Cialis

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Reviewed on Jul 02, 2025. by Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer Next review due on June 03, 2028.

Last updated on Jul 02, 2025.

Product info

Cialis is a pill used to treat erectile dysfunction.
Cialis lasts up to 36 hours.
There’s a generic version of Cialis called Tadalafil.

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Express shipping
24 hour shipping by secure courier.
Consultation + Access to our clinicians
Ask our experts anything you like, any time you want.
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£84.95

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What EXACTLY is CIALIS? And Why Should You Care? - With Dr Daniel Atkinson | Choose Better

Cialis: essential info
Cialis: instructions
Important stuff you need to know
FAQ

What is Cialis?

Cialis is a pill that treats erectile dysfunction (ED). It’s probably the second most well-known ED drug in the world after Viagra. Same science as the little blue pill, but the effects are a little different.

Other ED drugs only stay active in the body for around five hours. But a Cialis tablet will keep working for up to 36 hours, so you can get multiple uses out of one dose (translated: have sex multiple times).

So that’s regular Cialis. There’s also a version called Cialis Daily. This is a lower dose, but you can take it every day. With Cialis Daily, you don’t have to wait 30-60 minutes for it to start working like you do with regular Cialis. Because you take it every day, it stays active all the time so you’re always ‘ready’ to have sex at short notice.

Tadalafil (generic Cialis): what am I missing here?

If you’ve come across Tadalafil, you’ll probably already know that it’s cheaper than Cialis and contains the same drug. So what’s the catch?

The truth is, there isn’t one. Tadalafil is the generic (non-branded) version of Cialis. The medicine is the same, but Tadalafil tablets and the packaging they come in are different. Several different labs make Tadalafil, so they’re not always manufactured by the same one.

There shouldn’t be much difference in how well they work (if any). Because generics like Tadalafil aren’t made by one manufacturer, they’re usually cheaper than branded medicines. Whether you choose Cialis or Tadalafil depends on whether you like name brands enough to spend the extra money (and yes, lots of men do).

We think you should have the option to choose what works best for you. Whether that’s the brand or the more budget-friendly generic. So we carry both Cialis and generic Tadalafil. After your consultation, we’ll tell you which treatments are safe, but you can decide which version you want.

This page was written by The Treated Content Team.

This page was medically reviewed by Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell on June 03, 2025. Next review due on June 03, 2028.

How we source info.

When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.

How to take Cialis to treat erectile dysfunction

Here’s a quick guide on how to take the 10mg or 20mg (weekend) dose:

take one Cialis tablet 30-60 minutes before you plan to have sex
swallow your tablet whole with water
avoid taking it after a heavy meal because this can slow the drug down
don’t take more than one Cialis tablet in any 24 hour period
it’s better to wait for 24 hours after the effects of the previous tablet have worn off before taking another one.

You need to be sexually stimulated for Cialis to work.

How long does Cialis last?

This depends on what dose you take. If you take the 10mg or 20mg dose (weekend dose), Tadalafil stays active in the body for up to 36 hours. This means after you take it, you should be able to get an erection when aroused at any time during this period. So Cialis is a good option for men who plan to have sex multiple times over a day or two.

However, if you take a low dose of 2.5mg or 5mg (aka the daily dose), one tablet will only last for around 24 hours. But since you take it every day, it should stay active in your body all the time. This is good if you’re planning to have sex on multiple days during the week.

Slight disclaimer, but there is a window after ejaculation called the ‘refractory period’ where the body needs time to recover, before it can become aroused again. This can vary between a few minutes and a few hours, and it may be difficult to get an erection during this time whether you’ve taken erectile dysfunction medication or not. (Interestingly, there is limited evidence that PDE5 inhibitors like tadalafil can reduce refractory time in men ^[1].)

How to take Cialis Daily

If you’re planning to have sex more than two times a week, then you may opt to take a low dose of Cialis daily. To take 2.5mg or 5mg daily dose:

take one Cialis tablet daily, at the same time each day
swallow whole with water
don’t take more than one Cialis tablet in any 24-hour period.

