Fake Viagra, Real Problem: Counterfeit ED Drugs Flooding the UK

For many men, talking about erectile dysfunction is already difficult enough. But what makes things worse is the amount of counterfeit erectile dysfunction drugs we have in the UK. These counterfeit pills may look genuine, but can be unsafe, ineffective, or sometimes harmful to us.

New statistics from freedom of information (FOI) have exposed how many counterfeit erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs are arriving in the UK. As of April, more than 7.5 million doses of counterfeit Viagra (sildenafil) have been confiscated, a staggering number that surpasses other counterfeit medications made in the UK.

By contrast, seizures of other high-risk drugs were far lower: 

·       Tramadol (opioid painkiller): 2.96 million doses

·       Cialis (tadalafil): 1.5 million doses

The data: What’s being seized?

Medicine	2023	2024	2025(YTD)	Total
Sildenafil(Viagra)	2,478,289	4,455,493	571,993	7,505,775
Tadalafil (Cialis)	475,556	993,048	30,795	1,499,399
Tramadol (Opioid)	332,048	2,535,452	100,491	2,968,131

 

From April of 2023 to June of 2025, a whopping amount of 7.5 million doses of counterfeit Viagra have been confiscated, and that's just the tip of the iceberg, crazy, right? At the same period, 1.5 million doses of fake Cialis and 2.96 million doses of counterfeit tramadol were also seized. Though from the statistics above, you can see that early 2025 has a low number compared to previous years, with over half a million doses confiscated this year.

 

Where Are the Seized Drugs Coming From?

Most fake ED drugs are intercepted before they get into the hands of patients. The vast majority of the fake Viagra is circulated in the UK. You might think that with that large an amount being produced here in the UK, but it is not produced here; instead, it is imported from other countries. China and India, typically, are the major sources, with labs dishing out inexpensive copies that have not been subject to any safety testing. Sometimes the pills are smuggled on a large scale, while other times they trickle in through internet “pharmacies” that look genuine but are anything but.

 

Why Are People Purchasing Fake Viagra?

It comes down to three major reasons: embarrassment, price, and convenience. Many men don’t want to have that awkward conversation with a doctor, so what they do is Google it and click on the first website that offers discreet delivery. Whilst others compare the price between those sold in the pharmacy and those being sold online, and go for the cheapest option, which almost always ends up being the ones sold online.

 

The problem is that the benefits of buying online come with risks. It’s like trusting a stranger you just met over the internet with your health.

 

What Our Pharmacist Says

Here at Cured Pharmacy, we take calls, messages, and emails almost every week about people being worried about whether the pills they bought online are real or how they can check. Our pharmacist simply says: Don't take the risk with counterfeit ED medications.

 

That's why Cured Pharmacy always advises sticking to licensed online pharmacies like ours. Every treatment we provide is approved, genuine, and comes from regulated suppliers, so you know exactly what you’re putting in your body. ED is nothing for you to get concerned about or embarrassed to talk about.

 

Here at Cured Pharmacy we have made the process private and discreet, but most importantly, in this case, safe and effective medication.

 

How to protect yourself from fake ED drugs

If you’re considering treatment for erectile dysfunction, here’s how to stay safe:

Always check for GPhC registration and watch out for red flags like: 

 

• Sells prescription-only medicines without asking for a consultation
• No clear contact details
• No clear Pharmacist Information
• Uses generic stock photos
• Uses unbranded packaging
• Offers very cheap pricing

 

Final Thoughts

Counterfeit ED medications are a serious public health issue that needs to be addressed and spoken about more. With the millions of fake medications in the UK every year, people looking for help for erectile dysfunction need to be very cautious.

 

Safe, effective, and discreet treatment is available through regulated pharmacies like Cured Pharmacy. We’ll help you access licensed ED medications without any risks.