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Cialis vs. Viagra: What You Need to Know

Before we answer your questions about Viagra and Cialis, we want to tell you something important.

Erectile dysfunction is a lot more common than you think. According to a 2020 study by researchers for the International Society for Sexual Medicine, erectile dysfunction can see prevalence rates as high as 48.6%.

That means you shouldn’t feel embarrassed if you can’t maintain an erection.

Three key differences between Viagra vs. Cialis

  1. Cialis contains tadalafil, and Viagra contains sildenafil. They’re both phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors that increase blood flow to the penis.
  2. Cialis can last for two days, while Viagra lasts for an average of two to four hours.
  3. Food slows down the absorption of Viagra, especially high-fat meals –– which means it may take longer for Viagra to work if you take it after you eat. Cialis works the same way whether you’ve eaten or not.

Bonus fact: Cialis also treats the signs and symptoms of an enlarged prostate, called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Viagra doesn’t this condition.

Is Viagra better because it was first?

Viagra, or sildenafil, became the first oral pill to treat erectile dysfunction in 1998, with a generic version released in 2017. But its use for ED was discovered by accident: sildenafil was originally developed by Pfizer to treat high blood pressure and angina.

Cialis, on the other hand, was developed by Eli Lilly and Co, who modified components to create tadalafil, a potent and selective PDE5 inhibitor. Cialis was first approved in 2003 as the first and only ED pill clinically proven to last for up to 36 hours. One thing to note: Cialis can only be used once every 72 hours. A generic version was released in September 2018.

Then there’s vardenafil, otherwise known as Levitra. It’s virtually the same as Viagra, but some people prefer one over the other due to individual differences in effectiveness and side effects.

Okay, but will I get harder with Viagra or Cialis?

The honest truth? Viagra and Cialis are equally effective at treating erectile dysfunction.

Researchers have been comparing the two medications for years. In a meta-analysis looking at 16 trials comparing Viagra and Cialis, researchers didn’t find any significant differences between the two except for one thing: people preferred to take Cialis because it made them more confident. Why? It all comes down to Cialis’ staying power.

How long do Viagra and Cialis last?

Cialis has been affectionately called the “weekend pill” because of its long lifecycle. On average, Cialis works for about two days after you take it.

Men and their partners have reported a preference for Cialis because they didn’t have to plan ahead as much for when they might have sex. In other words, Cialis let them be spontaneous.

Viagra, on the other hand, lasts for two to four hours, with peak levels happening between 30–120 minutes. A higher dosage may mean longer effects, but that doesn’t mean you should insist on an increased dose. You should only take the dosage recommended by your doctor.

Viagra is still a great medication for an evening when you know you’ll be having sex, but you’ll need to have a little more foresight.

Which prescription works faster?

Viagra is absorbed quickly, and most people see effects within 30 minutes if they haven’t eaten. Keep in mind that when you take Viagra with a high fat meal, you could be delaying absorption by about an hour.

For most people at a normal dose, Cialis also starts to work within about 30 minutes. But because it’s a long-lasting medication, it can take two hours for Cialis to become fully effective.

What are the side effects of Viagra and Cialis?

The side effects of Viagra and Cialis are almost identical.

Approximately 15% of people experience side effects of ED medication. Common side effects of Viagra and Cialis are:

  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Flushing in the face
  • Upset stomach
  • Blurred vision
  • Changes in vision colour
  • A runny or stuffy nose or sore throat
  • Muscle or back pain

Less common side effects of Viagra and Cialis are:

  • Priapism — a prolonged erection that lasts more than four hours
  • Heart attack, stroke, cerebrovascular hemorrhage, palpitations, and arrhythmias
  • Vision loss
  • Hearing loss or a ringing in the ears
  • Seizures
  • Swelling and pain in the arms and legs

You should stop using Viagra or Cialis and seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of these symptoms:

  • Priapism — a prolonged erection that lasts more than four hours
  • Sudden vision change or loss
  • Sudden hearing loss or ringing in the ears
  • An allergic reaction like lip or face swelling, wheezing or trouble breathing, hives.
  • Chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or nausea during sex

Do other drugs interact with Viagra and Cialis?