After a couple of days of use, the drug should’ve had time to be taken up into your system. By this time it should be active all the time, enabling you to get an erection whenever you’re aroused. But you shouldn’t take this daily for a long time since it can lower your blood pressure.

Which Cialis dosage works best?

Which dosage works best depends on the person taking it. A clinician will normally prescribe the lowest dose they know to be effective. So if you’re starting out, this is 10mg if you’re taking Cialis on-demand, or the 2.5mg dose if you’re taking it daily.

If the lower dose works well, you’ll stay on this dose. A clinician may up your dose if the lower dose works, but not quite well enough to give you a firm erection, or if your erections don’t last long enough.

If you take a higher dose of Cialis (20mg or 5mg) and find that the drug works well but you get mild side effects, like a stuffy nose or a headache, a clinician might reduce your dose to alleviate these.

I took Cialis and it doesn’t work. What now?

It could be that a higher dose will work better, or a different treatment.

If Cialis isn’t working well, these healthy lifestyle changes might help you:

limit your alcohol intake (one or two drinks per day are considered safe while taking Cialis, but if you want to steer clear of any potential side effects, it’s best to avoid alcohol altogether)
eat a light meal when taking it (rather than a heavy one)
get plenty of physical activity and keep a healthy lifestyle

Keep in mind too that Cialis can help you get better erections, but it doesn’t create arousal – so it won’t work unless you’re sexually stimulated. (That bit is up to you and your partner.)

But if you’re still having problems with Cialis, talk to a healthcare professional. They can help you find an alternative.

What if I make a mistake while taking Cialis?

It’s very important to stick to the dose that your clinician prescribed for you. There is never any need to take more pills than you were prescribed. Taking too much may increase your risk of experiencing side effects (see FAQ) and can be dangerous for your health. For example, if you overdose on tadalafil, you could experience collapse, seizures, low blood pressure, or you can have trouble breathing.

If Cialis doesn’t have the effect you were expecting, your clinician might want to change your medication or your dosage. But it’s best that you don’t make this decision yourself, as it can be dangerous for your health.

Treated trusted sources:

Aversa, A., et al. (2000). Effects of sildenafil (Viagra) administration on seminal parameters and post-ejaculatory refractory time in normal males. Human Reproduction (Oxford, England), [online] 15(1), pp.131–134.

This page was written by The Treated Content Team.

This page was medically reviewed by Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell on June 03, 2025. Next review due on June 03, 2028.

How we source info.

FAQ: Cialis

Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

What are the side effects of Cialis?

Answer:

Just like any other medicine, Cialis can cause side effects, which might affect some people. Common side effects include headache, muscle aches, facial flushing, nasal congestion and
indigestion.

You could also experience rare, but more serious side effects that need immediate medical attention. These include allergic reactions, pain in your chest, impaired vision and priapism (a painful erection that lasts for hours and is not related to sexual activities). If you have any of these symptoms, you should stop taking Cialis and seek medical help immediately. It’s also a good idea to bring the package with you so that the medical stuff know what caused the adverse reaction.

Taking Cialis can also cause your blood pressure to spike or drop. So watch out for symptoms like feeling dizzy or faint, chest pain or headaches. Contact your doctor if you notice these signs, especially if you have a heart condition like high blood pressure.

Certain medications like nitrates and medications for high blood pressure can increase the risk of side effects happening while on Cialis, as well as drinking alcohol. You can find a complete list of the medications that can interact with Cialis in the leaflet that comes with your medication. So make sure to mention to your clinician if you take any of these medications and make sure not to drink alcohol while taking Cialis.

It’s unlikely you’ll get these side effects if you’re taking it to treat erectile dysfunction. But if you do, there are some ways you can manage them like using a nasal spray if you have nasal congestion or drinking more water if you have headaches.

How to get the maximum effect from Cialis?

Answer:

If you’re taking Cialis 10mg or 20mg, you should take it at least 30 minutes before you want to commence sexual activity. This is because it can take up to two hours for it to take effect, but a study did find the average was around 30 minutes.^[2] You’ll likely figure out how quickly the treatment gets to work for you the more you take it. However, Cialis only works if there is some sexual stimulation.

