New Zealand men will now have access to multiple brands of sildenafil for the treatment of Erectile Dysfunction (ED) – including Viagra and Avigra – via prescription from a specially trained pharmacist, as an alternative to visiting their GP.
 
The change was approved by MedSafe and comes into effect today. It means that instead of going to a GP to get their sildenafil prescription, patients can consult with a specially trained pharmacist and receive a prescription for any brand of sildenafil and fill the prescription at the same time.
 
Pharmacists will not be restricted to prescribing any particular brand of sildenafil, so patients can ask to have their preferred brand of sildenafil dispensed to them.
 
Sildenafil is the active ingredient of both Viagra, the original brand of ED medication, and Avigra, Pfizer’s generic version of Viagra.  Avigra was launched in New Zealand in 2011.
 
Sildenafil will remain available through GPs. Men with complex health conditions who experience ED are recommended to consult with their GP.
 
Pfizer will continue to assist General Practitioners with patient support materials for ED, and ongoing Medical Support for Avigra.