SLS endorsement no longer needed for generic Tadalafil and Vardenafil

NHS prescriptions for generic versions of Tadalafil and Vardenafil will no longer require a ‘SLS’ (Selected List Scheme) endorsement from the prescriber, as of 1 October 2025.

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However, the SLS endorsement requirement will remain in place for the branded versions Cialis (Tadalafil) and Levitra (Vardenafil), which may only be prescribed on the NHS for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in specific, restricted circumstances (which are set out in Part XVIIIB of the Drug Tariff).

The change is expected to benefit patients who do not tolerate Sildenafil, which is already available for erectile dysfunction without restrictions, and who are currently ineligible for Tadalafil or Vardenafil under the SLS criteria.

For Cialis and Levitra, prescriptions must continue to include the prescriber’s SLS endorsement.

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Where this is missing, the prescription must be returned to the prescriber for amendment. Pharmacy teams are not permitted to add the SLS endorsement on the prescriber’s behalf.

For electronic prescriptions, prescribers must use the SLS endorsement function within their prescribing system. The endorsement must not be added as free text in the dosage or additional instructions fields, as this is not recognised by the NHS Business Services Authority’s processing systems.

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On FP10 paper prescriptions for Cialis or Levitra, the prescriber must endorse the item with ‘SLS’ manually.