Here’s what to remember about tadalafil versus Cialis: Tadalafil and Cialis are essentially the same drug.

Warnings & Precautions

You should also be aware of potential drug interactions between tadalafil and other medications, supplements, or even some foods. These can increase your risk of experiencing serious side effects or affect how well the medication works. Besides their names (and the boxes they come in), another big difference between the two is the price. Generic medicines typically cost less than brand-name drugs because generic versions don’t have to repeat the costly studies required to prove safety and efficacy. The cost of tadalafil can vary depending on the dosage you use.

Can Cialis be used to treat ED after prostate surgery?

But the average price for a 5-milligram tablet is $1 to $8, while a 10-milligram tablet may be anywhere from $1 to $25, sometimes more. If you’re taking the brand name, the price of Cialis can range from $12 to upwards of $70 per tablet, depending on the specific dosage. Monthly costs range from $380 to $1,000 or more. These prices can also depend on where you buy the medication, your insurance, and several other factors. Deciding which generic Cialis is the best usually comes down to which generic Cialis is the most accessible and affordable for you.

Prescription Trends and Adoption

Find answers to frequently asked questions about tadalafil and Cialis below. Tadalafil is the generic version and active ingredient in Cialis. They work the same in terms of treating erectile dysfunction, and tadalafil is considered just as good as Cialis. In most cases, tadalafil will take 30 minutes to an hour to kick in after taking the tablet. But that doesn’t mean you’ll automatically be hard once it takes effect — you still have to be sexually stimulated (mentally or physically) to get an erection. Tadalafil and Cialis are the same in efficacy, side effects, and duration because they both contain tadalafil. Cialis cialis plus priligy is simply the brand name for tadalafil.

Product	Dosage	Quantity + Bonus	Price
Cialis Professional	20mg	360 + 6 Pills	807.03€ 768.60€
Cialis Soft Tabs	20mg	120 + 6 Pills	248.64€ 236.80€
Cialis Generic	60mg	60 + 4 Pills	145.06€ 138.15€
Cialis Generic	20mg	30 + 4 Pills	68.05€ 64.81€
Cialis Professional	40mg	10 Pills	65.09€ 61.99€
Cialis Generic	40mg	10 Pills	37.79€ 35.99€
Cialis Super Active	20mg	90 + 10 Pills	314.14€ 299.18€
Cialis Professional	40mg	20 Pills	110.24€ 104.99€
Cialis Black	80mg	60 + 4 Pills	150.98€ 143.79€
Cialis Generic	60mg	90 + 6 Pills	196.67€ 187.30€
Cialis Super Active	20mg	60 + 8 Pills	230.32€ 219.35€
Cialis Generic	2.5mg	10 Pills	28.51€ 27.15€
Cialis Generic	40mg	60 + 6 Pills	130.98€ 124.74€
Cialis Black	80mg	180 + 10 Pills	356.64€ 339.66€
Cialis Generic	2.5mg	60 + 4 Pills	83.43€ 79.46€

Tadalafil and Cialis are essentially the same drug. Apart from their names and packaging, the main difference between Cialis and tadalafil is price. Choosing between them is a personal choice. Both tadalafil and Cialis are great choices for ED and can be taken either daily or as needed before sex. Choosing between them is a matter of preference. Generic works the same as the name brand. Some people stick with brand names because they’re familiar with the product (including how it looks or tastes) or because the generic isn’t available.

Dose	Time to Effect	Duration of Effect	Onset Time	Patient Response Rate
10 mg	30-60 min	Up to 36 hours	30 min	85%
20 mg	30-60 min	Up to 36 hours	30 min	88%
5 mg (daily use)	1-2 hours	24 hours	1 hour	75%

Generic drugs may look different, but they’re equally effective. For instance, Hims ED hard mints contain compounded tadalafil that tastes, smells, and looks like a mint. Wondering how tadalafil and Cialis compare to other ED drugs? Read more about these medications and others in our guide to ED treatments.

Brand	Typical Price (per tablet)	Availability	Generic Version	Cost Savings
Cialis (Lilly)	$20	Widely available	Yes	Moderate
Generic Cialis	$2-$5	Online, pharmacies	Yes	High
Other Generics	$3-$7	Local pharmacies	Yes	High

Talk to a healthcare professional today to see if it’s right for you.

Cialis (Lilly) is marketed worldwide for erectile dysfunction treatment.
Generic versions are often more affordable but must be obtained legally.
Cialis helps relax blood vessels, improving blood flow to the penis.
It’s important not to take multiple doses of Cialis at the same time.

Tadalafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Overdose/Missed Dose

They’re equally effective in treating erectile dysfunction, last the same amount of time, and carry the same risk of side effects. The main difference is that Cialis is a brand name, which usually makes it more expensive than its generic version, tadalafil. Both tadalafil and Cialis belong to a class of drugs called phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5 inhibitors), which were initially developed to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). These drugs block the PDE5 enzyme, widening blood vessels and improving blood flow to the penis with sexual stimulation. This results in firmer, longer-lasting erections, no matter what’s causing ED symptoms.

Dive Insight:

After all, many factors contribute to erectile dysfunction, including: Tadalafil and Cialis are ED pills that can be taken daily or just before sex to improve erectile function, regardless of whether your ED is mental or physical. Although tadalafil received FDA approval later than similar ED medications, its ability to be taken daily or on-demand quickly made it a popular choice. Another unique aspect is tadalafil’s duration. The medication can support erections for up to 36 hours, much longer than other PDE5 inhibitors like sildenafil citrate (Viagra®), vardenafil (Levitra®), or avanafil (Stendra®). It can be prescribed for ED or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) — also known as enlarged prostate.

