Since its introduction in 1998, the street value of Viagra has increased over 300% according to research group TrendWatch. In fact, the 100 mg pill sold for just $13.95 for a bottle of thirty in January 1998, compared to the $50.00-$60.00 range for the same quantity today.
Viagra is currently available as a generic alternative to its branded competitor Cialis, and as a result it’s much cheaper. However, despite the significant increase in its value, it’s still considerably less expensive than it used to be. The average wholesale cost per unit for a 125 mg tablet currently ranges between $9.00-$16.00, which is anywhere from 60% to 125% less than what it costs to purchase a bottle of thirty 100 mg tablets. So what’s the deal? Why is Viagra, which is considered a middle-age crisis drug, increasing in value while other medications for the same conditions are decreasing in cost?
What Is Behind The Explosion In Value?
There are several theories as to why Viagra’s price increased so dramatically in the first place. Some people believe that it was due to increased demand from men seeking help for erectile dysfunction (ED), a disorder where a man is unable to achieve or maintain an erection that is sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse. To satisfy this demand, pharmaceutical companies began creating more potent pills that are more effective at treating ED. As these medications became more effective at treating ED, their value increased as it became more difficult to prescribe them.
How Is IT Being Prescribed Now?
One of the reasons that Viagra’s price increased so much in the past is because it was used almost exclusively to treat an ED condition called hypertension. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects a man’s ability to achieve an erection and often causes impotence in men. So doctors would prescribe Viagra to these men, who then proceeded to either buy the pill on their own or ask their wives to buy it for them. This caused an increase in demand, and along with it, an increase in price.
However, today it’s being prescribed for lots of different conditions instead of just hypertension. It’s now being prescribed for the treatment of coronary artery disease, heart failure, and even depression. So while Viagra was once used almost exclusively to treat ED, it’s now used to treat lots of different conditions. This makes it more difficult to acquire, especially since physicians don’t normally prescribe it for fun, but to treat medical conditions. This increases its value as patients needing it for treatment become more rare.
Is It More Effective Than It Used To Be?
Another theory as to why Viagra’s price increased so much is because it’s more effective than it used to be. When it was first introduced, Viagra was almost entirely sold as a treatment for ED. However, due to advances in science and technology, as well as increased knowledge about sexual health, more and more men are realizing that they need help with erectile dysfunction and are seeking out treatments such as Viagra.
This causes an increase in demand, which leads to an increase in price, because it’s harder to acquire than it once was. In fact, some speculate that the significant price increase is because Viagra is such a sought-after drug that it’s now being rationed. This is something that never used to happen, and it indicates that along with its value, its scarcity is increasing too.
What’s The Future Of Viagra?
The future of Viagra is extremely promising. Not only has its value increased, but so has the interest in alternative treatments for erectile dysfunction. In fact, a recent study found that nearly 40% of men considered themselves to be ‘sexual impotent’, and 12% of men were ‘very concerned’ about their sexual functioning, all of which indicates that there’s a significant interest in treatment options for erectile dysfunction. Additionally, 69% of men would be ‘very satisfied’ with an oral medication for treating their condition, as opposed to the 38% of men who would be ‘satisfied’ with nothing more than a prescription for the condition, and 23% of men were ‘somewhat satisfied’ with a traditional injection therapy for treating ED.
This presents a promising future for Viagra, which is now being prescribed to men for lots of different conditions, instead of just hypertension. In fact, the future of Viagra is so promising that many have predicted that its price will continue to rise, especially since there are no signs that demand is decreasing. So while you might not have to pay quite so dearly for a bottle of vial, with the future of Viagra looking so promising, it might be worth it.