Sildenafil (brand name Viagra®) and tadalafil (brand name Cialis®) belong to a class of medicines known as phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors, which enjoy widespread use in treating erectile dysfunction (ED).
Both can kick in with their effects as soon as one hour, although some individuals might feel their effects work faster (or slower) than others.
Both sildenafil and tadalafil cause identical side effects, such as gastrointestinal discomfort, nasal congestion, headaches, diarrhea, and fluctuations in blood pressure.
Individuals with ED looking for medical treatment might feel overwhelmed with the variety of options out there, especially when their doctor prescribes an ED medication.
That said, you might have been wondering what differences exist between sildenafil and tadalafil – or their branded counterparts, Viagra® and Cialis® – as commonly prescribed and well-regarded treatments for ED.
In this article, let’s dive deep into sildenafil and tadalafil and examine their similarities and differences.
What is sildenafil (brand name Viagra®)?
Sildenafil is a medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction.
It relaxes penile smooth muscles when sexual stimulation is introduced or when there is a state of sexual arousal.
This action allows blood to flow into the penile tissue more easily to cause harder, longer-lasting erections in men with erection difficulties, or worse, the total inability to produce one.
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer first introduced sildenafil to the masses as the pre-eminent solution to erectile dysfunction in 1998 under the brand name Viagra®, owning the patent and, therefore, the rights to being the sole legal distributor of sildenafil.
Upon the patent’s expiry in 2013, other pharmaceutical companies were allowed to manufacture a generic, unbranded version of Viagra® mandated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be chemically equivalent to Pfizer’s product – at more accessible prices.
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Why is generic sildenafil cheaper than Viagra®?
Pfizer invested large sums of money developing Viagra®, including paid clinical trials and global marketing campaigns. This massive investment in the product is what makes Viagra® more expensive than generic sildenafil.
Other pharmaceutical firms no longer have to pay for marketing and research and already have the active ingredient (sildenafil) since the heavy lifting in that regard has already been done by Pfizer beforehand – making generic sildenafil much cheaper, despite being chemically the same and equally as effective as the other.
What is tadalafil (brand name Cialis®)?
Tadalafil, like its PDE5 inhibitor kin sildenafil, is a drug used to treat ED. Like all other PDE5 inhibitors, tadalafil relaxes the smooth muscles in the penis allowing blood to enter the penis, which results in an erection upon stimulation or arousal.
Pharmaceutical company Ely Lilly and Co first marketed tadalafil in 2003 under the brand name Cialis®. Like Pfizer, when Eli Lilly’s patent on tadalafil expired in 2017, it opened the door for other pharmaceutical distributors to manufacture generic, bioequivalent versions of Cialis® with no difference in efficacy.
Which lasts longer? Sildenafil or tadalafil?
No question about this – tadalafil’s effects last longer than sildenafil. Sildenafil’s effects last for up to 4-6 hours, while tadalafil may last for as long as 36 hours.
Does that mean you will have a constantly firm erection for 36 hours straight? No.
All it means is that you can produce an erection when sexually stimulated for the period the drug is active. Tadalafil is best suited for men who engage in sexual activity more than twice a week.
Which one kicks in faster? Sildenafil or tadalafil?
Tadalafil kicks in faster than sildenafil by approximately 10 to 15 minutes on average, whereas sildenafil usually works around 30 minutes to an hour after taking it. However, this time frame may vary depending on the individual and their specific response to either ED medicine. Both sildenafil and tadalafil work best when taken on an empty stomach since taking either right after a meal will likely extend the time it takes for both to kick in.
Which one produces the least amount of side effects? Sildenafil or tadalafil?
Tadalafil and sildenafil possess the same profile of side effects; however, tadalafil’s side effects may last longer due to its longer duration of action (36 hours). Common side effects of both ED medications include flushing, headaches, nasal congestion, and changes in blood pressure.
Which medication between sildenafil and tadalafil has a higher rate of success?
Both sildenafil and tadalafil possess similar success rates (~80%) based on verifiable clinical trials. Some men, however, may prefer one over the other. For instance, a Chinese study showed that more men and their partners prefer tadalafil due to its longer effects, allowing for greater sexual spontaneity.
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Does sildenafil or tadalafil require a doctor’s prescription?
Yes, you need a prescription for sildenafil and tadalafil. Consult your doctor so he can assess whether you need ED medication and which one among the options is most suited to your current health situation before prescribing the either drug.
Which one should I use?
The only answer is to try both sildenafil and tadalafil for yourself. Some men prefer the latter to the former, while others swear by tadalafil over sildenafil. It’s all a matter of personal preference. Men who wish to avoid potentially longer side effects and have less frequent sexual activity (e.g., once a week) prefer sildenafil, while men who engage in more sexual activity and like the spontaneity prefer tadalafil.
All of it depends on factors such as your preferences, frequency of sexual activity, and pre-existing medical conditions.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist to determine which one you should try first. It is advisable to try a medication several times to give your body some time to get accustomed to it.
If you feel you aren’t getting the desired effect, ask your doctor whether you need a higher dose or if you might need to switch to another medication in case you have tried it several times to no avail.
The bottom line: Sildenafil vs. Tadalafil
Ultimately, both sildenafil and tadalafil are well-regarded, well-studied, and equally effective treatments for erectile dysfunction in men. Determining which is a better fit all depends on your personal needs and lifestyle.
