Comparing Tadalafil (Generic Cialis) and Sildenafil (Generic Viagra)

If you opt for brand-name Cialis, the daily use version starts at $1,045/month or $525 for as-needed.

• Tadalafil may interact with other medications like alpha-blockers.
• It is important to avoid grapefruit or grapefruit juice while taking tadalafil.
• Side effects are usually mild but seek medical help for serious reactions.
• Allergic reactions to tadalafil are rare but possible.
• Tadalafil does not cause spontaneous erections without sexual arousal.

What’s the difference between generic or brand-name Cialis?

Online Tadalafil Prescription

For as-needed Cialis, you’ll usually take the medication around 30 minutes before sex. But remember, the medication can last up to 36 hours, so if you take it well in advance, it can still work in your favor. For daily Cialis, you’ll want to take the medication at the same time each day. Cialis is one of the most popular erectile dysfunction medications. If you’re having difficulty getting or maintaining an erection long enough for satisfying sex, Cialis improves your erectile function by increasing blood flow to the penis.

Cialis and herbs and supplements

As tadalafil weekend pill previously mentioned, it can be taken daily or as needed before sex. In addition to standard tablets, Cialis can also be taken as a chewable ED med. It’s also sometimes prescribed for symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or enlarged prostate, under the brand name Adcirca®. BPH is common in older men and typically carries symptoms of lower urinary tract problems, which can become bladder problems over time. Tadalafil can also treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a form of high blood pressure affecting the arteries in the lungs. Both contain the active ingredient tadalafil and work the same way.

The only real difference is the name (and the price tag). Most tadalafil side effects are mild and resolve on their own over time. According to a 2008 review of studies on tadalafil, 15 percent of men who used this medication at its highest dose (20 mg) experienced headaches. If you’re prone to headaches after taking Cialis, our guide to treating headaches from ED drugs may help. Indigestion and heartburn are other common side effects of tadalafil, which occur due to how tadalafil affects the gastrointestinal smooth muscles and also due to increasing gastrointestinal blood flow.

Brand names

Some people consider Cialis superior to Viagra because it lasts longer in the body. Another advantage is that you don’t have to time your medication around meals. While Viagra’s effects can be inhibited if you take the drug after eating a large meal (or fatty foods), you can take Cialis with or without food, and the medication will still work as it should. The cost of Cialis varies depending on dosage and how you decide to take the medication. At Hims, we offer access to generic Cialis starting at $79/month for daily use and $36/month for as-needed use. Drinking more water or using antacid medicine may make this side effect easier to manage. Cialis relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, which may lead to heartburn. A small percentage of men who use Cialis experience muscle pain, including back pain. The tadalafil 40mg discomfort tends to occur around 12 to 24 hours after taking the medication. Over-the-counter pain relief, like ibuprofen or aspirin, may help. Because Cialis dilates blood vessels, facial flushing can happen around your nose, cheeks, chin, and forehead. Around three percent of men who use Cialis experience facial flushing. Tadalafil can affect nitric oxide levels inside your nasal cavity, giving you a stuffy nose. As with many other side effects of Cialis, nasal congestion tends to fade as your body processes the medication.

Some men who use Cialis to treat ED report cold-like symptoms after taking the medication because it affects the soft tissue inside the nose and throat. In clinical trials, one to three percent of men who used Cialis reported leg pain and, on occasion, pain in their other limbs. This side effect was more common in guys who took 10 to 20 mg of Cialis daily.

• The decision between daily and on-demand dosing is based on frequency of sexual activity and personal preference.
• Generic tadalafil must meet the same FDA standards for safety, strength, and quality as the brand-name drug.
• Keep a list of your medications with you to show any healthcare provider you visit.

In general, the common effects of daily tadalafil are similar to those when it’s taken as needed before sexual activity. However, because daily-use Cialis is prescribed at a lower dose, some side effects appear less common and are generally less severe.

• A physical exam and possibly lab tests are often part of the diagnostic process before prescribing tadalafil.
• It can improve confidence and reduce performance anxiety, which are common psychological aspects of ED.
• The peak plasma concentration is reached typically between 2 and 8 hours after ingestion.

For instance, in clinical trials, 11 to 15 percent of men reported headaches from Cialis at a dose of 5 to 20 mg. In comparison, only three to six percent of men who took Cialis daily at a 2.5 or 5 mg dose reported headaches. Other side effects, such as dyspepsia and back pain, were also reported less frequently by men prescribed Cialis for daily use. Here’s where things get a little more serious. While most side effects mentioned above are relatively mild, the side effects below — although rare — require immediate care.

Serious adverse effects of Cialis might include: Priapism is a painful erection lasting four hours or longer.

