July 14, 2023 Dr. James D Jablonski

Is It Safe to Take Viagra and Cialis Together?

As a man, are you looking to overcome symptoms of erectile dysfunction and enjoy benefits in the bedroom?

If yes, then you might turn to medicine for attaining and sustaining hard erections during sexual activity.

Though there are several pills to help men deal with erectile dysfunction, doctors prescribe only one treatment at a time.

In case, you are recommended different treatments then the doctor will strictly advise taking just one tablet a day.

Well, you might be thinking of mixing Viagra and Cialis to double your results of getting a strong erection.

The answer is a big no because when Viagra and Cialis are taken together on the same day, you can experience severe side effects.

Viagra and Cialis: What do you mean?

Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil) are two common phosphodiesterase inhibitor medicines prescribed for ED treatment in men.

Both Viagra and Cialis are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for safe treatment of erectile dysfunction in men.

With the Cialis pill, you have two different dosage options. A low dose is taken once a day and it prepares your body for sexual activity.

While the second dosage involves taking the Cialis pill 30 minutes before sexual activity that lasts for 36 hours in the body.

A big difference between Viagra and Cialis is that Viagra does not last in your body for long.

Doctors prescribe taking Viagra almost 30 minutes before your anticipated sexual activity.

You can take Viagra only once a day or 24 hours and not more.

If taken consistently, there is no guarantee that Viagra will remain in your system when you are ready for sexual activity.

Viagra is considered an ideal ED solution for men who love to enjoy occasional sexual activity.

How do Viagra and Cialis work in ED patients?

It is important to know that both Viagra and Cialis are part of a similar family i.e., PDE5 inhibitors.

These ED medicines will never help you to attain an erection directly, nor they will cure erectile dysfunction.

To work effectively in your body, both Viagra and Cialis pills demand sexual stimulation. 

ED pills are good at addressing symptoms of erectile dysfunction by improving blood flow to the male sexual organ.

Also, these medication work by decreasing PDE5 chemicals in your body.

Viagra and Cialis block the PDE-5 enzyme in your body that is responsible for degrading a substance known as cGMP.

cGMP is a molecule that enables the relaxation of your smooth muscle cells.

When smooth muscle cells lining your blood vessels supplying the male sexual organ relax, blood flow in this area crinkles.

As a result, there is an increased flow of blood that promotes a hard erection.

Can you take Viagra and Cialis together?

No, you cannot take Viagra and Cialis together because of an increased risk of experiencing side effects.

Both ED pills work in a similar way and there is no indication to support that taking them together can improve your sexual function. 

A number of men around the globe prefer taking Viagra and Cialis on different days.

It is safe to go ahead with both treatments but with a gap of 24 hours in doses.

Even after anticipated appeal, combining medicines is never suggested by medical professionals as it leads to dangerous side effects.

In case, you take Viagra on one day then it is suggested to take Viagra tablet the next day.

Why you must avoid taking Viagra and Cialis together?

By keeping in mind the working of Viagra and Cialis, here are some reasons why both medicines should not be taken together:

Both ED pills work on similar mechanisms of arousal and erection

 Taking Viagra and Cialis together means an overall dose of PDE5 inhibitor is increased in your body.

Without approval from a doctor, when a dosage of Viagra or Cialis is increased, there is a chance of experiencing side effects.

An increased or greater dosage of Viagra & Cialis might not have the same effect on your body.

You have to become sexually stimulated for PDE5 inhibitors to work

Viagra and Cialis will never allow you to achieve hard erections on their own.

They simply aid your natural erection processes to work in a more easy way.

In case, you are taking Viagra or Cialis every day then make sure to be sexually stimulated. 

 Cialis is formulated to last longer than Viagra

After taking Viagra, it generally lasts in your body for 4 long hours, while Cialis lasts up to 36 hours.

When you already take Cialis, Viagra will not offer any additional effects as Cialis is still working in the body.

Keep one thing in your mind, a dosage of each medicine makes it vital to take them together.

Cialis is mainly given in a low dosage form i.e., 2.5mg which is safe to take on a regular basis.

Your chance of experiencing side effects automatically decreases with a lower dosage of Cialis tablet.

On the other hand, Viagra is given in higher doses, and its lowest dosage is 25mg.

You also need to take a Viagra pill 30 minutes before planned sexual activity as ingredients work quickly at such high concentrations.

 Side effects of Viagra and Cialis

Viagra and Cialis do not have any dangerous interactions with each other as both are the same type of medicine.

Without consulting a doctor, if the dosage of a PDE5 inhibitor is increased then it can increase the risk of side effects.

Here are some common side effects of Viagra and Cialis that you must know:

• Headache
• Blurry vision
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Rash
• Back pain
• Feeling dizzy
• Nausea
• Indigestion
• Muscle aches

If any of these side effects are experienced by you then immediately visit your doctor.

Therefore, Viagra and Cialis must not be taken together as combining them will not improve your ED disorder.