Comparing Erectile Dysfunction Medications: Viagra vs Cialis

The onset of action, or how quickly

Key Takeaways

Cialis (tadalafil) and Viagra (sildenafil) are both phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). They increase blood flow to the penis, which helps produce an erection suitable for sex. A key difference between Cialis and Viagra is their duration of action, largely determined by their biological half-life. This refers to the time it takes for drug levels in the bloodstream to drop by half. Cialis has a longer half-life than Viagra, leading to a longer duration of action: Cialis: Works up to 36 hours (giving it the nickname "the weekend pill") Viagra: Works up to around four hours, with the strongest effects seen in the first two hours PDE5 inhibitors prevent the breakdown of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), which relaxes blood vessels and increases blood flow to the penis for stronger erections. Cialis and Viagra work,

depends on their peak

Which drug was approved first?

HSDD was not considered an unmet physical ailment in the eyes of the FDA but rather an unmet psychological ailment, which “immediately triggers a higher standard of review and additional safety measures,” Lee adds. While the drugs had to be evaluated differently, supporters of Addyi claimed that stigma and overly cautious FDA warnings deterred patient use even after it was approved. For example, doctors and pharmacists had to take a test, known as a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy assessment, to prescribe and administer Addyi. The assessment included an online slide presentation followed by a comprehension test that proved the medical professionals knew and understood the drug’s risks of potential low blood pressure and fainting when combined with alcohol. Even further, patients india viagra had to sign a paper vowing not to drink while on the medication even though Cialis--another medication used to treat erectile dysfunction in men--creates similar interactions with alcohol but comes with no more than an advisement to moderate alcohol use.

How ED meds work: A refresher

At the time of approval, the FDA argued that Addyi’s interaction with alcohol hadn’t yet been adequately studied. In 2019 and after additional research was conducted, the FDA modified its original alcohol warning for Addyi and removed the test requirement for doctors and pharmacists. In December of 2025, the FDA approved the drug for postmenopausal women, expanding access to more patients. Advocates say a drug to treat women’s sexual dysfunction is a start to addressing health inequity. Lee adds that recent bigger picture events, though, like the overturn of Roe v.

Pros of Cialis

Wade and rollbacks on birth control access, have changed what health care looks like for women today. The approval and acceptance of Addyi is part of a much larger and ongoing conversation about women’s health and regulatory policy currently. “The past five to 10 years really calls into question where the state of women’s health is going,” Lee said. The Pink Pill: Sex, Drugs & Who Has Control is streaming on Paramount+ in Canada and the U.S. as of March 6, 2026. plasma concentration—the point when

the drug reaches its

Can Women Take Viagra for Low Libido?

“Is that awesome, or is that not so great? When I'm counseling a patient, I kind of leave that to their discretion and let them decide what that means for them.” There is no “normal” amount of sex or desire. So a change in the distress a woman feels about her sex drive is often a key sign of how well the treatment is working. If you try the medicine for 8 weeks and you haven’t felt a change, your doctor may recommend you stop taking it. The bottom line, Volkar says, is that liquid viagra though these treatments may not be perfect yet, having two medications available on the market is a move in the right direction.

Addyi (filbanserin)

“I think it's great that we're finally doing research into medications for women and sexual desire,” she says. “I don't think it's quite the answer yet, but it’s an important first step.” While sexual dysfunction affects both men and women, men have 26 FDA-approved treatments to choose from. A new documentary explains that it’s in part because the FDA drug approval process determines which sexual health options are available, and how restrictions or labeling decisions can limit access for certain groups. “When you look at women — premenopausal, postmenopausal, transgender individuals — the conversation of what is available to you is not dictated by you,” explains Johns Hopkins Carey Business School Law and Ethics Professor Stacey Lee in The Pink Pill: Sex, Drugs & Who Has Control. Addyi, or flibanserin, treats Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, a common condition defined by lack of sexual desire in women.

Best For

It has yet to achieve the same kind of widespread use or acceptance as men’s Viagra, which is used by millions of patients annually since its 1998 debut. The Pink Pill recounts the journey of Sprout Pharmaceuticals Founder and CEO Cindy Eckert, the entrepreneur whose company developed and brought Addyi to market, as she set out to expand access for sexual health treatments for women. Eckert’s path in developing Addyi for patient use was more of a struggle than it should’ve been, according to the documentary, which calls out the inequalities in availability of sexual health treatment between men and women. Lee highlights that FDA choices and approvals are not just regulatory decisions, but that they also shape who can get care and how easily. “If you’re a cisgender, white male, health care in the United States is pretty darn good, and your health care experience can be a uniquely personal one,” she said. highest level in the

blood after liver metabolism.