It’s a medical emergency that requires immediate attention to avoid damaging the erectile tissue. Though it’s possible to experience a prolonged erection after using Cialis, it’s highly uncommon. Priapism is a painful erection lasting four hours or longer. Tadalafil was linked to rare reports of NAION (non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy) in a study of sildenafil and optic nerve damage. Optic nerve damage could cause or contribute to vision loss (including retinitis pigmentosa). Like priapism, this is a very infrequent side effect.

How should I take tadalafil?

Others are only capable of getting erections sometimes. Similar to sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, tadalafil was originally developed to treat high blood pressure. However, clinical trials revealed these drugs had an unusual side effect: induced erections. This happy accident led to the improvement of sex lives around the globe. Like other PDE5 inhibitors, Cialis blocks an enzyme known as phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) in the spongy erectile tissues of the penis.

Why it’s used

This inhibiting effect relaxes the smooth muscle cells of the arteries supplying the penis, enabling better blood flow into the erectile tissues. Better blood flow = harder and longer-lasting erections (but only with sexual stimulation). Cialis works within 30 minutes and has a long duration of action, which means it remains active in the body (for up to 36 hours). This means that if you take the medication early in the day, it can still help you get an erection if you attempt to have sex later. “For patients who take Cialis only when they need it, that means that they don't need to worry nearly as much about timing sex with medication ingestion,” says Dr. Cases of sudden hearing loss caused by Cialis are also very uncommon. Some evidence suggests that the reported cases may be linked to underlying medical conditions. If you take Cialis to treat ED and notice any changes in your hearing, it’s best to stop taking the medication and seek medical advice. It’s possible to have an allergic reaction to tadalafil or other inactive ingredients used in the manufacturing process.

How do these drugs work?

Studies show that PDE5 inhibitors like Cialis successfully treat ED in 60–70 percent of the population. In one meta-analysis of the long-term efficacy of tadalafil, research revealed that daily use offered a better effect on ED than as-needed for long-term treatment. Daily tadalafil also had a lower incidence of side effects. Moreover, daily tadalafil has been shown to have a “cardioprotective” effect of decreasing the incidence of heart attack, stroke and mortality in men. While surprising, this also supports its daily use. Common symptoms include hives, rash, swelling of the lips, throat, and tongue, and difficulty breathing or swallowing. Other uncommon side effects of Cialis include chest pain, ringing in the ears, skin issues, and high blood pressure.

Frequently asked questions

This daily option is meant for long-term continuous use and a planning-free experience. Cialis®, which contains the active ingredient tadalafil, is one of the most popular medications for erectile dysfunction (ED). It belongs to a class of drugs known as phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, the same class as Viagra® (sildenafil). While Cialis and Viagra both increase blood flow to the penis to help you maintain an erection (and get one in the first place), Cialis has some unique advantages to the “little blue pill.” While both medications can be taken before sex to improve sexual performance, Cialis can also be taken daily to support more spontaneous sex. Cialis has also been shown to improve symptoms of other health conditions, like benign prostatic hyperplasia, another feature that sets it apart from other ED drugs.

Other Medical Problems

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Cialis (tadalafil), including how the medication works, how to take it, its effectiveness, and potential side effects. Cialis is the brand name for the FDA-approved drug tadalafil, a PDE5 inhibitor commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction. Affecting around 30 million men in the U.S. alone, erectile dysfunction is a sexual dysfunction that makes it difficult to get or maintain an erection long enough or hard enough for satisfying sex. Some men with ED are never capable of getting erections when untreated. Tadalafil side effects aren’t the only concern when taking this drug. As mentioned, Cialis can interact with other PDE5 inhibitors for ED, as well as medications prescribed to treat hypertension (high blood pressure), fungal infections, heart disease, heart failure, bleeding disorders, ulcers, and other medical conditions.

Popular FAQ

Peter J. Stahl, MD, SVP of Men’s Sexual Health & Urology at Hims & Hers. “They can take it before they go out on a date and feel confident for the entire evening and even into the next day. Cialis's long duration of action also allows it to be taken every day as part of a regular routine so that patients don't have to worry about taking medication before sex and are ready for spontaneous sex 24/7.” If you’re prescribed Cialis, always follow your healthcare provider’s guidance. They’ll work with you to determine the proper dosage based on how you plan to take it.

Contraindications for Tadalafil and Sildenafil?

They may start you on a smaller dose and gradually increase it if you’re not seeing results. Remember that dosage also depends on whether you take the medication daily or as needed. If you’re taking Cialis as needed, the typical starting dose is 10 mg, but it can be increased to Cialis 20 mg if necessary. If you take Cialis daily, you’ll take a much lower dose. A typical starting dose is 2.5 mg and can be increased to 5 mg if needed.