Sildenafil and Tadalafil are the most famous active ingredients for drugs that treat erectile dysfunction.
Both the drugs are “phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors” (PDE5) and work in much the same way.
After taking a pill of Tadalafil or Sildenafil, a man needs additional physical or mental stimulation. At the same time, the body produces substances interacting with PDE5. As a result of this interaction, the smooth muscles of the penis relax and blood flow to it increases, which allows you to achieve an erection.
Compare Tadalafil vs Sildenafil
| Sildenafil | Tadalafil | |
| Market launch | 1998 | 2003 |
| Brand | Viagra | Cialis |
| Generic availability | since 2017 | since 2017 |
| Dosage | a dose to use “as needed” |
1. a daily dose to use regularly 2. a dose to use “as needed” |
| Minimum dose | 25 mg | 2.5 mg once a day for a daily dose and 5 mg for a dose to use “as needed” |
Standard dose | 50 mg | 10 mg |
| Maximum dose | 100 mg | 20 mg |
| Action duration | 4-5 hours | up to 36 hours for a Tadalafil dose to use “as needed” |
| Time to take effect | 1 hour | from 30 minutes to 1 hour for a dose to use “as needed” and in about 5 days for a daily dose |
| Food effect | yes | no |
| Main side effects | headache, facial redness, nausea, nasal congestion, and stomach upset | headache, muscle pain, nausea, nasal congestion, and stomach upset Tadalafil vs Sildenafil side effects can last longer as the drug itself remains in the body for a longer time |
Can you take Tadalafil and Sildenafil together?
Doctors do not recommend taking Tadalafil and Sildenafil together to treat erectile dysfunction as they both work in the same way. Accordingly, the body can get an overdose of PDE5 inhibitors. Also, their combination may increase the risk of side effects.
Usually, you should wait 24 hours before taking Tadalafil. And after taking Tadalafil, you should wait 36 hours before taking Sildenafil.
In some cases, doctors prescribe both of these drugs. But mainly, they advise switching from one to another, observing the timing of their withdrawal from the body.
Conclusion
Sildenafil and Tadalafil act in about the same way. However, the drugs have many differences, such as:
- Minimum/maximum dose;
- Time to take effect;
- Action duration;
- Dosage (daily or as needed);
- Food effect;
- Duration of possible side effects.
You shouldn’t use the drugs at the same time. You should wait some time to let the drug excrete from the body. For Sildenafil, this time is 24 hours and for Tadalafil, this time is 36 hours.
