Viagra in Australia: What Every Guy Over 40 Should Know Before Buying

Emerging Writers' Festival  
22/04/2016

We spoke with Brodie Lancaster ahead of her appearance at the  launch of the  highly anticipated 2016 Emerging Writers’ Festival Program.  A superstar in our eyes, we can’t wait to hear her talk to us all about failure and ambition at The Wheeler Centre on 10 May.

You are performing at our Program Launch: ‘Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars’. Do you have moments you think about that encapsulate this theme in your own life?
You’ll have to hear my talk at the Program Launch to know the answer to that!
JK, but kind of. I guess all those in-between moments of limbo I’ve had in my life—times when I decided to move across the world or cut ties with someone or start (or quit) a big project—present that opportunity to either succeed or fail spectacularly. The decisions we make during those cloudy moments are what I think about when I hear the phrase, Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars.

You do a lot – you founded the zine Filmme Fatales, you’re senior editor of The Good Copy, you write stuff yourself and have contributed to publications widely, plus more – how do you juggle all these things and transition between hats?
It’s not super glamorous or inspiring, but I don’t do much more but work. Even right now, I’m writing these answers as I go HAM on my inbox on an Amtrak from Portland to Seattle, where I’m giving a big talk tomorrow. But ultimately, everything I do kiiiiinda connects in some way, so each disparate job helps another.
The Good Copy is my day job—I’m a senior editor there and I work on editorial copywriting projects from nine to five—and it helps to keep my brain active and work out my technical writing muscles.
I put that exercise into practice when it comes to freelancing and I need to take feedback, be concise and clear in my arguments and phrase juuust the right tweet to share stuff I’ve written. (lol)
I work on Filmme Fatales both at work (it’s published by The Good Copy) and during any moment of downtime I have.
Oh, and I’m also trying to write a book right now hahahaha. I know.

What have you been working on lately?
I’m at the end of a two-month trip around America right now. While here, I’ve been covering the SXSW Film program for Filmme Fatales, I gave a talk in New York City and I’m about to give a talk on fangirls and One Direction at the EMP Pop Conference in Seattle. After that, I’m going to be taking a week in LA to work on my book a little more before I come home and get back into everything I talked about doing in the previous question.

What are you excited by in the Australian literary landscape at the moment?
Without sounding like a douchey name-dropper, I’m excited by how many people I know (or even just people my age, with similar levels of writing and life experience as I have) have books out that I can buy and read, and that so many other people can too! The first thing I’m doing when I get home is buying Jennifer Down’s Our Magic Hour; I just saw Omar Musa’s book Here Come The Dogs at Powell’s in Portland; Minna Gilligan’s Time After Time, which came out last year, is one of my favourite non-fiction books. As someone who is trying to write a book right now and who never ever thought I would or could or should write a book, it’s encouraging and invigorating to read incredible work by people who make that feel possible.

Have you any advice for fellow writers?
I have a lot! But real quick, I think it is very important to remember to write what you know and like, and not what you think you’re supposed to be writing for whatever trend/style/internetty reason.

What aspects of the Emerging Writers’ Festival do you look forward to?
I love seeing everyone from Twitter IRL!!!!!! Also I really love the diversity of the programming (shoutout to me and my fellow cute’n’smart members of this year’s Programming Advisory Committee) and the commitment EWF has always had to programming people who aren’t just ~big names~; I always hear about or meet people at the festival whose work I didn’t know about before the event takes place.

Brodie Lancaster is the editor of Filmme Fatales, a zine about women and cinema, and a senior editor at The Good Copy, a writing studio in Collingwood. 

She has written for Rookie, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, Vulture and other publications. Her first book, a pop culture memoir called No Way! Okay, Fine!, will be out next year with Hachette.

Early Bird Tickets to The National Writers’ Conference are available now. Taking place over two days, with over seventy speakers, The National Writers’ Conference features panels, conversations, and performances, allowing you meet this year’s Ambassadors and other writers from around Australia.

