Viagra vs. Cialis: Which is Right For You?

Viagra and Cialis are the two bestselling prescription drugs for treating erectile dysfunction (ED).

While Viagra, introduced in 1998, was the most popular for many years, Cialis, released in 2003, overtook Viagra as the top-selling ED drug in 2011 and shows no sign of losing any of that ground soon.

Now Daily Cialis is available for customers who want to be ready for sexual intercourse anytime of the day!

If you’re a man who would like to try one of these medications, you may wonder which one is right for you. Here is a side-by-side comparison of the information you need to help you determine which of these ED medications is right for you.

The following table sums up the differences and similarities with Viagra and Cialis.

Although Cialis has overtaken Viagra as the top selling ED drug, Pfizer isn’t exactly struggling. Not only are Viagra sales still very strong, Pfizer’s big money makers are drugs that control cholesterol levels. Viagra, being the first prescription drug for ED, has become a household word, much the same way that “Kleenex” is interchangeable with “disposable tissues” for many people.

How Viagra and Cialis Work

Though they differ chemically, both Viagra and Cialis are PDE-5 inhibitors. The active ingredient in Viagra is called Sildenafil citrate, and the active ingredient in Cialis is called Tadalafil. PDE stands for phosphodiesterase, and type 5 is a type of phosphodiesterase. The way PDE-5 inhibitors work is by blocking the action of PDE-5 in the smooth muscle cells lining blood vessels in the penis.

This prevents a substance called cyclic GMP from being broken down. In the presence of sexual stimulation, when there is more cyclic GMP present in the smooth muscle cells of the blood vessels, blood flow increases to the penis and decreases away from the penis. The result is an erection.

How Long the Effects Last

The main difference between Viagra and Cialis is in how long each remains effective. One of the main selling points for Cialis is that the effects can last for up to 36 hours. For this reason, Cialis is sometimes nicknamed “the weekend pill.” Viagra typically works for around four hours.

Dosage also influences how long each drug remains effective. Viagra is available in dosages of 25, 50, and 100 mg. Normally, men start out by trying the 50 mg dosage. Cialis is available in dosages of 5, 10, and 20 mg, and the usual starting dosage is 10 mg. Both Viagra and Cialis are effective in the majority of men, though there may be some trial and error involved in determining the most effective dosage with the fewest side effects.

Side Effects

Like any other drug, Viagra and Cialis produce side effects. Usually, the side effects are mild and go away on their own before too long. A headache and stuffy nose are two common side effects with both of these drugs, but they are usually not bothersome enough to cause a man to stop taking them. Men who take nitrates for heart disease should talk to a physician to determine if Viagra or Cialis can be taken safely. With both Viagra and Cialis, there have been reported incidents of a sudden drop in blood pressure when nitrates are taken within a certain time frame.

Prices

Viagra is slightly less expensive per dose than Cialis, but the price difference isn’t enough to be a deal-breaker for most men. With both drugs, the price for the highest dosage is usually about the same as for the next highest dosage. Many men save money by purchasing the higher dosage and breaking the tablets in half to get the correct dosage.

What About Generics?

It is very important to understand that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved generic versions of either Viagra or Cialis, and patent protections could prevent generics from making it onto the market in the U.S. any time soon (at least until 2014). Websites that claim to offer generic Viagra or Cialis are from overseas, and in almost all cases, it is illegal to order prescription drugs from other countries, including Canada and Mexico.

Finding Out for Yourself

For a lot of men, there’s really only one way to find out which of these drugs is best for their particular symptoms and body chemistry, and that’s by trying them both and comparing them. Both are safe for the majority of men, though men who take nitrates for heart disease should only take ED drugs under the strict supervision of their doctor. If you are able to safely take Viagra, you will most likely be able to take Cialis safely as well, and vice versa.

Anecdotal reports from men who have tried both drugs often state that with Viagra, the effects are stronger and shorter in duration, while the effects with Cialis are somewhat milder, but longer in duration.
Many men feel that Cialis, with its longer half-life, allows more spontaneous sexual activity than Viagra, which tends to only be effective for a few hours.

If you are interested in trying prescription drugs for ED, consider checking out eDrugstore.com. eDrugstore.com is a leading online facilitator, allowing men to obtain a legal prescription online and have it filled immediately.

The medications are shipped securely and discreetly and patient information is protected at every step of the process. eDrugstore.com contracts with physicians and pharmacists licensed in all 50 states and only sells genuine Viagra from Pfizer and genuine Cialis from Lilly.

*3 pills and less receive 5% discount

Photo credits: Krossbow, Ruffin_Ready, Dan4th

eDrugStore Staff

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