Erectile dysfunction can affect male sexual health, confidence and relationships. Sildenafil is often a good choice for men who want a medication they take as needed and have a shorter treatment window. Tadalafil may be a better choice for men who prefer more spontaneity, a longer duration, or a once-daily option.
Neither drug is best for all. The proper prescription ED medication depends on your health, other medicines you take, side effect tolerance, routine, and treatment response.
Oral ED medications sildenafil and tadalafil are phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. They increase penile blood flow during sexual stimulation and enhance the body’s natural erectile response. They do not work on their own to cause an erection, increase sex drive or treat the underlying cause of erectile dysfunction.
Best ED Medications Compared: Sildenafil vs Tadalafil at a Glance
The main difference when comparing Sildenafil vs Tadalafil is timing.
Sildenafil is the generic version of Viagra (it is also available as generic Viagra ). It is taken as needed. The standard starting dose for many patients is Sildenafil 50mg, although Sildenafil 25mg and Sildenafil 100mg may be prescribed according to treatment response, health status, and safety.
It is usually taken about one hour before sex, but the approved window is 30 minutes to four hours before sexual activity. Do not take more than one a day.
Tadalafil (Cialis, generic Cialis) gives you a longer window. For as-needed use the usual starting dose is Tadalafil 10mg, with possible adjustment to Tadalafil 5mg or Tadalafil 20mg.
Tadalafil can preserve erectile function up to 36 hours after dosing. Tadalafil Daily is also available, usually in Tadalafil 2.5mg or Tadalafil 5mg taken at approximately the same time each day.
It doesn’t mean that tadalafil causes a continuous erection for 36 hours. This means the medicine may help an erection response to occur in the presence of sexual stimulation during that time period.
How Sildenafil Works and When to Take It
Sildenafil inhibits the PDE5 enzyme which allows cyclic GMP to remain active for a longer period in penile tissue. This process helps to relax smooth muscle and increase blood flow when a man is sexually aroused.
If you are looking for the fastest working ED pill, you might expect the result to be instant. In practice, sildenafil requires a bit of planning. It can be taken anywhere from 30 minutes to four hours before sex, but the usual recommendation is about one hour before sexual activity.
After a high-fat meal Sildenafil may take longer to start working. Thus a dose taken just after a heavy meal may appear less reliable or less rapid than the same dose under other conditions.
The duration of sildenafil varies from person to person but the effective treatment window is far narrower than tadalafil. This makes Sildenafil on demand attractive for men who want a scheduled dose with no long term drug activity.
How Tadalafil Works and Why It Lasts Longer
Tadalafil acts via the same nitric-oxide and cyclic-GMP pathway as sildenafil. Its main benefit is the longer duration of effect.
Tadalafil is taken as needed at least 30 minutes before sexual activity. In this specific ED medication comparison, its effects may last as long as 36 hours, making it the longer-lasting option.
This longer window may decrease the need to plan sexual activity around a specific time of dosing.
Daily Cialis vs Viagra – Not an Apples to Apples Comparison Sildenafil is usually taken as required, whereas low dose tadalafil can be taken on a daily basis without reference to sexual activity.
Men who are looking to have sex more often, or don’t like to plan ahead, may be better off with daily treatment. But it does allow continuous exposure to the medicine, and should be used only under medical supervision.
Sildenafil vs Tadalafil Effectiveness: Is One Stronger?
Both erectile dysfunction drugs can improve erectile function, but “stronger erections” is not a medically sound way to choose between them.
More is not necessarily better. Increasing the dose beyond that which is prescribed may result in more side effects but not a proportionately greater response to therapy.
ED medications work based on several factors:
- Cause and severity of erectile dysfunction
- Correct dosages and timing
- Right sexual stimulation
- Other medicines and medical conditions
- Side-effects tolerated
- Patient preference individual
Some men respond better to one PDE5 inhibitor than another . Other conditions including uncontrolled diabetes, cardiovascular disease, anxiety, smoking, effects of medication, excessive alcohol intake or other underlying conditions may also reduce the effectiveness of treatment.
Healthcare professionals therefore look to assess possible causes of ED rather than simply prescribing the highest available dose.
The useful question is not, “Which pill is stronger? Which option will provide a reliable answer with acceptable side effects and be compatible with the patient’s health and sex life?
Sildenafil vs Tadalafil Side Effects
Both medications affect blood vessels throughout the body, so they can cause common side effects of ED medications.
Sildenafil possible side effects are:
- Headache Flushing
- Heartburn
- Plugged up nose
- Vertigo (dizziness)
- pain in back
- Transient vision changes
Clinical prescribing information indicates that some sildenafil side effects increase in frequency with increasing dose . More commonly observed at the higher doses studied were headache, flushing, indigestion, abnormal vision and nasal congestion.
