Cialis vs Viagra – What’s the difference between them?
Which is better viagra or cialis?
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 risk of interactions may be higher than with Viagra.
What ingredients are contained in Cialis or Viagra and how do they work?
Cialis is the brand name for tadalafil and Viagra is the brand name for sildenafil.1,2 Both belong to a class of medicines known as phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. PDE5 inhibitors work only in the presence of sexual stimulation, as they rely on the natural release of nitric oxide (NO), a chemical only released during sexual arousal. NO in turn activates other substances to relax the smooth muscle inside the penis to allow the inflow of blood and an erection to occur.1,2,3 PDE5 inhibitors enhance the effect of NO.1,2
Which drug was approved first?
On March 27 th, 1998, Viagra became the first oral pill, and the first PDE5 inhibitor, to be approved by the FDA to treat ED.4 A generic for Viagra was approved in March 2016 5 and released in December 2017.
Cialis was first approved for ED on November 21st, 2003.6 It was the third PDE5 inhibitor to come onto the market (after Levitra [vardenafil]).7
Which one lasts for longer?
Cialis has an advantage over Viagra and Levitra in that it lasts for a lot longer – 36 hours, compared with 4-5 hours for Viagra and Levitra.1,2,7 A generic for Cialis was approved in May 2018 and released in September 2018.
How quickly do Cialis and Viagra work and does food have any effect?
Cialis generally works within 16 to 45 minutes, and its activity is not affected by food.
Viagra generally works within 30 minutes, and its effect may be diminished if taken soon after a high fat meal (which may also delay how fast it works). For this reason, Viagra is best taken on an empty stomach.1,2,7
Effectiveness of all PDE5 inhibitors is similar; although reported effectiveness of Viagra, at 84% is slightly higher than that of Cialis at 81%.7 However, more men prefer Cialis because of its longer duration of effect.7