Golden Tickets to the Emerging Writers’ Festival are also available now. Golden Tickets are your passport to the Emerging Writers’ Festival. They will give you access to the National Writers’ Conference, plus the rest of the festival including all panels, talks, performances and selected workshops.

The 2016 Emerging Writers’ Festival program launches on Tuesday, 10 May at The Wheeler Centre.

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Viagra in Australia: A Doctor’s Honest Review for Men Over 30

By Dr. Michael Hartley, General Practitioner (MBBS, FRACGP)

If you are over 30, you already know the moment I am talking about. You want to be intimate, your partner is ready, but your body refuses to cooperate. The silence afterwards is painful. You lie awake wondering, “Am I less of a man?” As a doctor, I hear this story every single week. It is not your fault. Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects around 1 in 3 Australian men over 40, and it becomes more common with age, stress, high blood pressure, diabetes and even performance anxiety.

The good news is that Viagra (sildenafil) has been the gold-standard treatment for ED for more than 25 years. It is safe, well-studied, and for most men, it simply works. In this article, I will explain why Viagra is still the first choice for millions of Australian men — and why you should consider talking to your doctor or pharmacist about it today.

Attention: The Real Pain of ED in Australian Men

Erectile dysfunction is not just about sex. It erodes confidence. It damages relationships. It makes men avoid intimacy altogether. Many of my patients tell me they feel embarrassed, isolated and even depressed. Some have stopped dating entirely. They think they are too young for this problem, but ED can start in a man’s 30s, especially if he has a demanding job, poor sleep, high cholesterol, or is taking certain blood pressure medications.

Worse still, many men waste money on unproven herbal supplements or dangerous online “Viagra” from overseas. The truth is: you do not need to suffer in silence. A safe, affordable and effective solution is available at your local Australian pharmacy — and it is called Viagra.

Interest: What Makes Viagra So Effective?

Viagra contains sildenafil citrate. It belongs to a class of medicines called PDE5 inhibitors. In simple terms, Viagra relaxes the blood vessels in the penis, allowing more blood to flow in when you are sexually aroused. That means you get a firmer, longer-lasting erection — but only when you are stimulated. Viagra does not cause an erection on its own; it simply makes the natural process work the way it used to.

What is the success rate of Viagra for ED?

This is the question every patient asks me. In clinical studies and real-world use, Viagra improves erections in approximately 70% to 85% of men with erectile dysfunction. The exact success rate depends on the underlying cause. Men whose ED is caused by anxiety or mild blood flow problems often respond best. Even men with diabetes or high blood pressure frequently see significant improvement. In my practice, I would say about 4 out of 5 men who try Viagra are satisfied with the result.

Desire: Why Australian Men Over 30 Choose Viagra

Here is what I tell my patients: Viagra gives you back control. You take one tablet about 30 to 60 minutes before sex, and it works for around 4 to 6 hours. That is not an overnight marathon — it is a realistic window for a planned intimate evening. Many men prefer this over longer-acting drugs because they do not want medication floating in their system for days.

Viagra vs other ED drugs: Which one lasts longest?

Drug Active Ingredient Onset Duration Best For
Viagra Sildenafil 30–60 min 4–6 hours Planned encounters, reliability, lower cost generic available
Cialis Tadalafil 30–45 min Up to 36 hours Spontaneity, weekend use
Levitra Vardenafil 30–60 min 4–5 hours Similar to Viagra
Spedra Avanafil 15–30 min 6–8 hours Faster onset, fewer side effects

Yes, Cialis lasts much longer — up to 36 hours — which is why some men call it the “weekend pill.” But longer duration is not always better. If you only need reliable performance for an evening, Viagra is often the cleaner choice. It leaves your system faster and has one of the longest safety records in medicine.

How to manage ED when taking blood pressure medication

High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of ED, and the medications used to treat it can sometimes make erections worse. Many men worry they cannot take Viagra if they are on blood pressure tablets. In most cases, Viagra is safe with common blood pressure medicines such as ACE inhibitors, ARBs, calcium channel blockers and diuretics.

However, there are two important exceptions:

Never stop your blood pressure medicine on your own. Instead, ask your GP for a combined management plan. I routinely prescribe Viagra to men with well-controlled hypertension, and the results are excellent.

