Is it legal to buy ED medication online?
Yes, with a valid prescription from a licensed prescriber. Here is how that works through telehealth, and where people get into trouble.
Short answer: yes, in the US it's legal to buy erectile dysfunction (ED) medication online, as long as you have a valid prescription and the pharmacy is licensed. Sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis) are prescription-only medications in the US, so the rules are the same as for any other prescription.
How it works legally
There are two common routes:
- You already have a prescription. Your doctor sends it to a licensed online pharmacy, or you upload it, and the pharmacy fills it and ships it to you.
- You get a prescription online. Most online ED services include a telehealth consultation. You answer medical questions, sometimes with a video or phone visit, and a licensed prescriber decides whether the medication is appropriate. If it is, they write the prescription and the pharmacy fills it.
Telehealth prescribing rules are set partly by each state, so the exact process (for example, whether a live visit is required) can vary depending on where you live.
Where people get into trouble
- Sites that skip the prescription. If a site will sell you sildenafil or tadalafil with no prescription and no medical questions, it isn't operating legally in the US. The FDA lists this as the number one warning sign of an unsafe online pharmacy.
- Ordering from overseas. The FDA generally warns against buying from foreign websites, and importing prescription drugs for personal use is generally not permitted, with limited exceptions. Products from these sites also aren't held to US manufacturing standards.
- "Herbal Viagra" and supplements. The FDA has repeatedly found supplements marketed for sexual performance that contain hidden prescription drug ingredients.
How to tell a legal service from an illegal one
A legitimate online pharmacy requires a prescription, lists a US address and phone number, has a licensed pharmacist available, and can be found on LegitScript's lookup or NABP's Safe Site Search. Our guide to spotting a fake online pharmacy walks through it.
To compare legitimate options, see the best online pharmacies for ED medication.
This guide is general information, not legal or medical advice. Talk to a licensed prescriber about whether ED medication is right for you.
Compare pharmacies
More guides
What LegitScript and NABP verification actually mean
The two badges that matter for online pharmacies, what each one checks, and how to confirm them yourself.
Generic vs brand: sildenafil and Viagra, tadalafil and Cialis
What the FDA requires of a generic, why generics look different, and why the price gap is so large.