Compare The Generic ED Meds. Which One Is Right For You?

February 21, 2021

Compare The Generic ED Meds: Sildenafil vs. Tadalafil

Sildenafil and Tadalafil have been around since 2017 and both erectile dysfunction treatments have their ups and downs, along with different outcomes for different people; everyone’s body is different. For those who may not know, Tadalafil is the generic form of Cialis. Whereas Sildenafil is the generic form of Viagra. It’s important to note that there is no chemical difference between the generic drugs and their brand name versions.

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What’s the difference in how the drugs perform?

The number one difference between the two drugs is how long they last. Tadalafil can last up to 36 hours, which means it should treat your erectile dysfunction anytime within that time frame. Sildenafil only lasts around 4 to 6 hours. For this reason, many people often prefer Tadalafil due to being able to have spontaneity when it comes to sexual interaction. Also, Tadalafil can be taken on an empty stomach or with a meal, it won’t affect the strength of the drug or how quickly it kicks in. On the other hand, Sildenafil should be taken on an empty stomach. Eating before taking Sildenafil can cause the drug to take longer to kick in, especially with fatty meals. Keep in mind, each person has a different biological makeup, one may find that Sildenafil works better for them than Tadalafil, or vice versa. Each drug also has its own list of side effects, which is another reason an individual may have a ED drug preference over the other. Lastly, it’s important to see what drugs interact with Sildenafil and Tadalafil (info included at the bottom) in order to choose which drug is best for you.

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Side effects of Sildenafil and Tadalafil

It’s important to note that if you are taking either drug and begin to feel symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness, or nausea, or have an erection lasting four or more hours to stop taking the drug and seek medical help immediately. Common side effects of Sildenafil include: headaches, nasal congestion, nausea, dizziness, rash, urinary tract infections, diarrhea, an inability to differentiate between green and blue, facial flushing, and stomach pain. About 15% of people who take this drug will experience one or more side effects. Common side effects of Tadalafil include: headaches, upset stomach, diarrhea, facial flushing, flu-like symptoms, nausea, low blood pressure, blurred vision, changes in visual colors, and abnormal ejaculation. Depending on the severity of the side effects, your doctor may increase or decrease your recommended dosage.

What other drugs can interact with Tadalafil and Sildenafil?

Sildenafil increases the effects of blood pressure lowering medications, this includes the blood pressure lowering effects of nitrates. Drugs like this include Isordil (isosorbide dinitrate), imdur, ismo, monoket (isosorbide mononitrate), Nitro-Dur, Transderm-Nitro (nitroglycerin). Drugs that are primarily used for treating angina. If you are taking any of these medications you should not take Sildenafil. Also, some medications can cause increases in the amount of Sildenafil within the body. Drugs like this include: Tagamet (cimetidine), Nizoral (ketoconazole), Erythromycin, Sporanox (itraconazole), Reyataz (atazanavir), Posicor (mibefradil). People taking any of these drugs should be cautious when taking Sildenafil. Lastly, Rifampin is known to decrease the levels of Sildenafil within the blood which will most likely reduce its effectiveness.

Tadalafil, like Sildenafil, also increases the lowering of blood pressure caused by nitrates. Drugs such as Isordil (isosorbide dinitrate), imdur, ismo, monoket (isosorbide mononitrate), Nitro-Dur, Transderm-Nitro (nitroglycerin). Do not take Tadalafil if you are taking any of the above or any nitrates, this could result in heart pain and even heart attacks. Drugs such as Rifampin, Tegretol, Tegretol XR, Equerto, Carbatrol, (carbamazepine), Dilantin, Dilantin-125 (phenytoin), and Phenobarbital can decrease the amount of Tadalafil in your blood, reducing its effectiveness. Certain drugs can cause a decrease in the breakdown, and thus elimination of Tadalafil from the body. If taking any of the below drugs, it’s important to reduce the amount of Tadalafil taken to avoid having your levels of Tadalafil becoming too high. These drugs include Nizoral (ketoconazole), Erythromycin, Sporanox (itraconazole), Crixivan (indinavir), and Norvir (ritonavir). If you are on alpha-blockers, which are primarily used for treating enlarged prostate (BPH) and high blood pressure, it is not recommended that you take Tadalafil. However, if you do, it’s important to start at the lowest dose. This is because Tadalafil will further affect the blood pressure lowering effects of these drugs, such as Hytrin (terazosin). Lastly, both Tadalafil and alcohol lower your blood pressure. Because of this, certain symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, and increased heart rate may be exaggerated by drinking alcohol while taking Tadalafil, and isn’t recommended. It is also important that you do not combine any ED medications with each other (these include all other PDE5 inhibitors) such as vardenafil, levitral, tadalafil, sildenafil, cialis, viagra, avanafil, etc, except on the order of a Doctor and Pharmacist.