Does Chemist Warehouse sell Viagra?

Yes. Chemist Warehouse sells Viagra and generic sildenafil in stores across Australia. You need a prescription from your GP, or in some cases, you may be able to access a lower dose (50 mg) after a private consultation with a pharmacist, depending on your state and health profile. Generic sildenafil is significantly cheaper than brand-name Viagra and works the same way. At Chemist Warehouse, a pack of four generic sildenafil 100 mg tablets can be less than half the price of brand Viagra.

My advice: book a telehealth appointment with your GP today. It takes 10 minutes. Ask for a script for generic sildenafil. Then pick it up at your local Chemist Warehouse or order online for discreet delivery.

Are there clinical trials for new ED drugs in Australia?

Absolutely. Australia is actively involved in clinical research for new and improved erectile dysfunction treatments. Current trials are looking at:

If Viagra does not work for you — and it does not work for every man — ask your GP whether there are any suitable clinical trials near you. You can also search the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR). But remember: for most men, Viagra is already a proven, evidence-based solution.

Can I take Viagra if I have retinitis pigmentosa?

This is a rare but important question. Retinitis pigmentosa is an inherited eye disease that affects the retina. Viagra can inhibit an enzyme called PDE6, which is found in the retina. For this reason, Viagra should generally be avoided in men with retinitis pigmentosa, or used only under the close guidance of an ophthalmologist. If you have any inherited retinal condition, tell your doctor before taking Viagra. Do not take it without specialist advice.

Can I take Viagra if I am using poppers (amyl nitrate)?

Never. Poppers (amyl nitrate or other nitrites) are sometimes used recreationally to enhance sexual pleasure. But amyl nitrate is a potent vasodilator — it lowers blood pressure rapidly. Combining poppers with Viagra can cause a life-threatening drop in blood pressure, leading to fainting, heart attack, stroke or death. This is an absolute contraindication. If you use poppers, you must not take Viagra or any other PDE5 inhibitor. Your safety is more important than any sexual experience.

What is the legal status of Viagra in Australian sports?

Many athletes worry about doping violations. The good news is that sildenafil (Viagra) is not on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List. It is legal for Australian athletes to use Viagra for erectile dysfunction. Some studies have even investigated sildenafil for altitude training, but it is not considered performance-enhancing in a way that would lead to a ban. That said, always check with your specific sporting body or anti-doping authority if you compete professionally. For the typical active Australian man, there is no issue using Viagra.

Action: Take Back Your Confidence Today

You have lived with ED long enough. Every week you wait is another week of missed intimacy, frustration and self-doubt. Viagra is not a miracle drug — but it is close. It is the most studied ED medicine in history. It has helped tens of millions of men around the world, including thousands of Australians just like you.

Here is exactly what to do:

  1. Book a GP appointment — in person or via telehealth. Tell the doctor you want to discuss erectile dysfunction. Do not be embarrassed. We hear it every day.
  2. Ask whether Viagra or generic sildenafil is right for you — especially if you take blood pressure medicine or have heart problems.
  3. Get a prescription — your doctor will usually start you on 50 mg, which you can increase to 100 mg or decrease to 25 mg based on response and side effects.
  4. Buy it at Chemist Warehouse — ask for the generic version to save money. A script for 4 tablets can cost as little as $10–20 with generic sildenafil.
  5. Take it 30–60 minutes before sex — avoid heavy fatty meals beforehand, and limit alcohol. Then relax. Let your body do what it already knows how to do.

Final word from a doctor: Erectile dysfunction is a medical condition, not a character flaw. Viagra is a safe, effective and affordable treatment that has stood the test of time. If you are over 30 and struggling with erections, stop wasting time on unproven remedies. Talk to your doctor. Get a prescription. Pick up Viagra or generic sildenafil at Chemist Warehouse. Your confidence — and your partner — will thank you.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not replace individual medical advice. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting any new medication, especially if you have heart disease, low blood pressure, retinitis pigmentosa, or take nitrates or recreational drugs.



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