Tadalafil and sildenafil, also known by their brand names Cialis® and Viagra®, respectively, are drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). Both drugs belong to the category of medicines known as PDE5 inhibitors, which work by boosting blood flow to the penis when the body is in a state of arousal to produce firmer, longer-lasting erections.
In general, doctors advise against taking both tadalafil and sildenafil within a 36-hour timeframe––or basically, within the window of effectiveness of tadalafil. Both drugs work using the same pathways and mechanisms, and there are no known benefits for doing so or for going over the maximum dose.
One option your healthcare provider might suggest is to find a dosage schedule based on your preferences. Sildenafil (Viagra®) and tadalafil (Cialis®) belong to the same class of drugs and taking them simultaneously may increase your risk of developing potentially dangerous side effects. Generally, if you’ve taken your daily dose of sildenafil for ED, it isn’t recommended to take tadalafil within a 24-hour timeframe after that. Likewise, if you’re taking tadalafil, you shouldn’t take sildenafil within the next 36 hours (or the maximum window of effectiveness of tadalafil).
Common PDE5 inhibitor side effects include headaches, facial flushing, back pain, or indigestion.
There may be situations wherein an individual may have both sildenafil and tadalafil at the same time. For instance, if a patient switches from one drug to the other, there may be some overlap where a person may have two medications and two prescriptions simultaneously.
What are the key differences between Tadalafil and Sildenafil?
Tadalafil (Cialis®) and sildenafil (Viagra®) are PDE5 inhibitor drugs that help contribute to improved erectile function by enhancing blood flow to the penis during arousal. It’s important to remember that PDE5 inhibitors don’t instantly produce erections, but instead do so by making it easier for you to produce and keep an erection over the course of your sexual activity.
A key difference between tadalafil and sildenafil is the window of effectiveness. For instance, tadalafil’s effect may last for up to 36 hours, allowing you to be more spontaneous in your sex life. Tadalafil can be taken on an as-needed basis at least 30 minutes to an hour before having sex or once daily at the same schedule without having to consider timing your sexual activity as needed.
Your dosing schedule is dependent on your preferences, which you and your healthcare provider will surely discuss. If you dislike taking medicine as part of your daily routine, taking tadalafil on an as-needed basis may be more suitable for you. On the other hand, if you want to be ready for action all day, every day, then daily tadalafil might be more suited for you.
In the case of sildenafil for ED, there’s only one way to take it: as needed within 30 minutes to one hour before sex.
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Which option is better: Sildenafil or Tadalafil?
The choice between sildenafil and tadalafil ultimately boils down to your lifestyle, sexual needs, reactions and side effects, and how satisfied you are with their performance.
For instance, if an individual gets uncomfortable side effects with sildenafil, such as nasal congestion, they can say that the discomfort arising from the side effect is an acceptable trade-off because they won’t need sildenafil’s erection-boosting effects beyond its window of 4-6 hours.
On the other hand, some individuals might be going away for the long weekend and don’t know exactly when they will be having sex. In that case, they may prefer tadalafil because of its longer window of action (36 hours) even if it may cause nasal stuffiness.
A 2017 study compared tadalafil (Cialis®) and sildenafil (Viagra®) and demonstrated that both were just as effective in treating ED. However, the edge in spontaneity went to tadalafil, after men and their partners reported their preference for tadalafil and the reduced time pressure and sense of urgency besides the flexibility that it offers.
Ultimately, the decision between choosing sildenafil or tadalafil is yours and your healthcare provider’s to make.
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What should I do if Tadalafil or Sildenafil doesn’t work for me?
You have the following options if you find yourself still running into erectile issues after having tried tadalafil or sildenafil:
- Treating underlying health concerns. Certain underlying medical conditions can interfere with your body’s ability to produce erections even while taking sildenafil or tadalafil. For instance, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, prostate enlargement, and diabetes can all interfere with erectile function. Treating them may help improve your sex life.
- Quitting smoking and alcohol consumption. Smoking tobacco is linked to higher ED rates. Quitting smoking can boost your sexual and overall health. Excessive alcohol consumption was also linked to higher rates of sexual dysfunction, particularly with libido, arousal, and erections.
What other ED treatment options do you have?
Besides PDE5 inhibitors like sildenafil and tadalafil, other treatment options include testosterone replacement therapy for cases of ED caused by low T, injectable ED medications like alprostadil, or penis pumps and cock rings.
