Cialis and Viagra are both PDE5 inhibitors used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED).
Both Only Work When A Man Is Sexually Aroused
- Cialis lasts for around 36 hours compared with only 4 to 5 hours for Viagra
- Food does not affect the activity of Cialis, whereas food may decrease the effectiveness of Viagra
- Cialis can be used once daily, at a smaller dosage, and is also effective at treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
- Dosage of Cialis may need to be reduced in men with liver or kidney problems and the risk of interactions may be higher than with Viagra
What Ingredients Are In Cialis Or Viagra And How Do They Work?
Cialis is the brand name for Tadalafil and Viagra is the brand name for Sildenafil. Both belong to a class of drugs known as phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. PDE5 inhibitors only work when sexually stimulated because they rely on the natural release of nitric oxide (NO), a chemical only released when sexually aroused. NO, in turn, activates other substances to relax the smooth muscles in the penis to allow blood to enter and an erection to occur.
PDE5 inhibitors increase the effects of NO. Which drug was approved first? On March 27, 1998, Viagra became the first oral pill and the first PDE5 inhibitor to be approved by the FDA for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. A generic version of Viagra was approved in March 2016 and launched in December 2017.
Cialis was first approved for erectile dysfunction on November 21, 2003. It was the third PDE5 inhibitor to enter the market after Levitra [Vardenafil).
What Lasts Longer?
Cialis has the advantage over Viagra and Levitra that it lasts much longer: 36 hours compared to 4 or 5 hours with Viagra and Levitra. A generic version of Cialis was approved in May 2018 and launched in September 2018.
How Fast DoesDo Cialis And Viagra Work And Do Foods Have An Effect?
Cialis usually works within 16 to 45 minutes and its activity is not affected by food. Viagra usually works within 30 minutes, and its effects may be reduced if taken shortly after a high-fat meal (which may also delay the duration of effects). For this reason, it is best to before take Viagra on an empty stomach. The effectiveness of all PDE5 inhibitors is similar; although Viagra’s reported effectiveness at 84% is slightly higher than Cialis’s at 81%. However, more men prefer Cialis due to its longer duration of action.
What Is The Usual Dose Of Cialis Or Viagra?
Cialis can be taken as needed or daily.1 In general, daily doses are smaller than needed doses. Cialis is usually taken as a starting dose of 10 mg before sexual activity. The effects of Cialis last about 36 hours. The dose can be increased to 20 mg if 10 mg is not effective, or decreased to 5 mg if side effects are intolerable.
How to take Viagra or Cialis
When taking Cialis daily, the recommended starting dose is 2.5 mg once a day or 5 mg for people who also have BPH. The timing of the daily dose does not matter in people who use it solely to treat erectile dysfunction; however, people with BPH are advised to take it at the same time each day. Do not take more than one dose per day, but your doctor may consider increasing the dose to 2.5 to 5 mg if that is not effective.
Side Effects of Viagra and Cialis
Side effects of Cialis include headaches and indigestion. Viagra is taken as needed at a dose of 50 mg about 1 hour before intercourse (although it can be taken 30 minutes to 4 hours before). The dose may need to be increased to 100 mg if 50 mg is ineffective, or decreased to 25 mg if side effects are intolerable. Viagra only needs to be taken once a day, although the effects wear off after about 4-5 hours. The main side effects are headache, flushing, and indigestion.
Cialis vs Viagra price
On rare occasions, color perception can be altered by Viagra. This side effect does not occur with Cialis. The cost of Viagra varies depending on the strength of the pill but is around $80 per pill for the 50mg or 100mg strength. Cialis costs about $12 for the 5 mg strength and $70 for the 20 mg strength per pill. All PDE5 inhibitors are contraindicated with nitrates.
The longer duration of action of Cialis means there is a higher risk of drug interactions,1 and doses may need to be reduced in men with kidney or liver disease. Cialis is not recommended for men who have had a heart attack or stroke within the last 6 months, have uncontrolled high or very low blood pressure, unstable angina, or other conditions that make sexual activity inadvisable.
Cost Of Viagra
The cost of Viagra varies depending on the strength of the pill, but is around $80 per pill for the 50mg or 100 mg strength. Cialis costs about $12 for the 5 mg strength and $70 for the 20 mg strength per pill. All PDE5 inhibitors are contraindicated with nitrates.
The longer duration of action of Cialis means there is a higher risk of drug interactions,1 and doses may need to be reduced in men with kidney or liver disease. Cialis is not recommended for men who have had a heart attack or stroke within the last 6 months, have uncontrolled high or very low blood pressure, unstable angina, or other conditions that make sexual activity inadvisable.
Difference between Cialis and Viagra
The biggest difference between Viagra and Cialis is the amount of time their effects last. Viagra remains effective for 4 to 6 hours, which offers ample opportunity to have sex on multiple occasions if you wish. However, Cialis typically allows you to achieve erections for up to 36 hours after taking a tablet.
Penile erection is caused by an accumulation of blood in the penile. Under normal conditions, sexual stimulation leads to the production and release of nitric oxide in the penile. The nitric oxide then activates the enzyme guanylate cyclase, which causes the production of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). It is cGMP that is primarily responsible for an erection by affecting the amount of blood that the blood vessels deliver to and remove from the penile.
PDE5
Cialis and Viagra inhibit an enzyme called phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) which destroys cGMP. Therefore, Cialis and Viagra prevent the destruction of cGMP and allow cGMP to accumulate and persist longer. The longer cGMP exists, the longer the penile swelling lasts.