What is Cialis?

Cialis® is a brand-name prescription drug made by Eli Lilly. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to manage symptoms of erectile dysfunction (ED). ED can occur when you are unable to achieve or maintain an erection.

Cialis can also be used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is an enlarged prostate. This article will focus on taking Cialis to manage symptoms of ED.

Cialis is also available in the generic form, tadalafil. Both Cialis and tadalafil contain the same active drug ingredient and are FDA-approved for the same uses. They are equally safe and effective at treating ED symptoms. The American Urology Association’s guidelines recommend PDE-5 blockers, like Cialis or tadalafil as a treatment option for people with ED.

If you’re taking Cialis to manage your ED symptoms, you may wonder how long the medication will last. Read on to learn more about how Cialis works and how long Cialis will last.

How long does Cialis last?

Cialis can work to help you achieve or maintain an erection for up to 36 hours after you take your dose. There are two ways that your doctor may recommend taking Cialis. You may take it only as needed prior to sex. In this case, the drug will work for up to 36 hours.

Your doctor may also recommend taking Cialis once daily. If you take it once daily, Cialis will work as long as you take your dose everyday.

You should know that Cialis will not work to cause an erection without sexual stimulation. Sexual activity is needed for the drug to work to manage your ED symptoms.

How long will it stay in my system?

Cialis (or generic tadalafil) stays in your system for up to 2 days after you take a dose of medication. In some cases, like if you take certain medications that may interact with Cialis or if you have kidney or liver problems, Cialis can stay in your body even longer than 2 days.

If you have additional questions about Cialis, talk to your healthcare professional.

How does Cialis work?

Cialis works to manage the symptoms of ED by blocking an enzyme in your body called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5). Blocking this enzyme causes the muscles of the penis to relax, which causes your blood vessels to open up and increases blood flow. The increase in blood flow helps you to achieve and maintain an erection.

The way that you take Cialis will determine how long the drug works for and when it will be effective. Cialis can be taken as needed prior to sex or it can be taken once daily. If you take the drug as needed, it can work within 2 hours. But, if you take it once daily, the drug will work as soon as there’s sexual stimulation. So, taking the drug once daily means you can be ready for sex any time and you won’t need to wait for Cialis to work.

Cialis can work for up to 36 hours after taking one dose. It is the longest effective ED medication that’s currently available. If you take Cialis once daily, it will always be effective, because by the time its effects are wearing off at 36 hours, you’ve already taken another dose.

How long will it take for Cialis to work?

Cialis can begin to work as quickly as 30 minutes after taking your dose of medication, if you take it as needed. It may take up to 2 hours for you to notice the full effects of Cialis, but the drug’s effects can last for up to 36 hours.

If you take Cialis once daily, the medication will begin to work as soon as there’s sexual stimulation. This means you can be ready for sex any time and you won’t need to wait for Cialis to work. Cialis will only work to manage ED symptoms along with sexual activity.

What factors can affect how long Cialis (tadalafil) lasts?

In most people, Cialis can last for up to 36 hours after your dose. But, sometimes, the drug may last for a longer or shorter period of time. Some factors that can affect how long Cialis lasts for you, including:

• Your dosage
• Your age
• Other medications that you take
• Other health conditions you have
• How you take Cialis (if you take it only as needed or for daily use)

Before your doctor prescribes Cialis, they may ask you about your other medical conditions and other medications that you take. These factors may affect the best dosage of Cialis for you.

For example, they may recommend that people with kidney or liver problems take a lower dose of Cialis. This is because people with liver or kidney problems may get rid of Cialis more slowly. So, in these people, the drug may last longer in the body. This can increase the risk of side effects occurring. Your doctor can help determine the best dosage and treatment plan for you before you start Cialis based on these other factors.

Cialis vs. Viagra: how long they last

Both Cialis and Viagra® are ED medications that belong to the same group of drugs, called PDE-5 inhibitors. Both drugs work to manage symptoms of ED. In addition to ED, Cialis can also be used to manage BPH symptoms.

The active drug ingredient in Cialis is tadalafil and the active ingredient in Viagra is sildenafil. Although these drugs belong to the same group of drugs and work in similar ways, they have some differences as well.

For example, they are broken down differently in your body, Cialis can work to manage your ED symptoms for 36 hours. This means that you can take one dose of Cialis and the drug will continue to work for up to 36 hours. In comparison, Viagra can work for about 4 hours after taking your dose.

There may also be a difference in how you take Cialis and Viagra. Both drugs come as an oral tablet that’s taken by mouth. Viagra is always taken prior to sexual activity, if needed. Cialis can also be taken as needed. However, it’s also possible to take a once daily dose of Cialis. If you take a dose of Cialis once daily and you take the drug at about the same time each day, you should always have a consistent amount of medication in your body. This means that you don’t have to worry about how long Cialis lasts - you will consistently have medication in your system to help manage your ED.

So, though Cialis and Viagra are used to manage the same condition and work in similar ways, they have differences in how long the drugs work. Talk to your doctor about the best ED treatment for you.

Warnings and precautions of Cialis (tadalafil)

Before starting treatment with Cialis, be sure to talk to your doctor about any health conditions that you have or any medications that you take. Some medical conditions may affect your recommended dosage of Cialis. In addition, some other medications may interact with Cialis. If you have any of the following conditions, be sure to tell your doctor:

• Liver problems
• Kidney problems
• Certain blood conditions, like sickle cell anemia or leukemia
• Abnormal penis shape, such as Peyronie’s disease
• Stomach ulcers 
• Vision loss or eye disease 
• Certain heart conditions, such as a history of heart attack or hypertension

Certain medications may interact with Cialis. Tell your doctor if you take any of the following medications and they can help determine if Cialis is safe for you to take: 

• Nitrates for chest pain (angina)
• Guanylate cyclase stimulators, like riociguat
• Alpha blockers
• High blood pressure medication

In addition, Cialis may interact with certain foods, like grapefruit juice. You should also tell your doctor about any vitamins or supplements that you take. 

Overall, Cialis is a very safe and effective medication that is FDA-approved to treat symptoms of ED. But, it’s still important that you talk with your doctor about your health conditions and medications that you take before starting Cialis. They can make sure that Cialis or generic tadalafil is safe for you to take for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

When to talk to your doctor

If you’re interested in taking an ED drug, like Cialis or generic tadalafil to manage your symptoms, talk to a doctor. You may wish to make a telehealth appointment to discuss if Cialis is a good treatment option for you and how you should take it. 

Cialis can be taken as needed or once daily, and how you take Cialis can affect how long the drug lasts in your body. You and your doctor can help determine the best treatment plan for you. With Motivated.com, you can gain access to a free online consultation and skip the in-person doctor visit. If Cialis is a good treatment option for you, a telehealth provider can prescribe it and have it delivered discreetly right to your door.