Cialis and Viagra have similar drug interactions, but it’s universally known that they shouldn’t be used with any medication that lowers blood pressure. That means don’t pair ED prescriptions with nitrates, alpha blockers, antihypertensives, and riociguat.

Cialis and Viagra also interact badly with some antibiotics, antifungals, and HIV protease inhibitor drugs. These drugs, all processed in the liver, can increase the level of Cialis and Viagra in the body to unwanted levels.

Certain anticonvulsants like phenytoin or carbamazepine, and an antibiotic called rifampin, can decrease the effectiveness of Cialis and Viagra.

Last but not least: don’t take Cialis and Viagra with alcohol or grapefruit juice. You could be increasing your chances of experiencing side effects of the medications.

Alcohol isn’t always conducive to maintaining an erection, anyway.

What’s the dosage for each drug?

Cialis and Viagra are taken at different doses because of the differences in how long they last.

A typical dose of Cialis is 10mg to start, which lasts 36 hours. But if that dose doesn’t produce great results, it can be increased to 20mg. Conversely, a dose can be reduced to 5mg if the side effects are too disruptive.

If someone wants to take Cialis on a daily basis, however, the recommended initial dose is 2.5mg once a day, which can be increased to 5mg if it’s not working. Cialis 10mg and 20mg can only be taken once every 72 hours.

Viagra, on the other hand, is taken at a dose of 50mg about one hour before sex. The dose may be increased to 100mg if the initial dose is ineffective or reduced to 25mg if the side effects aren’t great.

FAQ

How long does Viagra last?

Viagra lasts for about four hours. Once you take the pill, it typically takes between 30 and 60 minutes for the effects to kick in, but may take up to two hours. It may take longer to feel the effects if you ate a fatty meal beforehand. After about four hours, the effects may wear off.

This means you may have to plan a little bit to make sure you’re taking Viagra at the right time to get an erection when you plan to have sex. You can take Viagra multiple days in a row, but you shouldn’t take it more than once a day. For millions of people who take Viagra and enjoy its positive effects on their sex lives, the need to anticipate when you’ll want to have an erection isn’t a big problem since we usually know when an opportunity to have sex is imminent.

However, suppose you want to be able to have sex spontaneously over a longer period. In that case, you may want to consider a longer-lasting PDE5 inhibitor that works similarly to Viagra, like Cialis. A dose lasts up to 36 hours, making it perfect for a romantic weekend away.

Is Cialis better than Viagra?

Cialis might be better than Viagra if having a long-lasting ED medication is important to you, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better for everyone. The best treatment for erectile dysfunction will depend on your experience with the two drugs.

For example, you may find that you experience side effects with Cialis but not with Viagra. In that case, Viagra would be the better choice for you. Ultimately, both Viagra and Cialis belong to the same class of drugs called phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors and they both work by affecting the sequence of events that need to happen in the body to lead to the smooth muscle relaxation that allows blood to flow to the penis to maintain an erection.

They can both be great, effective treatments for erectile dysfunction. Lifestyle changes such as ceasing to smoke, reducing alcohol consumption, eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and minimizing stress as much as possible may also improve erectile dysfunction. These lifestyle changes may improve or eradicate your ED, depending on the underlying causes of your symptoms. In the meantime, both Cialis and Viagra are safe and effective treatments that allow you to enjoy sex to your full potential.

How long does Cialis last?

Cialis lasts up to 36 hours. This means that once you take a dose of Cialis, you can enjoy the effects for up to 36 hours without taking another dose. This doesn’t mean you’ll walk around with an erection for 36 hours since Cialis doesn’t directly cause erections.

Instead, by prohibiting the effects of an enzyme called PDE-5 that regulates smooth muscle relaxation in the body, including the penis, Cialis makes it possible for the smooth muscles in the penis to relax, allowing for more blood flow. That blood flow causes the penis to become erect so that you can enjoy sex. However, you still need to become aroused for the blood flow, resulting in an erection.

