ED Cream: What Is Prescription and What Is Over the Counter
ED cream and gel options in the US: the Eroxon gel sold over the counter, why no prescription ED cream is approved, and the prescription pills priced instead.
By Julian Caraulani · Last updated
ComparisonReviewed by Dr. A. Goher, MBBS
- FDA-approved and compounded
- LegitScript seal ID shown
- 49 states (not AR)
Below: what the Eroxon gel is, what happened to the prescription ED cream that was tried, and what you can get with a prescription, with prices and dates.
Erectile dysfunction cream for men: the short answer
Three kinds of product turn up when men search for an ED cream:
| Product | Prescription needed | FDA status | Where it is sold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eroxon gel | No | Cleared by the FDA as a device for ED | Stores and online, per its maker |
| Alprostadil cream (Vitaros) | Would be | Not approved in the US | Not sold in the US |
| "Male enhancement" creams and lotions | No | Not reviewed for ED | Online and some stores |
Sources: Eroxon US, the Vitaros announcement and DailyMed, read 14 November 2026.
The Eroxon gel
Eroxon is applied to the penis and is meant to work within minutes. It is not sildenafil or tadalafil. It works on the skin, not through the blood like a pill.
The FDA cleared it in June 2023 through a route for new kinds of medical devices. Urology Times reported that "The FDA has granted over the counter (OTC) Marketing Authorization to the topical gel formulation MED3000 (trade name, Eroxon) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction." (Urology Times)
Its US maker says it is "FDA-cleared" and that it is "Available for purchase in-store and online at most major retailers." (Eroxon US: retailers) The maker's pages we read list no price. Check the retailer's own page for a current one.
Cleared is not the same word as approved. A device is cleared when the FDA agrees it is safe and works for its stated use. A drug is approved after its own review. Both are FDA decisions, but they follow different paths.
- FDA-approved and compounded
- LegitScript seal ID shown
- 49 states (not AR)
Why there is no prescription ED cream
A drug company did try to bring one to the US. Vitaros is a cream with alprostadil, a drug that widens blood vessels. In February 2018 the FDA turned down its resubmitted application. The company's own announcement said "The CRL indicates that the FDA cannot approve the NDA for Vitaros in its present form" (Apricus announcement via GlobeNewswire). A CRL is a complete response letter: the FDA's formal reply that it will not approve a drug as filed.
Alprostadil is approved in the US in another form. A DailyMed search for alprostadil on 14 November 2026 listed injections only, such as "CAVERJECT (alprostadil) injection" (DailyMed search). The Caverject label says "CAVERJECT is indicated for the treatment of erectile dysfunction." (DailyMed: Caverject label) It is a shot into the penis, given by prescription.
None of the online programs we track sells an ED cream. Our guide to new ED treatments covers Eroxon and other recent options.
Creams sold as "male enhancement"
Creams and lotions sold online for "performance" are a different thing. They are not FDA-approved for ED, and the FDA does not review them before sale. Pills sold the same way are a known risk. The FDA warns that many sexual enhancement products "are likely to be contaminated with dangerous hidden ingredients" (FDA: sexual enhancement product notifications). Our guide on ED pills over the counter covers that risk.
Eroxon gel vs a prescription pill
| Eroxon gel | Generic sildenafil or tadalafil | |
|---|---|---|
| Prescription | No | Yes |
| How it works | On the skin of the penis | Helps blood flow, as a pill |
| FDA status | Cleared device | Approved drug |
| Nitrate heart drugs | Ask a pharmacist or doctor | Must not be taken together |
| Price | Not published on the maker's US site | From $1.60 a dose online |
A pill needs a clinician to check your heart and medicines first. That step is also the point. The pill labels warn against nitrate heart drugs such as nitroglycerin, because the mix can drop blood pressure sharply.
Prescription options you can price online
If you want a prescription treatment, these are what online programs sell. Each price is the program's own, read on the date in our records.
| Program | Product | Price | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strut Health | Generic sildenafil | $1.60 a dose | FDA-approved generic pill |
| Rex MD | Generic tadalafil | $6 a dose | FDA-approved generic pill |
| Ro | Generic sildenafil | $4 a dose | FDA-approved generic pill |
| RxSpan MD | Trimix injection | $199 a month | Compounded shot, not FDA-approved |
Compounded means a pharmacy mixes the product to order. The FDA says "Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved." (FDA: compounding Q&A) Every ED plan we track is on our ED price page.
How we rank programs
Payment never moves a rank. Ro is our top-scored ED program today, on price, openness, care, access and reputation. See our best ED programs.
Questions
FAQ
ed cream: what is prescription and what is over the counter
No ED cream is approved as a prescription drug in the US. The FDA turned down the alprostadil cream Vitaros in 2018. The Eroxon gel is sold over the counter and is cleared by the FDA as a device. Prescription ED treatment comes as pills or shots, from $1.60 a dose for generic sildenafil.
Is there an erectile dysfunction cream for men that works?
The one cleared by the FDA is the Eroxon gel, sold without a prescription. Its maker says it is clinically proven, and the FDA cleared it in 2023 as a device. No prescription ED cream is approved in the US. Most men who want a prescription option are offered a pill instead.
What is Eroxon gel?
Eroxon is a gel applied to the penis for ED. The FDA cleared it in June 2023 for use without a prescription, as a new kind of device. Its maker sells it through major retailers in stores and online. It is not sildenafil or tadalafil, and the maker's US pages list no price.
Do I need a prescription for Eroxon?
No. Eroxon is cleared to be sold over the counter, so no prescription is needed. If you take heart medicines or have other health conditions, ask a pharmacist or doctor before using any ED product. Prescription ED pills, by contrast, need a clinician to review your health first.
Is there a prescription alprostadil cream in the US?
No. Vitaros, an alprostadil cream, was turned down by the FDA in 2018. In the US, alprostadil for ED is approved as an injection, such as Caverject. It is given by prescription. Some online programs sell compounded injection mixes, which are not FDA-approved.
Is an ED cream better than a pill?
There is no head-to-head answer on the labels. A gel needs no prescription and acts on the skin. A pill such as generic sildenafil needs a prescription and works through blood flow. The pills are far more widely sold and priced openly, from $1.60 a dose online. To compare every ED program's all-in price, open our ED price page or our best ED programs.
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