There are three common treatments men use for erectile dysfunction: Cialis, Viagra or Levitra. While one treatment would work better for an individual, it might not do the same for the other. But all three treatments have specific characteristics; this article discusses Viagra and Cialis in detail.
What is Viagra?
Viagra is the oldest tablet used for erectile dysfunction developed by Pfizer. It contains Sildenafil as the active component. Developed 15 years ago, Pfizer’s patent for Viagra expired in 2013, which led to the birth of new products based on Sildenafil. The medicine is taken on an empty stomach and works within an hour lasting for approximately five hours.
What is Cialis?
Cialis is like Viagra, but the effects of Cialis last much longer than Viagra. The active ingredient in Cialis is Tadalafil. The tablet effects can last up to 36 hours, which offers an advantage for men; However, the side effects last longer too. Unlike Viagra, Cialis can be taken with meals instead of an empty stomach.
Purchasing Medicine
Cialis is more expensive than Viagra. Viagra can be bought with £20, while Cialis costs £40. Viagra is available as tablets in varying concentrations of 25, 50 and 100mg tablets, while Cialis is available in the varying concentrations of 2, 5, 10 and 20mg tablets. Prescriptions are required for both medicines. They are available at UK pharmacies in store, as well as online.
Effectiveness
Viagra works for 82% of the men, while Cialis works for 81% of men. The effects of the medicine varies individually. On a general basis, Viagra works within half an hour of pill consumption, while Cialis can work as quickly as 15 minutes. Cialis is also available as a special formula which works throughout the day. While the effects of Viagra are short-term and last only four to six hours, Cialis lasts up to 36 hours.
Methods of Intake
While Cialis works on an empty as well as a full stomach, Viagra does not. Taking the tablet on an empty stomach can cause Viagra to be absorbed by the body more slowly, which might reduce its effect as well as delay the time before it takes effect. In both medicines, it is advised that they should not be taken with grapefruit juice or greasy, fatty foods. Grapefruit can affect the drug’s mechanism of action, while fatty foods can delay drug absorption time.
Mechanism of Action
Viagra and Cialis, both formulas have Sildenafil as an active ingredient. Sildenafil is a PDE-5 inhibitor. PDE-5 inhibitors are a particular type of drug which provide relaxation to muscles during the sexual stimulation, directing all the flow to the genital area instead. The increased flow of blood in the penile region allows men to sustain an erection, and the relaxed muscles enable men to prolong their sexual activity and have a more extended sexual experience without muscle spasms.
The PDE-5 inhibitors do not have any psychological or neurological effect. For this reason, they do not play any role in increasing/decreasing sexual libido themselves. They are only used for physical erectile dysfunction treatment. If the patient suffers from psychological problems, then he should seek relevant help instead of relying on these medications.
Side Effects
Side effects of both Viagra and Cialis are similar. As generic side effects, consumers suffer from flu-like symptoms such as a stuffy or runny nose, stomach problems such as indigestion and headaches. They also get reddening of the skin, looking flushed, as both medicines work at increasing blood flow in the body towards the genital regions. Some people also complain of experiencing a greenish-blue tinge in their vision after intake. Since Cialis lasts for a longer time, the side effects also last longer.
Conclusion
Viagra vs Cialis is a widespread debate. In the end, as a consumer, both medicines should be tested out. Use both tablets at least eight times to see which works better for you. The reasons for eight treatments is because you need to give your body enough time to get used to the tablets. Many people prefer Viagra because it has been in the market for a very long time, and has a proven record of success. Some prefer Cialis because it offers long-lasting effects, and people do not have to rely on doubling the dose or timing of their sexual activity.
