Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a very common problem for men. Around half of all people born male between 40 and 70 will deal with it at some point.
Luckily, there are plenty of treatments available for erectile dysfunctionto help you feel like yourself when the moment arrives.
Cialis and Viagra are both ED medications that work by increasing blood flow to the penis to help you get hard and stay hard. Which one is right for you will depend on your lifestyle, and how you intend to use it.
In this guide, we’ll break down the similarities and differences between Cialis and Viagra, including which works faster, which lasts longer, and their potential side effects.
Three key takeaways
Viagra acts faster than Cialis, they can both start working after 30 minutes, but Viagra usually takes around one hour to get you to peak hardness. Cialis typically takes around two hours.
While their pricing is similar, Cialis is slightly cheaper than Viagra.
Cialis’s effects can last for up to 36 hours, while Viagra’s effects last around 4-6 hours.
Cialis vs Viagra at a glance
Cialis
Viagra
How long it takes to work
30-60 minutes
30-60 minutes
How long it lasts
24-36 hours
4-6 hours
Dosages available
2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg, 20mg
25mg, 50mg, 100mg
Flexibility for use
Flexible for spontaneous or planned use
Suited to immediate use
Potential side effectsunique to each medication
Limb pain
Blue vision
Dizziness
Nausea
Flushing
Food restrictions
Can be taken with or without food
Best taken on an empty stomach
Suitability
Better for long-lasting effectiveness and flexible use
Better for immediate needs and short-term treatment
What's the difference between Cialis and Viagra ?
Viagra is a brand name for the generic drug sildenafil. Cialis is a brand name for tadalafil. While their active ingredients are different, both medications belong to a group of medicines called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors.
PDE5 inhibitors work by releasing nitric oxide in the body to increase blood flow to the penis by relaxing the blood vessels. Nitric oxide is only released if you’re sexually aroused, so taking either medication won’t do anything without sexual stimulation.
What's the normal dosage for Cialis and Viagra?
The normal dosage for Cialis varies basedon how often, and when, you take it relative to having sex.
If you’re taking it daily, rather than as needed, you’ll typically take a lower dose of 2.5mg, or 5mg. This is recommended if you’re planning to have sex two or more times a week.
If you’re taking Cialis as needed, the typical starting dose is 10mg, but this can be increased to 20mg if the 10mg dose isn’t effective, or reduced to 5mg if side effects are an issue.
Viagra is only taken as needed. The typical starting dose is 50mg, but this can go up to 100mg if the 50mg isn’t effective, or down to 25mg if you’re having difficulty tolerating the side effects.
Cialis vs Viagra: what's more effective?
Neither drug is more effective at helping you achieve an erection. Which is the most suitable for you will depend on your needs and your lifestyle.
The main difference between the two is how quickly they act and how long they last.
Viagra is slightly faster acting and can help you rise to the occasion in as little as 30 minutes. However, it may not work as well if you’ve recently eaten fatty foods or been drinking alcohol.
Cialis is slightly less fast-acting but stays in your system much longer so you can get hard when you’re sexually aroused for up to 36 hours after taking it.
Which drug acts faster?
Viagra typically acts slightly faster than Cialis.
While both medications can take effect within 30-60 minutes, peak blood concentration, which is what helps you get hard, happens around one hour after taking Viagra and two hours after taking Cialis.
“Cialis and Viagra have different mechanisms of action. This meaning they act in your body in different ways, so their speed of effect is different. Viagra generally acts faster, but if you’ve eaten or drunk alcohol this can affect how fast and how well it works. So, the best medication for you comes down to personal preference and depends on your lifestyle. Ultimately, the end goal is to help you feel comfortable and confident in the bedroom.”
The main difference between Cialis and Viagra is how long their effects last.
Viagra typically lasts about 4-6 hours, whereas Cialis lasts up to 36 hours, meaning you can take one dose and enjoy the effects for a much longer period.
Cialis can be taken spontaneously for fast-acting relief from ED when you want to have sex, or you can take a lower dose of 2.5mg or 5mg continuously every day. And unlike Viagra, Cialis’s effects are also not as influenced by whether or what you’ve eaten. So, you can have sex when you want to without needing to plan ahead.
Which drug makes you harder?
Neither medication will make you harder than the other. How effective Viagra or Cialis will be for you depends on several factors, including:
what strength dose you take
how soon before having sex you take the medication
whether you take the medication daily or as needed
whether and what you’ve eaten before taking the medication
Side effects of Cialis and Viagra
As with any medication, both Cialis and Viagra can have side effects.
Side effects that can happen with both medications include:
headache
upset stomach
back pain
nasal congestion
flushing
muscle aches
A side effect specific to Cialis is limb pain.
Side effects specific to Viagra include:
nausea
rashes
abnormal blue vision
Can Cialis and Viagra interact with other medication?
Yes, both Viagra and Cialis can potentially interact with other medications.
Viagra and other medications
Speak to your prescriber before taking Viagra if you’re taking:
nitrates, which are often used to relieve angina or chest pain
amyl nitrate (also known as ‘poppers’)
Riociguat
protease inhibitors (like those used to treat HIV)
treatments for pulmonary arterial hypertension containing sildenafil or any other PDE5 inhibitors
Cialis and other medications
You should avoid taking Cialis if you’re already taking Nitrates or Riociguat.
Talk to your prescriber before taking Cialis if you’re already taking:
alpha-blockers
medications for high blood pressure
A 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, to treat BPH
Ketoconazole, which treats fungal infections
protease inhibitors
anticonvulsants like phenobarbital, phenytoin, or carbamazepine
rifampicin, erythromycin, clarithromycin, or itraconazole
any other erectile dysfunction treatments
Cialis vs Viagra price comparison
Cialis prices start from £21.99 for four 10mg tablets with no prescription needed.
Viagra prices start from £22.59 for four 50mg tablets with no prescription needed.
You can also buy tadalafil the generic version of Cialis, and sildenafil, the generic version of Viagra, slightly cheaper, with or without prescription.
How to pick the right erectile dysfunction treatment for your needs
The right ED medication is specific to you as an individual. There’s no right treatment for everyone.
What works best for you will depend on factors like:
price
whether you’re prone to specific side effects
whether you want to take the medication daily or as needed
how soon after taking the medication you want to have sex
whether you want a long-lasting medication
There are also non-medication options you can try to treat ED, like penis pumps (or ‘vacuum pumps’) or changes to your lifestyle, like diet and exercise.
Speak to your prescriber about what might work best for you, so you can enjoy intimacy with a partner in comfort and confidence.
FAQs
Is tadalafil better than sildenafil?
No, neither medication is objectively better. The right one for you will depend on whether you prefer a medication to be fast-acting or long-lasting and how well you tolerate the side effects of each.
Is Cialis better for you than Viagra?
Neither medication is better for you, but Cialis has fewer listed side effects than Viagra, so some people may tolerate the medication better.
What happens if you take Cialis and Viagra together?
You should not take Viagra and Cialis together, as this can increase the likelihood of side effects like upset stomach, headaches, and dizziness, and could cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
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