Tadalafil (International)

This release was issued by Lilly ICOS LLC Cialis Leads Market in New Treatment Initiations and Switches for April After only six months, Cialis® (tadalafil)1, the latest oral erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment

Which is better for erectile dysfunction: Cialis or Viagra?

PDE5 inhibitors aren’t right for everyone. That’s why it’s essential to disclose your full medical history and medications list (prescription and over-the-counter drugs and supplements) to your healthcare provider before starting Cialis or Viagra. Specifically, Cialis and Viagra may not be safe in some people with cardiovascular conditions since the medications affect circulation. Seek medical advice about using PDE5 inhibitors if you have high blood pressure or have had a heart attack or angina. Tadalafil and sildenafil should not be mixed with nitrates, alpha blockers, or hypertension drugs.

How They Actually Work

Cialis and Viagra should also not be taken by people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Tell your healthcare provider if you have low blood pressure or heart disease. Cialis and Viagra are both safe, effective 5 mg of cialis ED medications. Choosing which is best, or whether an alternative might be better or safer, is a decision that should be made with a healthcare provider familiar with your health history, lifestyle, and other conditions you may have. The SingleCare prices in this article are the most accurate at the time of publishing in ZIP code 23666 as of Feb. on the market in the U.S., is challenging Viagra® (sildenafil citrate)2for share of the ED market as Cialis leads in new treatment initiations by urologists3 and switches from other products for April.

Cialis is marketed by Lilly ICOS LLC, a joint venture between Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) and ICOS Corporation (Nasdaq: ICOS).

Start your treatment journey

Both medications also have a few off-label uses. Both Viagra and Cialis are first-line treatments for ED. People taking these medications still require sexual stimulation, as the drugs do not trigger spontaneous erections. Cialis and Viagra are not treatment options for low libido or premature ejaculation. Which is better for you may depend on your lifestyle and preferences, as well as your individual tolerance to the medication.

How do Cialis and Viagra affect sexual performance?

A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing Viagra and Cialis found that both drugs had similar rates of effectiveness and adverse events. However, individuals on Cialis experienced more improvements in sexual confidence compared to individuals on Viagra. “When patients tell me they feel more confident on Cialis compared to Viagra, it usually comes down to psychological freedom,” Dr. Nwandu says. “Viagra’s shorter effect can make men feel rushed.

Warnings and precautions

Of course, Viagra is better for spontaneity because it kicks in more quickly than Cialis. Most men can feel the benefits less than 30 minutes after they take Viagra. By contrast, studies show that the effects of Cialis peak about two hours after taking it. Ultimately, the best medication for a patient should be determined only by a healthcare provider familiar with the person’s medical condition, history, and any medications they may already be taking that could interact with Cialis or Viagra, as well as the patient’s response to treatment. “If my patient asked me, ‘Doc, which one should I start with?” I’d say, ‘Let’s try Viagra first. Cialis is the only ED treatment shown to improve erectile function up to 36 hours in most men.

How Might Market Dynamics Evolve?

It’s short-acting, so you’ll get a feel for how your body responds. If you like the effect but want more flexibility, we can switch to Cialis later.’” – Anthea Nwandu, MD Both Cialis and Viagra are brand-name drugs that are available in generic form. “ED medications are very rarely covered by insurance, regardless of which one is prescribed,” says Blair Gingerich, Pharm.D., an ambulatory care pharmacist in northern Indiana. However, some plans may cover generic ED medications when an underlying health condition causes erectile dysfunction, or when the medication is taken for a different condition, such as BPH or an enlarged prostate. Without insurance, the retail costs for Cialis and Viagra can vary by pharmacy and location.

Ethical approval

The average retail price of Cialis is $437 for 30, 5 mg tablets, whereas the average Viagra cost is about $1,064 for 10, 100 mg tablets. The good news is that you can save on prescription drugs by using SingleCare coupons or your free SingleCare prescription discount card. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing in ZIP code 23666 as of Feb. 13, 2026. The listed price without insurance references the price of brand-name drugs (unless otherwise specified).

The Big Three Compared

The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs if available. Cialis and Viagra are both PDE5 inhibitors, so they cause similar side effects. “The most common side effects have to do with the vasodilation properties associated with PDE5 inhibitors,” Dr. Gingerich says. “People taking these medications may experience flushing, headaches, or indigestion.” Common side effects of both Viagra and Cialis include: Serious side effects of Cialis and Viagra include: Consult your healthcare provider for a complete list of side effects. Cialis can be taken without regard to food.

Lilly ICOS' Cialis (tadalafil) Makes Impressive Strides in First Six Months on the U.S. ED Treatment Market

13, 2026. Visit our coupon pages for updated Cialis and Viagra prices near you. Highlights of prescribing information: CIALIS (tadalafil) tablets, for oral use, Food and Drug Administration (2018) Highlights of prescribing information VIAGRA® (sildenafil citrate) tablets, for oral use, Food and Drug Administration (2017) Onset and duration of action of sildenafil for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology (2002) The role of tadalafil in treated hypertensive patients with erectile dysfunction, The Journal of Clinical Hypertension (2022) Direct comparison of tadalafil with sildenafil for the treatment of erectile dysfunction: A systematic review and meta-analysis, International Journal of Urology and Nephrology (2017) Tadalafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management (2008) Cialis – tadalafil tablet, film coated, DailyMed (2009) Viagra – sildenafil tablet, film coated, DailyMed (2017) Medically accurate: SingleCare’s Medical Review Board analyzes all buy cheap cialis online of our content to confirm it’s in line with current medical advice. Evidence-based: Our content is sourced from reputable U.S.-based healthcare professionals and peer-reviewed research. Trustworthy: All of SingleCare’s content goes through a multi-phase review process by our writers, editors, and Medical Board in order to provide clear and credible information. According to market research firm ImpactRx™ (which tracks the habits of a panel of high prescribing physicians and may reflect emerging trends in doctors’ offices today)4, U.S.

urologists initiated treatment with Cialis in April at a rate of more than two-to-one over each of the other oral ED treatments.