This won’t be the same for Cialis daily, as taking it every day will mean you’ll be able to get an erection whenever you want as long as you're aroused.

How does Cialis work?

Answer:

The short version? The drug in Cialis, Tadalafil, relaxes blood vessels near the penis to increase blood flow. This boosts circulation so blood can get into the penis more easily, meaning better erections that stick around for more time, which helps treat erectile dysfunction.

(And now for the slightly longer, biology teacher explanation:) When a man gets aroused, the brain sends chemical transmitters into the body that tell blood vessels near the penis to open up. This lets blood flow into the penis - specifically a bit of tissue called the corpus cavernosum. This tissue soaks up the blood like a sponge and stiffens up, and it’s this that makes an erection.

When a man has erectile dysfunction, it’s usually caused by a problem with signals being sent by the brain, or poor circulation, which results in bad blood flow.

Tadalafil is called a PDE5 inhibitor. PDE5 is an enzyme in the body that tells blood vessels to close. By stopping this enzyme from working, Tadalafil allows blood vessels near the penis to dilate, so blood flows into the penis. It also helps to close other blood vessels to restrict blood flowing out of the penis, and this keeps blood in the corpus cavernosum, helping the penis stay hard.^[3]

How effective is Cialis?

Answer:

Cialis works well for most men on the first or second attempt. In a study of men taking Cialis, on average 81% of men using the 20mg dose found it improved erections. ^[1] This included:

86% of men who had mild ED

83% of men who had moderate ED

and 72% of men who had severe ED.

So if you take Cialis, the chances are high that it'll work.

Is there a cheaper version of Cialis?

Answer:

Yes, Tadalafil is the generic version of Cialis. They both contain the same active ingredient, tadalafil, so it does the same thing in your body to treat erectile dysfunction. The main difference is the manufacturer. Tadalafil and Cialis won’t be made by the same company, so the tablet will look different (it won’t be yellow), and it will come in a different box.

Another difference is that Cialis is available as Cialis Together, for which you don’t need a prescription (but it’s only available in pharmacies, so you won’t find it in supermarkets). Generic tadalafil, on the other hand, is available on prescription only.

Tadalafil also isn’t any less effective than Cialis. Generic versions of tablets, like Tadalafil, need to be proven to work as well as a branded medicine in a lab before they can be sold. You can also get both as a weekend and a daily tablet.

Cialis vs Viagra: Which is better?

Answer:

Apples vs oranges. They’re different drugs, so it’s not a straight-up better or worse comparison. Some men prefer Cialis and some Viagra. The biggest difference between Viagra and Cialis is that Cialis lasts longer (up to 36 hours instead of up to 5 hours) and there’s a version you can take every day (Cialis Daily).

On the efficacy front, there isn’t much to choose between them: the effectiveness rates are pretty similar (82% ^[4] vs 81% ^[1] for the maximum doses).

But if you’ve tried Viagra and it doesn’t work great, Cialis might be a better option (and the same goes the other way around).

Is Cialis prescription only?

Answer:

It is possible to get Cialis Together without a prescription, but it can only be purchased from a registered pharmacy so that the pharmacist can check if it's suitable for you.

The other versions of Cialis, including Cialis Daily, will require a prescription. This needs to be given to you by a clinician or qualified pharmacy prescriber after a consultation. This is so that the clinician can make sure it’s safe for you before you take it.

Treated trusted sources:

Coward, R.M. and Carson, C.C. (2008). Tadalafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, [online] 4(6), pp.1315–1330.
Rosen, R. C., Shabsigh, R., Saikali, K., Watkins, V., & Pullman, W. (2004). Determining the Earliest Time Within 30 Minutes to Erectogenic Effect After Tadalafil 10 and 20 mg: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled, At‐Home Study. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 1(2), 193-200.
Porst, H. (2002). IC351 (tadalafil, Cialis): update on clinical experience. International Journal of Impotence Research, 14(S1), pp.S57–S64.
McCullough, A.R., Barada, J.H., Fawzy, A., Guay, A.T. and Hatzichristou, D. (2002). Achieving treatment optimization with sildenafil citrate (Viagra®) in patients with erectile dysfunction. Urology, 60(2), pp.28–38.