Viagra VS Cialis (Sex and Sport)

Both Tadalafil and Sildenafil are PDE5 inhibitors used for erectile dysfunction, but they differ in duration, onset, and lifestyle use.

Tadalafil (Cialis)

• Onset: ~30–60 minutes
• Half-life: ~17.5 hours
• Duration: Up to 36 hours (“the weekend pill”)
• Use case:
  • Flexible timing → can be taken daily (low dose) or as needed
  • Better for long-term spontaneity
  • Also approved for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and sometimes pulmonary hypertension

Sildenafil (Viagra)

• Onset: ~30–60 minutes
• Half-life: ~4 hours
• Duration: ~4–6 hours
• Use case:
  • Best for single-dose use before activity
  • Shorter acting → less convenient for multiple encounters in a day
  • Also approved for pulmonary hypertension (as Revatio)

Athlete/Performance Context

Both can be used off-label by athletes for:

• Improved blood flow and vascularity
• Better pumps in the gym
• Potential endurance support at altitude (vasodilation and oxygen delivery)

But:

• Tadalafil is preferred for daily low-dose use and smoother, longer effect
• Sildenafil is preferred for quick, short-term effect

✅ In short:

• Tadalafil (Cialis) = long-acting, daily-friendly, more lifestyle flexible
• Sildenafil (Viagra) = shorter acting, “on-demand” option