Overdose symptoms

Cialis and tadalafil are typically taken daily for BPH treatment or right before sexual activity for ED — but you can take them daily for ED as well. Daily Cialis and as-needed tadalafil before sex are similarly effective for treating ED, according to a 2017 review. If you’re wondering about differences in effectiveness between tadalafil and Cialis, there are none. Since their chemical content is identical, any study on the efficacy of tadalafil can also be considered a study on Cialis. That’s because generic medications are required to be the same as their brand-name drugs in dosage, efficacy, strength, and safety, as well as how the medication is taken. Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors in the management of erectile dysfunction. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Efficacy and safety of tadalafil once-a-day versus tadalafil on-demand in patients with erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analyses.

How much is generic Cialis?

Put simply, one of the biggest differences between Cialis and tadalafil is branding. Two names exist because Cialis is a trademark of the drug manufacturer Eli Lilly and Company. Though tadalafil was approved by the FDA in 2003 and sold exclusively as Cialis by Eli Lilly, the patent expired in 2018. This allowed other companies to begin selling the generic drug. As of 2024, neither tadalafil nor Cialis is available as an over-the-counter drug.

Does tadalafil interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

Whether you take the brand-name medication or the generic version, your dosage will be the same. Treating ED and treating benign prostatic hyperplasia require different cialis 20mg lilly tadalafil dosages. For BPH, tadalafil is prescribed at a daily lower dose of 5 milligrams (mg). A higher Cialis dosage — usually 10 milligrams — is used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction as needed before sex. A 20-milligram Cialis dose can also be used as needed for erectile dysfunction.

Erectile Dysfunction

A daily 5 milligram dose can be used for erectile dysfunction for guys with more frequent or more spontaneous needs. While generic drugs have the same benefits as their brand-name counterparts, they also have the same possible risks, drug interactions, and side effects. Any medication, brand name or generic, can cause side effects. If you’re taking these medications for ED, you may want to be on the lookout for the common side effects of Cialis: And while a prolonged erection may sound like a dream come true, no erection should last more than four hours. If your erection is sticking around past this timeline (a condition called priapism), seek medical advice from a healthcare professional immediately. Hims & Hers has strict sourcing guidelines to ensure our content is accurate and current.

The development of tadalafil involved extensive clinical trials for safety.
Its approval was based on data from thousands of patients studied over years.
Post-marketing surveillance continues to monitor for any rare, long-term side effects.
Long-term data supports its safety for continuous daily use for up to two years.
There is no evidence that long-term use leads to dependency or addiction.
It does not cause permanent changes to penile tissue or function.
Stopping the medication will return you to your previous erectile state.
There is no evidence that it causes prostate cancer or affects cancer risk.
Ongoing research may provide further insights into long-term outcomes.
Always follow up with your doctor for ongoing monitoring during long-term use.

We rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We strive to use primary sources and refrain from using tertiary references. Dr. Kelly Brown is a board certified Urologist and fellowship trained in Andrology.

How Might Market Dynamics Evolve?

The effects of Cialis stick around for up to 36 hours, whereas Viagra only lasts four to six hours. So if you want to take just one ED pill and not have to time the dose with planned sexual activity, Cialis (or generic tadalafil) might be the better option. In a world full of choices, you want to make sure you’re making the best ones, especially when it comes to your health. For the treatment of erectile dysfunction, you’re lucky to have several choices, including tadalafil and Cialis. While you may not want to bargain shop for certain purchases like new tires or a mattress, there are no differences in quality between generic tadalafil and brand-name Cialis. She is an accomplished men’s health expert with a robust background in healthcare innovation, clinical medicine, and academic research.

Be aware of fake Cialis pills

According to data from IQVIA, Cialis brought in close to 1.93 billion in US sales as of July of this year, offering Teva an opportunity to cash in on this lucrative market. According to an article published in FiercePharma, sales of Eli Lilly’s Cialis took a hit in 2017 when generic Viagra – including Teva’s version – began hitting pharmacy shelves. Teva’s generic Cialis will almost certainly further erode sales, with some analysts saying annual sales could drop as low as $55 million in the next four years. “This launch represents an important addition to our generics portfolio, building on our exclusive launch of a generic version of Viagra (sildenafil) tablets last year,” said Brendan O’Grady, Executive Vice President and Head of North America Commercial at Teva. “We’re committed to ensuring that patients are able to access this medicine.” The launch is a major win for Teva, which has been facing financial troubles this year.

Pricing and Reimbursement

Despite being one of the largest makers of generic pharmaceuticals in the world – with 550 FDA-approved generic products on the market in the US alone – the company has been planning some significant layoffs. Late last year, Teva announced it would be cutting 25 percent of its workforce over the next two years in an effort to free-up $3 billion in capital. However, union workers at the company’s Jerusalem site successfully protested to force the company to postpone the layoffs until next year. Be ready for sex whenever you're in the mood Dealing with erectile dysfunction (ED) can be, well, hard — just ask the 30 million affected men in the United States. But choosing the right treatment can be even harder, which brings us to tadalafil versus Cialis®.

Other uses

If you’ve been exploring ED medications, you’ve likely come across Cialis and the generic drug tadalafil. Both are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and routinely prescribed for ED. Here, we’ll answer all your questions about tadalafil versus Cialis, starting with: Is tadalafil the same as Cialis? Cialis and tadalafil are basically the same medication, as tadalafil is the active ingredient in Cialis.

How to Use Generic Tadalafil for Best Results