How to Buy Dapoxetine (Priligy) in the US
Dapoxetine (Priligy) is approved by prescription in Mexico, the UK, and 50+ other countries — but not in the United States. Here's what that actually means, the real legal picture on personal importation, and what FDA-approved options exist here.
Medically reviewed Medically reviewed by Jill St. Germain, PharmD — NPI 1356626378 · Last updated 2026-08-31
| Active ingredient | Dapoxetine |
|---|
You can't buy dapoxetine (Priligy) through any licensed US pharmacy — it has never received FDA approval. It is a real, regulated prescription medication in more than 50 other countries, including Mexico, the UK, and the EU. If you're in the US, personal importation falls into the same legal gray area as any foreign medication purchase, and FDA-approved alternatives are available here with a prescription.
Why dapoxetine isn't FDA-approved in the US
Dapoxetine has never received FDA approval and cannot be legally prescribed or dispensed by any US pharmacy, Arrow Pharmacy included. This is different from most medications on this site — it isn't a matter of needing a prescription; the drug itself simply isn't part of the FDA-approved US drug supply.
Dapoxetine is a short-acting SSRI first approved in Europe in 2008, specifically for on-demand treatment of premature ejaculation — taken a few hours before anticipated sexual activity rather than daily, unlike most SSRIs used for depression or anxiety. Its absence from the US market reflects the manufacturer's regulatory and commercial choices, not necessarily a safety finding specific to the US. The practical reality for US patients is the same either way: it is not a product a licensed US pharmacy can sell, and any website offering to ship it to US addresses is operating outside FDA oversight, with no verification of what's actually in the product, its dose, or its purity.
Availability in Mexico and elsewhere
Dapoxetine is sold under the brand name Priligy (30 mg and 60 mg tablets) in more than 50 countries, including the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia, and Mexico, where it's distributed by Menarini and dispensed — like everywhere it's legitimately sold — only with a valid prescription from a licensed prescriber, through regular Mexican pharmacies.
That last point matters: even in countries where dapoxetine is approved, buying it isn't a no-prescription, walk-up purchase. A pharmacy anywhere — Mexico included — that offers it without requiring a prescription or any medical evaluation is not operating legitimately, regardless of what country it's in.
What if I buy it abroad — can I bring it back?
This is genuinely a legal gray area, and it works the same way as bringing back any other foreign-purchased medication:
- Getting evaluated and prescribed by a licensed prescriber in the country where you're purchasing
- Buying only a personal-use quantity (roughly a 90-day supply), in original, labeled packaging
- Buying from an actual licensed pharmacy, not an unverified website claiming to ship from abroad
- Ordering from a site that requires no prescription or medical evaluation at all
- Assuming personal-use import is a guaranteed legal right — it's FDA enforcement discretion, not formal protection
- Buying larger quantities, or anything that looks like resale rather than personal use
The FDA generally does not pursue individuals importing a personal-use quantity of medication for a genuine medical need with no unreasonable safety risk — but that's discretion, not a guarantee, and policy or enforcement can change. For the fuller picture on how this works, including how to evaluate whether a foreign pharmacy is legitimate, see our guide on buying prescription medication from outside the US — the same verification principles apply regardless of which country is involved.
What US prescribers actually use
Premature ejaculation is a legitimate, common, and treatable condition — you don't need an unapproved import to address it. US clinicians commonly use, off-label, medications that are FDA-approved for other indications, most often certain SSRI antidepressants, sometimes alongside topical anesthetic creams or sprays and behavioral techniques. The right option depends on your health history, and that's a conversation to have with a physician, urologist, or a telehealth provider — not something to source from an unregulated website.
If you're prescribed one of these FDA-approved alternatives, Arrow Pharmacy can fill it — call us at (860) 522-9289 with any questions once you have a prescription.
Frequently asked questions
Is dapoxetine legal to buy in the United States?
Dapoxetine has never been FDA-approved for sale in the United States, in any form or dose. No US pharmacy, including Arrow Pharmacy, can legally prescribe or dispense it. Products sold online as "dapoxetine" to US customers are not part of the FDA-regulated supply chain and their actual contents cannot be verified.
Why isn't dapoxetine approved in the US if it's approved in Mexico and Europe?
Dapoxetine is approved in more than 50 countries — including the UK, the EU, and Mexico (sold there as Priligy, by prescription, through licensed Mexican pharmacies) — since 2008. The manufacturer has not pursued or received FDA approval in the United States. That reflects a regulatory and business decision, not necessarily a US-specific safety finding, but the practical result is the same: it simply is not part of the FDA-approved US drug supply.
Can I bring dapoxetine back if I buy it at a pharmacy in Mexico?
This falls under the same FDA personal-importation enforcement discretion that applies to any foreign-purchased medication — generally a roughly 90-day personal-use supply, for a real medical need, with no unreasonable safety risk, not for resale. That's discretion, not a guaranteed legal right, and it can change or be applied inconsistently at the border. See our guide on buying medication from abroad for the full picture.
Is it safe to order dapoxetine from a website that ships to the US?
Be cautious. Even though dapoxetine is a legitimate, regulated medication elsewhere, a website willing to ship an FDA-unapproved drug to US addresses is by definition operating outside both US and often the source country's normal pharmacy regulations. There is no way to verify dose, purity, or authenticity of what arrives, regardless of how professional the site looks. A pharmacy that requires zero prescription or medical evaluation is the clearest red flag.
What are legitimate options for premature ejaculation in the US?
US prescribers treat premature ejaculation with FDA-approved medications used off-label, most often certain SSRI antidepressants, along with topical anesthetics and behavioral techniques. Talk to your doctor, a urologist, or a telehealth provider about what's appropriate for you — a proper diagnosis and prescription is the safer, verifiable path.
Is dapoxetine the same as Viagra or Cialis?
No. Dapoxetine addresses premature ejaculation (timing), while sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis) are PDE5 inhibitors that address erectile function (achieving/maintaining an erection). They treat different problems through completely different mechanisms — some patients outside the US are prescribed both together for overlapping symptoms, but that is a prescriber's call, not something to combine on your own.
Sources
- Priligy (dapoxetine) — Summary of Product Characteristics — electronic Medicines Compendium (UK)
- Drugs@FDA search — approved drug products (confirms no US approval) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Priligy (dapoxetina) — Información Para Prescribir — Menarini México
- Personal Importation — official policy — U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- BeSafeRx: Know Your Online Pharmacy — U.S. FDA