For 36 hours after taking your dose of Cialis, you should be able to experience arousal without erectile dysfunction, such as the inability to get or maintain an erection. This long-lasting effect of a single dose of Cialis is one of its great features since it makes it easier to enjoy spontaneous sex without having to plan the time you take your pill.

Can you take Viagra and Cialis?

You can’t take Viagra and Cialis together. Doing so is not advisable and can increase your chances of experiencing side effects. Viagra and Cialis are part of a category of drugs called phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors. Both work by impacting the events that need to happen in the body, leading to smooth muscle relaxation that allows blood in the erectile tissue of the penis to stay there, which maintains an erection.

Since they both have this effect, there is no benefit at all to taking them together. In addition to there being no benefit, taking Viagra and Cialis together would take more than the maximum recommended dose of PDE5 inhibitor and increase the likelihood of experiencing unpleasant and potentially dangerous side effects. Headache, indigestion, and facial flushing are among the potential side effects, none of which sound particularly conducive to feeling sexy and ready to get it on with your partner.

If you take Viagra and Cialis separately, it’s best to let one drug leave your body before taking the other. Cialis lasts in the system for about 36 hours, and Viagra does for about four hours.

What Is the difference between Viagra and Cialis?

The main difference between Viagra and Cialis is the side effect profiles of each drug. When you take Cialis, you can expect to be able to get an erection when sexually stimulated for about 36 hours after taking the dose.

Some people take it when they anticipate they will need it, while others take a lower amount every day at the same time. This is safe to do with a doctor’s supervision and can be very favourable for those who are frequently sexually active and want the freedom to be able to have sex whenever the mood strikes, rather than having to wait 30 to 60 minutes for a pill to kick in.

Viagra, on the other hand, is effective for about a four-hour window. For many people, this is plenty of time and doesn’t cause any inconvenience, but it all comes down to preference. Viagra and Cialis work through a similar mechanism by inhibiting an enzyme called PDE5 that regulates smooth muscle tissue in the body.

When the smooth muscles in the tissue are relaxed, blood stays in the erectile tissue of the penis , leading to an erection. Ultimately, the choice between Viagra and Cialis will come down to your personal preference, side effect profile, and any personalized guidance from your healthcare practitioner.

Final consideration: lifestyle factors can cause erectile dysfunction

It’s okay to seek treatment for erectile dysfunction. Everyone deserves the (consensual) sex life of their dreams––and if that means taking erectile dysfunction medication, that’s what it’s there for!

But before you go straight for the pills, you may want to consider other lifestyle factors that could be limiting your ability to get and maintain an erection.

First, erectile dysfunction could be a sign of a more serious medical condition. Heart disease and diabetes have both been linked to ED. That’s why we highly recommend seeing a doctor if you’re experiencing ED, because they’ll be able to eliminate other more serious issues that could be causing it.

Erectile dysfunction may also be linked to:

  • Smoking (tobacco restricts blood flow to veins and arteries — and your penis)
  • Obesity
  • Antidepressants
  • Medications that treat high blood pressure
  • Drugs and alcohol

Finally, ED is often psychological –– stress, anxiety, and depression often go hand in hand with a disappearing erection. Our mental health is deeply connected to our sex life––if you’re stressed or depressed, your body isn’t exactly preoccupied with sending blood to your penis for an erection.

To help you assess whether or not your mental health is affecting your sexual function, start by asking yourself the following questions:

  • Am I happy in my relationship(s) or as a single person?
  • Am I having the type of (consensual) sex that lights me up?
  • Am I communicating with my sexual partner(s) as effectively as I can be?
  • Am I experiencing abnormal stress levels lately?
  • Am I able to experience joy in other aspects of my life?

If you’re looking for mental health support in Canada, check out this resource to get started.

We understand that the decision to try ED medication is personal. Want to discuss your treatment options? Connect with one of Felix’s healthcare practitioners today.