Possible side effects of Tadalafil are headache, indigestion, flushing, nasal congestion, back pain, muscle pain and limb pain.
Tadalafil is more likely than sildenafil to be associated with back pain and muscle aches. They can start about 12 to 24 hours after taking tadalafil and usually go away without long-term problems.
When side effects outweigh the benefits , a healthcare professional may reduce the recommended ED dosage , review meal or alcohol intake , or switch treatment options .
Critical Safety Rules for ED Pills
The most important precaution with ED medications is the interaction with nitrate drugs.
If you have angina and are taking nitrate medicines, don’t take sildenafil or tadalafil. Combining nitrates with a PDE5 inhibitor can result in a sudden and potentially dangerous drop in blood pressure.
Both drugs are also contraindicated with guanylate-cyclase stimulators such as riociguat .
People taking : May need to watch out
- alpha blockers
- Blood-pressure meds
- Potent CYP3A4 inhibitors
- Certain HIV or antifungal medications
- Other ED medicines
Significant cardiovascular disease, liver impairment, kidney impairment, very low blood pressure or a history of certain vision problems require a medical assessment on an individual basis. Do not take ED pills if your doctor has told you not to have sexual activity because of your heart condition.
Sildenafil and Alcohol vs Tadalafil and Alcohol
Heavy alcohol use may impair sexual performance and increase dizziness and low blood pressure.
The label on tadalafil specifically warns that drinking a lot of alcohol can increase the risk of headache, dizziness, faster heart rate and drop in standing blood pressure.
Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms:
- An erection lasting more than 4 hours
- Loss of vision, sudden .
- Acute deafness
- Sex and chest pain
- Fainting or severe lightheadedness
These warnings are even applicable when the drug was legally prescribed.
Do not mix sildenafil with tadalafil, or mix either drug with other ED medications unless directed to do so by a qualified specialist.
How to Choose the Right ED Medication
Sildenafil may be suitable for men who wish to have a shorter, planned window of treatment as needed. Tadalafil might be a good fit for men who prefer a wider window, less precise timing, or a daily ED medication.
Tadalafil can also be prescribed for symptoms of benign prostate enlargement, so it could be a good option for some men who have both conditions.
The best ED medication for a beginner isn’t always the cheapest pill or the pill with the most aggressive advertising.
ED can be related to cardiovascular, metabolic, hormonal, neurologic, psychological or medication problems . Chronic ED is a medical problem, not simply a sexual-performance problem, and should be evaluated.
Regular exercise, quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, reducing alcohol intake, improving diet and better control of diabetes or high blood pressure may help with erectile function and overall sexual wellness. If stress, relationship problems, depression or performance anxiety is the cause of ED, counseling can be helpful.
Buying Sildenafil or Tadalafil Online Safely
price seems attractive.
These are medicines by prescription. A valid online pharmacy will require a prescription, have verifiable contact information, hold the necessary pharmacy licence and have a licensed pharmacist available to answer questions.
FDA warns consumers that dangerous websites may be selling counterfeit, expired, unapproved, improperly dosed or contaminated drugs.
Other cheap ED medication options include generic sildenafil and generic tadalafil, if you can buy it from a reputable pharmacy. But unapproved Viagra substitutes, Cialis substitutes, herbal products and “male enhancement” pills may contain undisclosed pharmaceutical ingredients.
The FDA continues to find sexual-enhancement products with hidden sildenafil, tadalafil or other dangerous ingredients.
Final Verdict: Which Is Better, Sildenafil or Tadalafil?
In Best ED Medications Compared: Sildenafil vs Tadalafil, sildenafil is the practical choice for men who want a shorter, planned, as-needed window.
Tadalafil is the preferred choice for men who want the flexibility of a longer duration or the medically supervised daily dosage.
Therefore, Viagra vs Cialis is less a matter of which medicine is stronger and more a matter of:
- Time period Time frame
- Dose frequency
- Side Effects Profile
- Other drugs
- Pre-existing conditions
- Personal choice.
Before prescribing either option, a healthcare professional should review your heart health, medicines, ED pattern, treatment goals, and possible underlying causes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the longest lasting ED pill?
Tadalafil is longer lasting. The effect can help sustain an erectile response up to 36 hours after taking a dose as needed. Sildenafil has a shorter window of treatment and is generally opted for planned, occasional use.
Viagra Vs Cialis Which Is Better?
Nor is one better than the other for all patients. Sildenafil is a good option for men who want a shorter-term option, and who want to take a pill as needed. Tadalafil may be a good fit for men who value spontaneity, longer duration, or low-dose daily treatment. The decision should be based on medical history, other medicines, response and side effects.
Can I Take Sildenafil Along With Tadalafil?
And never mix them unless a professional tells you to. The safety of routine use of tadalafil with other PDE5 inhibitors has not been established and combined use may increase headache, dizziness, low blood pressure, priapism and other adverse effects.