an appointment with your doctor
2. Consult with your doctor or a specialist
3. Obtain a paper copy of the prescription from your doctor

The good news is you can take your prescription and use it to purchase Viagra in an online pharmacy. The bad news is, according to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) Web site, more than 98% of online pharmacies are not following state and federal laws. But, with some research and guidance, you can find a reputable online pharmacy.

1. Use an approved list: The NABP has a list of approved online pharmacies that it updates and maintains regularly.http://www.fda.gov/buyonlineguide/ Buying prescription medicine online
2. Protect your privacy: Look for things on a site that will help ensure your privacy, and for any red flags that might be signs of trouble. Although you will have to give out some personal information to process your request, a site should never ask directly for your social security number, for instance.http://www.fda.gov/buyonlineguide http://www.nabp.net
3. Prescription required: If a pharmacy does not require a prescription to fill an order, it's a sure sign that the pharmacy is not licensed. But just because a pharmacy does require a prescription does not mean they are necessarily reputable.http://www.fda.gov/buyonlineguide/ http://www.nabp.net/IP/rec1.asp
4. Made in the USA: Drugs sold by online pharmacies should be manufactured in the United States for patients and customers in the U.S. If a site says that its drugs are manufactured for use in a different country, these drugs are not legal and should not be sold to U.S. customers.FDA: Buying prescription medicine online http://www.nabp.net/IP/rec1.asp
5. Price: If you find a deal on Viagra that is too good to be true, it probably is. Many retailers that sell heavily discounted Viagra are selling drugs that are either imported from other countries or counterfeit. Often, there's no way to determine the quality of the drugs.http://www.fda.gov/buyonlineguide/ http://www.nabp.net/IP/rec1.asp
6. Time: If a pharmacy says that a prescription will take more than five days to get to you once it is filled, this may be an indication that the pharmacy is getting its drugs from overseas.FDA: Buying prescription medicine online http://www.nabp.net/IP/rec1.asp
7. No generic Viagra: Viagra is still under patent from Pfizer and will not be available generically until sometime around 2011 to 2013.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viagra If you see Viagra being sold generically under the name sildenafil, it's illegal and probably not the real thing.
8. Foreign pharmacies: Foreign pharmacies import Viagra and other drugs illegally. These pharmacies may or may not require a prescription in order to obtain the Viagra. These pharmacies sell Viagra that has been imported from other countries and there are few to no quality checks or safeguards on these pharmacies. It is very difficult to ensure the quality and authenticity of Viagra sold in foreign online pharmacies. A February 2009 article in the New England Journal of Medicine reported on a batch of fake Viagra that caused hypoglycemia in a number of patients.http://www.emaxhealth.com/1024/52/29447/dangerous-problems-counterfeit-viagra.html

Online pharmacies have a few different ways in which they will fill a prescription:

1. Have the prescription ready: Some sites let you submit your own physician-written prescription.
2. Have doctor's office send prescription by fax or mail: A doctor's office can also fax or mail a prescription to an online or mail order pharmacy. This can take a few days.
3. Electronic prescription submission: Some online pharmacies allow doctors to submit a prescription electronically. This is a relatively new method of getting a prescription filled, with relatively few doctors and pharmacies set up for the process.

Whatever your reasons for buying Viagra online, the two most important things to do are to consult with your doctor whether Viagra is right for you, and to find a reputable online pharmacy. If you take the right precautions, you can feel as safe getting your Viagra over the Internet as in getting it at your grocery store's pharmacy counter.

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor before using the information presented here.

• Introduction
• Step 1: Get a Prescription
• Step 2: Find a Reputable Online Pharmacy
• Step 3: Fill Your Prescription
• Conclusion