Cialis vs. Viagra
Which Works Better?
When most people think of erectile dysfunction treatments, they think of Viagra or “the little blue pill.” While Viagra was the first FDA approved ED treatment available to consumers, there are other options to consider, such as Cialis.
What Makes These Drugs?
Cialis was created through a partnership between GlaxoSmithKline and ICOCS. However, Glaxo allowed the partnership to wane then ICOCS was purchased by Eli Lilly, the pharmaceutical company who now distributes and markets the drug. Cialis was approved for ED treatment by the FDA in late 2003. Pfizer is the company behind the manufacturing and marketing of Viagra. The FDA approved it for this purpose n 1998.
How These Drugs Work?
Viagra and Cialis work through very similar mechanisms. When an erection occurs, it’s caused by a relaxation of smooth muscles in the penis that permits more blood to enter and to cause engorgement. Without that muscle relaxation, however, the blood cannot enter and the erection cannot be obtained. This relaxation is triggered by the release of an enzyme known as cGMP. The more of this enzyme present in the body the easier it will be for a healthy man to achieve an erection. PDE-5, another enzyme, works to deplete the levels of cGMP thus making an erection more difficult. Both Viagra and Cialis are PDE-5 inhibitors meaning they stop the enzyme from doing its job in order to maintain high levels of cGMP in the body.
The biggest difference between Viagra and Cialis is how long they last within the body. Viagra must be taken approximately 30 minutes to an hour before engaging in sexual intercourse. Cialis can be taken up to 36 hours before sexual intercourse or can be taken daily.
What Ingredients are Found in These Drugs?
Cialis includes the active ingredient tadalafil which has also been recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Cialis comes in three dosage options: 2.5, 5, and 10 milligrams of tadalafil. The latter dosage is for the as-needed, not the daily, type of Cialis. Additionally, Cialis includes inactive ingredients, such as triacetin, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, and titanium dioxide.
Viagra works thanks to sildenafil, a drug originally researched to help hypertension. Doses of the drug are available in 25, 50, and 100 milligrams. Many similar inactive ingredients are also present, including microcrystalline cellulose. Calcium hydrogen phosphate is another example of inactive ingredients in Viagra.
Which Drug Treats ED Best?
Viagra and Cialis both have their pros and cons. Both have been proven effective in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. The key difference between the two is how much in advance you want to take the medication before being ready for physical intimacy with a partner. You and your physician should decide which type of erectile dysfunction treatment is going to be best for you.




