How Long Does Cialis® (Tadalafil) Last?

If you’ve been reading up on treatment options for erectile dysfunction (ED), you’ve probably come across brands like Cialis® and Viagra®. If so, we’re guessing you have questions about what makes these medications different. 

Many things separate Cialis (and its generic version, tadalafil) from Viagra (also known as sildenafil). But the most significant difference we can point to is how long each medication lasts. 

Viagra is typically taken for a certain amount of time before you get down to business in the bedroom. Cialis can actually be taken that way as well, or it can be taken as a daily medication.

How you take it, when you take it and how much of it you take are all solid follow-up questions we promise to answer below. We’ll also share some good-to-know facts about Cialis — if you’re new to this medication, you’ll want to start there.

How Long Does Tadalafil Last?

Part of the reason Cialis works so well for so many men is that there are two effective treatment options for tadalafil: an as-needed dose and a smaller daily Cialis option that can be taken once a day.

According to recommendations from the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration), Cialis should be used either: 

• Once daily at a dose between 2.5 and 5 mg (milligrams)

• As needed at a dose between 5 and 20 mg

Generally, tadalafil differs from other FDA-approved PDE5 inhibitors in that it has a significantly larger timeframe of efficacy — in other words, it can last much longer. 

Unlike Viagra, for instance — which can work for a few hours after the medication is taken — a single dose of tadalafil can be effective for up to 36 hours.

It may not always last an entire 36 hours, but since it can, you should never take this medication more than once daily.

How Long Does It Take for Cialis to Start Working?

After swallowing a Cialis pill (or chewing one of our ED hard mints containing tadalafil), it’ll take an average of two hours to start feeling the effects. It might kick in much more quickly for some guys, though.

Some men have reported feeling the effects within just 15 or 30 minutes. It may depend on the dose and whether you take it on an empty stomach, which could make it work more quickly.

How Long Does Cialis Stay in Your System?

How long does tadalafil stay in your system if you take a single dose? It depends on what tadalafil dosage you’re prescribed.

The average Cialis half-life (and tadalafil half-life) is 17.5 hours. Half-life is how long it takes your body to process enough of a medication out of your bloodstream to reduce its concentration to half. This is slightly less than half of that 36-hour number we mentioned earlier.

According to the FDA, the medication will reach maximum concentration in your bloodstream somewhere between 30 minutes and six hours after you take it. 

Then when you reach the half-life at about 17.5 hours, you’ll have roughly half the concentration of medication in your bloodstream, and it’ll continue to fall until it’s all gone. If you’re taking a low dose, the effects will weaken more rapidly.

Some reports have suggested that Cialis can occasionally be effective for longer, potentially up to 72 hours. But generally, most people will experience 24 to 36 hours of effects from a single dose.

Does Tadalafil Dosage Effect Duration?

As mentioned above, different Cialis dosages will last longer than others. For instance, a daily dose continues to replenish itself every day when you take it, so your duration will essentially last as many consecutive days as you take the medication.

This means that at a daily, lower dose, you never quite give the medication enough time to fully leave your body. So the concentration should remain high enough to help you get normal erections every day — with sexual stimulation, that is.

What about tadalafil 20mg — how long does it last? Larger doses, like Cialis 20mg tablets, might stay active longer. However, it’s hard to say exactly when the medication will punch out for the day because the actual effective hours will vary based on your individual response to it.

How Long Tadalafil Lasts vs. Other ED Medications

If you’re worried Cialis might be too effective for too long during your workday, you might wonder how long Viagra lasts as an alternative ED treatment. The Cialis versus Viagra debate is a popular one, but it really comes down to what you want out of your sex life.

So, how long does Cialis last compared to other ED meds? Other medications (including Viagra) are often prescribed as in-the-moment solutions. Date night is going well, and you’re heading back to her place, so you take a pill to coincide with your best-laid (pun intended) plans.

Tadalafil, on the other hand, works on a broader scale for your down-and-dirty schedule. Its wider window of efficacy means a morning dose can prepare you for some afternoon delight and late-night activities.

That’s why tadalafil is an exceptionally better option when your sex life doesn’t fit neatly into your iCal. But if your partner can be game whenever, tadalafil as a daily medication is designed to help you meet the challenge.