• Cialis can interact with medications like nitrates and alpha-blockers.
• Do not take Cialis if you have severe heart or liver conditions.
• It is important to disclose all health issues to your doctor.
• Alcohol consumption may increase the risk of side effects.
• Cialis is not recommended for use in women or children.
• The medication may cause dizziness, so avoid driving.
• Storage should be in a cool, dry place away from children.
• Cialis is a long-acting medication, effective for up to 36 hours.
• Regular medical check-ups are advised for users.

In fact, Cialis represented 56 percent of new treatment initiations by urologists in April, compared to 21 percent for Levitra (vardenafil HCl)5 and 23 percent for Viagra.6 Based on data from IMS, another source of market information, in April,

• Cialis should be stored at room temperature, away from moisture.
• Keep medications out of reach of children.
• Expiry dates should be checked before use.
• Do not use Cialis if it has changed color or appearance.
• Proper disposal is necessary for unused medications.
• Store in a secure container to prevent theft.
• Consult your pharmacist for proper storage advice.
• Do not share Cialis with others.
• Maintaining proper storage ensures medication potency.

Cialis represented 30 percent of new ED treatment prescriptions written by urologists, compared to 16 percent for Levitra and 54 percent for Viagra.7 In April, nearly two thirds of all men who switched their oral ED treatment switched to Cialis.

What is Cialis?

Both of these ED medications belong to a class of drugs called phosphodiesterase type 5 enzyme (PDE-5) inhibitors, which promote blood flow to the penis. Below, we unpack the similarities and differences between Cialis versus Viagra, two of the most popular ED medications. Cialis is a brand-name prescription medication that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat ED and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as enlarged prostate. It is sometimes used off-label to treat lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) related to BPH, Raynaud’s phenomenon, and to prevent High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE). The active ingredient in Cialis is a PDE5 inhibitor called tadalafil.

Regional variations in prescribing

Cialis lasts up to 36 hours, so it can be prescribed as a daily dose or on demand. The longer duration of action is the biggest difference between Cialis and Viagra, according to Anthea Nwandu, MD, FACP, a board-certified internist and lifestyle medicine physician in Baltimore, Maryland. She explains: “For men who feel anxious about performance, or who want intimacy to feel more spontaneous, Cialis often leads to a more natural experience.” Viagra is a brand-name prescription medication that is FDA approved to treat ED. Off-label prescriptions for Viagra are not common, but it is occasionally used off-label for secondary Raynaud phenomenon, female sexual arousal disorder, and as an adjunct therapy for altitude-induced hypoxemia. Viagra’s active ingredient, sildenafil, is a PDE5 inhibitor that widens blood vessels in the penis to improve erectile function.

Competing interests

Viagra is taken on demand, anywhere from 30 minutes to four hours before sexual activity. It works quickly but tapers off after four hours. Dr. Nwandu says this makes Viagra an excellent option for men who want an ED medication with a shorter duration that can be taken “only when needed.” Both Cialis and Viagra are approved to treat ED. But as mentioned above, Cialis is also approved to treat an enlarged prostate. Following is information from ImpactRx™ on share of new prescriptions written in April by doctors changing their patients' ED treatment from product to another. In an independent clinical study, more men selected Cialis as their preferred treatment of choice after trying different oral ED medications, primarily because of how long the drug worked.8 This may explain why many men with ED who are on oral treatment are switching to Cialis.

• Cialis works by inhibiting PDE5 enzyme, enhancing blood flow.
• The drug's effects can last up to 36 hours, providing flexibility.
• Sexual stimulation is necessary for Cialis to work effectively.
• It is generally taken before anticipated sexual activity.
• Do not take multiple doses at once to avoid overdose.
• The recommended starting dose varies by individual health.
• Generic Cialis may be prescribed for daily use or on-demand.
• Consuming high-fat meals can delay Cialis absorption.
• Follow your doctor's instructions for safe use.

The percentages of new prescriptions written by all doctors for oral ED treatments in April broke out as follows: Cialis, 19 percent; Levitra, 14 percent; and Viagra, 67 percent.9 "The early success of Cialis in the U.S.

• The cost of generic Cialis varies depending on dosage and supplier.
• Bulk purchasing can reduce per-dose costs.
• Many UK pharmacies offer discounts on generic Cialis.
• Patient assistance programs may help with affordability.
• Comparing prices online helps find the best deals.
• Insurance coverage can influence out-of-pocket expenses.
• Some online sites offer subscription services for regular use.
• Price should not compromise quality and safety.
• Beware of extremely low prices indicating counterfeit products.