This article was reviewed by Mike Bohl, MD.
When it comes to ED treatments, Cialis and Viagra are often thought of as either-or choices. But many young men ask me questions like, “Can you take Cialis and Viagra together?” And they’re surprised to hear that “either-or” circumstances can sometimes include an “and” solution.
Cialis (tadalafil) is long-lasting and can be taken daily or as needed before intimate activity. Viagra (sildenafil), on the other hand, works best when taken as needed one to four hours before intimacy.
So, can you take Viagra and Cialis together?
You shouldn’t combine full doses of Viagra and Cialis. Having said that, there are some circumstances when a provider might deem it appropriate to take a compounded drug that combines the active ingredients in both medications at lower levels.
Here’s what to know.
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How Do Viagra and Cialis Work?
Cialis, Viagra and their generic equivalents are both FDA-approved ED medications belonging to a class of treatment options called PDE5 inhibitors. PDE5 (short for phosphodiesterase type 5) is an enzyme that reduces blood flow to the privates, so by inhibiting it, there is more blood flow to the privates.
These ED drugs essentially stop the actions of PDE5. They help you get and stay hard by keeping the smooth muscles of your blood vessels that supply the privates relaxed, so blood can keep flowing in more easily.
This increase in blood flow can make it easier to get an arousal when you feel ready for intimacy and maintain it during intimacy.
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Can I Take Low-Dose Cialis and Viagra Together?
Cialis lasts a long time, and Viagra works quickly. Because of this, many men with ED wonder if they can take Cialis in the morning and Viagra at night to make the medications even more effective at treating ED.
Generally, you should only take one medication or the other. Combining Cialis and Viagra could lead to complications and increased side effects, which could include sudden drops in blood pressure.
While it’s not wise to DIY a combination of Cialis and Viagra, there are some ways to take these medications together safely.
Still, it isn’t a good idea to make those decisions on your own. These drugs aren’t meant to be taken together at their full, commercially available doses. You shouldn’t mix Viagra and Cialis without a prescription and guidance from a healthcare provider.
In fact, the patient information packets that come with Viagra and Cialis warn specifically against combining them — those warnings are there for a reason.
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What Happens If You Take Cialis and Viagra Together?
ED medications can pose some serious dangers when misused, so it’s important to access and take them the right way.
Talk to a healthcare professional, be open about your medical history and answer questions about your health and intimate life honestly.
Taking both medications can increase the chances of certain side effects of Cialis and Viagra, like:
- Low blood pressure
- Fainting
- Priapism (when an arousal won’t go away — an emergency condition)
- Chest pain
- Indigestion
- Back pain
- Stuffy nose
- Dizziness
Combining two of the same type of medication also increases the risk of side effects from other drug interactions. So if you’re combining these medications for some reason, you should be especially careful of the dangers of mixing them with:
- Nitrates
- Alpha-blockers
- Other ED prescription drugs like avanafil (brand name Stendra)
- Nitroglycerin
- Grapefruit juice
- Erythromycin
- Riociguat
- Libido supplements
- Poppers (which contain nitrites)
- Medications for pulmonary hypertension, heart disease or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH or enlarged prostate)
Always let your healthcare provider know what else you’re taking so they can tell you if it’s safe to start a new medication.
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How to Take Viagra and Cialis Together Safely
There are safe ways to take Viagra and Cialis together. You’ll just need a prescription from a healthcare professional who can judge whether a combination treatment is safe.
So, how can you take Viagra and Cialis together safely? The answer lies in “compounding.” This is when pharmacists create personalized medications for patients by combining a customized mix of active ingredients at individualized doses.
This allows providers to deliver ED treatments in a way that may fit a patient’s individual needs and preferences better than a commercially available medication.
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Chewable ED Hard Mints
The hard mints from Hims are a great example of a compounded ED medication. These personalized chewable tablets contain clinically proven ingredients known to treat ED.
Chewable ED hard mints are available in five variations, depending on the needs of the patient, as determined by their prescribing medical provider:
- Vardenafil (in two different dosages). This fast-acting option has the same active ingredient as Levitra and Staxyn.
- Tadalafil (in three different dosages). This long-lasting formulation is now offered as either a daily or as-needed chewable with the same active ingredient as Cialis.
The combination of Viagra and Cialis together is considered an “off-label” use, meaning it’s not the FDA-approved usage.
But some arousal medicine experts do sometimes prescribe name-brand or generic Cialis and Viagra at the same time for guys they think can benefit from combining the unique characteristics of both drugs.
A published clinical trial reported that combination treatment with sildenafil citrate and tadalafil (the active ingredients in Viagra and Cialis, respectively) resulted in similar rates of side effects and better effectiveness compared to using only one drug.
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When to Take Viagra and Cialis Together
Can you take Viagra and Cialis together? In certain cases, but it depends on the dose.
Arousal medicine is evolving toward more personalized, patient-centric care. So there could be a situation where the effects of Viagra and Cialis together offer a patient the perfect balance to live life to the fullest.
That said, it’s important to remember that this must be done under the watchful supervision and medical advice of a healthcare provider, for your own safety.
Your provider can also help you navigate the complex world of ED causes, which include triggers of psychological ED, like anxiety, depression and performance anxiety.
This article originally appeared on Hims.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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