How Long Each ED Medication Lasts

Here are the most important facts to know if you’re comparing these erectile dysfunction medications:

• Cialis is the longest-lasting ED medication. No other medication promotes sexual activity even close to as long as Cialis, which boasts a 36-hour duration.

• Other options last up to a third as long. Medications like vardenafil, avanafil, and sildenafil (the generics of Levitra®, Stendra®, and Viagra, respectively) last no more than 12 hours, with most giving you a few hours of results.

• Viagra typically lasts four to six hours. At max, it might give you a 12-hour window.

• Stendra and Levitra kick in quickly. Both can start working within 30 minutes of taking the medication and typically last around five hours.

Your healthcare provider needs to know about other medical conditions you have, including angina (chest pain) and heart issues, before prescribing you these ED medications.

What to Keep in Mind About Cialis

As a reminder, Cialis (nor any other medications for ED) just give you erections. In fact, tadalafil probably couldn’t get you up on its own unless it came wrapped in pictorials from old Playboy magazines. 

Tadalafil and other PDE5 inhibitors merely get the system to operate optimally — you still have to be stimulated and aroused.

ED affects millions of men. And the truth is that while Cialis helps many of them, it’s not always the solution, especially if your ED is a result of stress, low self-esteem, depression, performance anxiety, or other mental health issues.

That’s why the list of erectile dysfunction treatments includes therapy and other mental health support.

How to Get the Most Out of a Dose of Cialis

A word to the wise: If you’re wondering how to get the maximum effect from Cialis, it’s definitely not by taking double doses or popping more than one in 24 hours. Your best bet is to take it exactly how it was prescribed by a healthcare professional.

Taking too much or taking it too frequently could increase the risk of common side effects of Cialis — and the more serious side effects.

PDE5 inhibitors like tadalafil have other uses. Tadalafil can also treat hypertension (high blood pressure), so misuse or an overdose could lead to low blood pressure.

If you have chest pain or back pain or feel like you might be experiencing a heart attack, seek medical attention immediately.

Many men might argue there’s no such thing as a too-long erection. But these guys haven’t heeded the warnings of hard-ons lasting more than four hours — a painful condition called priapism that could damage the spongy tissue of the corpora cavernosa and potentially permanently damage your member. Priapism also calls for immediate medical attention.

Generally speaking, you should avoid taking any of these medications with nitrates, alpha-blockers, antifungals, or grapefruit juice, all of which can affect the intensity of a dose of Cialis — and the side effects too.

Sorry to be a broken record, but again, let your healthcare provider know if you have any health conditions before accepting a prescription for this medication.

Final Thoughts on Cialis: How Long Does It Last?

How long does Cialis last? And generic tadalafil — how long does it last? Up to 36 hours, but each guy’s experience will be a little different.

If you’re reading this, you may be less than impressed with your penis’s recent performance. But there’s no reason to be embarrassed.

Here’s what to keep in mind:

• ED is defined as an inability to get or stay hard long enough for sexual intercourse. Medications like Cialis are among the many treatments that can help remedy the issue.

• Which medication you take and how often you take it depends on your individual needs and lifestyle. Seek medical advice for the best guidance, regardless of whether you’re taking supplements or prescription drugs.

• Tadalafil can treat ED, so if you’re suffering from unreliable, incomplete, or otherwise finicky erections, talk to a healthcare provider about a tadalafil prescription.

• There are other options. ED drugs like Stendra, Levitra, and Viagra also offer relief from ED symptoms, though they treat erectile dysfunction on an as-needed basis.

• When used properly, these drugs can help you thwart the physical effects of ED and stride confidently into the bedroom.

• Taking more than the recommended amount won’t make your penis harder or bigger. That’d be like filling your car’s gas tank with premium instead of regular and expecting it to suddenly sprout two extra cylinders.

• If your ED comes from intimacy issues, self-confidence problems, or something else, effective treatment might be more complex than simply getting the mechanics working again. Talk to a therapist or another mental health professional if this sounds like it may apply to you.

If you’re ready to treat ED, we can help. We offer affordable ED medications through our telehealth platform, and you can get a prescription for Cialis with an online consultation.