Viagra and Cialis are among the commonly used medication drugs for treating erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. Any one of the single drugs is enough for the patient, who is suffering from erectile dysfunction. However, most users think taking both medications will work effectively. So, here, we’re going to take a quick look at the topic, Can you take Viagra and Cialis together or not to treat ED and what risks the person may incur when taking the two different drugs together.
How Effective are Viagra and Cialis Drugs?
Viagra is a very popular branded pharmaceutical drug that is specifically prescribed for men with erectile dysfunction or impotence. Pfizer is a pharmaceutical company that manufactures, retails, and exports Viagra medication drugs to pharmacies worldwide. Viagra is made from a mixture of different chemical ingredients, and one of its essential ingredients is Sildenafil, a PDE-5 inhibitor.
Viagra pill or tablet is typically taken at least 30 minutes or 1 hour, or perhaps, a few hours before sexual intercourse. After the oral intake of one Viagra pill or tablet in a single day, it starts to function within half an hour or in a couple of hours, depending on the person’s response to the medicine. After taking the drug orally, its effect can last up to 4 hours or even longer.
Cialis too, is a branded pharmaceutical drug that is mainly administered to males with erectile dysfunction (ED). Besides treating erectile dysfunction, Cialis is also used for improving the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a prostate condition that may cause problems with urination, and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
Cialis contains the ingredient Tadalafil, a generic drug that is also present in various branded pharmaceutical drugs as an active component. It is a prescription-only medication and, therefore, is not suggested for use as an over-the-counter (OTC) product.
Cialis is available at a lower dosage and can be taken daily. Cialis tablet is typically prescribed for oral intake at least 17 hours before sexual intercourse. After the oral intake of one Cialis tablet, its effect can last up to 36 hours, or sometimes much longer.
How Viagra and Cialis Medications Work For ED?
For the Viagra drug to work as intended, after taking the pill or tablet, the person must first, be able to naturally arouse his sexual desire (libido) by invoking the testosterone (male sexual hormone).
This is because Viagra is not an aphrodisiac (stimulant), and thus, it cannot naturally produce sexual arousal in the person’s testosterone and into the male’s genital organ. The purpose of this medication drug is to only help increase the flow of blood from the blood vessels and allow blood to flow properly in different parts of the body, including the penis. The proper flow of blood into the penis allows men to achieve firm erections for a longer duration, and thus, engage in a pleasurable sexual activity with a partner/spouse.
Viagra drug is available in the form of oral pills and tablets, and in prescribed dose strengths of 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg, respectively. The recommended dosage however depends on the person’s age, body weight, medical history, severity of the condition, etc.
Cialis medication drug which is taken orally, can help relax muscles of the blood vessels in the body and aid in increasing the blood flow to different parts of the body, including the penis so that blood can flow into it to maintain firm erections and much longer.
Cialis drug is available in the form of oral tablets and with dosage strengths of 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg, respectively. Generally, a healthcare professional will recommend the dosage of Cialis drug depending on the person’s medical condition.
However, if a person takes Cialis each day for erectile dysfunction, he will have the medicine actively working in his system. Therefore, it will continue to work throughout the day and/or night.
Can Viagra and Cialis Drugs Be Taken Together to Treat Erectile Dysfunction?
ED is a condition in which most men have difficulty producing and/or maintaining penile erections before and during sexual intercourse with a partner/spouse. This condition can occur rarely in a few males and at any age. Typically, this sexual deficit affects adult males between the age of 20-60 years.
Doctors, therefore, typically administer popular medication drugs such as Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, Sildenafil, Tadalafil, Stendra, Vardenafil, etc.
Viagra is commonly used both as a prescription drug and an over-the-counter (OTC) pill but without a prescription from a doctor. Viagra pills and tablets are created for oral consumption, for instance, one Viagra pill or tablet of either 25 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg in one day and as prescribed by your doctor.
It is however not advised to take more than what has been prescribed by the doctor/physician in 24 hours because excessive intake of the medication drug could increase the risk of adverse effects.
Cialis drug is mainly prescribed by doctors/physicians to treat Erectile Dysfunction (ED), Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH). However, the drug may also be used for other medical purposes and through consultation by a professional health practitioner.
When taken before sex, Cialis drug regulates the flow of blood from the blood vessels into the body which is necessary for the penis to attain and sustain erections for a certain period of time or until ejaculation when engaged in sexual activity.
Common Side Effects of ED Drugs
A few commonly occurring side effects of taking ED drugs for an extended period of time include:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Backache
- Stuffy or running nose
- Nausea
- Frequent and prolonged erections with or without sexual desires (priapism)
- Painful erections
- Upset stomach
- Pain in the muscles, arms and legs
- Palpitation (changes in blood pressure)
- Blurry vision
- Rashes
- Flushing
- Mild allergic reactions
Some ED drugs can cause a painful erection that won’t go away. If an erection lasts too long, it can damage your penis. If your erection lasts more than 4 hours, seek immediate medical attention.
Do You Need Both Viagra and Cialis Drugs For ED?
Doctors usually do not recommend their patients take interaction drugs to treat a medical condition, including erectile dysfunction. Likewise, doctors may not recommend men to take Viagra and Cialis medications together, instead, they are advised to take them either only once a day or as needed.
When two or more medications are ingested in combined dosage the person is likely to incur risk of complications to his health. For instance, there may be a risk of high or low blood pressure, thereby significantly affecting the natural arousal of sexual desires and interest in sex drive in such persons.
Furthermore, being too dependent on medications for improving one’s sexual ability can also lead to a malfunction in sexual activity and intimate relationships with a partner/spouse and other adverse effects.