Select a treatment to
get started

How Long Does Cialis Last? And What Can Affect Its Duration

Learn more about how long Cialis (Tadalafil) lasts, so that you can better time out when you take your medication.

Read on

Cialis, or its generic form Tadalafil, is an ED medication that is a little different from the original ED med - Viagra.

Cialis and Tadalafil can last much longer than other ED prescriptions, and because of this really long duration of action, it can be a little tricky getting your dosing down perfectly for your lifestyle and sex life goals.

Read on to learn just how long you can expect your Cialis dose to last, what can affect its duration, and how often you can take it.

How long does Cialis last for ED

Cialis is a very long-acting medication, and some of the medication may still be in effect up to 36 hours after taking your dose.

This means that you absolutely cannot take more than one dose of Cialis or Tadalafil per day to ensure you do not build up too much medication in your system and cause unwanted side effects.

If you have an erection lasting 4 hours or longer, this is a medical emergency called priapism which can damage the tissues of the penis and you should seek medical attention immediately.

Read Related: How Long Can You Take Cialis? What We Know So Far About Long Term Cialis (Tadalafil) Use

How long does it take for Cialis to start working?

Cialis and its generic form Tadalafil can start working as soon as 30 minutes after you have taken your dose, but the effects will likely not be in full effect until it has been 1-2 hours after taking your dose.

So, your best bet is to plan to take your dose at least 1-2 hours before you plan on having sex.

Cialis will help relax the muscles in the penis and increase the blood flow to the area, but will not on its own cause you to have an erection.

You will need to be physically or mentally stimulated in order to achieve an erection when taking this medication, but it will get the ball rolling on making an erection easier to develop.

Also Read: Cialis For Daily Use 101: Everything You Need To Know

What can affect how long your ED medication lasts?

The effects of the medication lasting for up to 36 hours is an average time, but there are certain medications and conditions that may change the way the medication works for you.

Certain medications may make Cialis clear out of your body faster, and some may make it stick around longer.

Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you are taking so they can take this into consideration when choosing a dose and ED medication for you.

Grapefruit products may also increase the levels of medication in your system to levels that are too high, so any grapefruit-containing products should be avoided while taking this medication.

Certain medical conditions like liver or kidney problems may make it harder for your body to clear out the drug, meaning that your doctor will likely start you on a lower dose to avoid unwanted side effects.

Be sure to tell your doctor about all current medical issues before starting treatment with Cialis or Tadalafil.

How does this duration differ from other ED medications?

Most other ED medications, like the original Viagra (generic form Sildenafil), have a shorter duration than Cialis.

Viagra tends to last about 2-3 hours after taking your dose, but does set in a little bit sooner, about 30 minutes after the dose.

For some, this shorter duration of Viagra may be a good fit, but for others, a longer-acting medication like Cialis may provide a little more spontaneity with your partner.

Learn More: Cialis (Tadalafil) vs Viagra (Sildenafil): 7 Things That Make Them Different

Tadalafil (Generic Cialis) Online from Strut Health

Here at Strut Health, we know that different men have different lifestyles, goals, and preferences for their ED treatments, so we carry both Sildenafil (generic Viagra) and Tadalafil (generic Cialis.)

Not sure which one is a better fit for you? You can learn more about each medication from us, and have a free online questionnaire-based visit with our U.S. doctors today.

If you are a good fit for treatment, your ED medication can be shipped to your front door from a U.S. pharmacy with our free shipping.

If you have any questions about your treatment or dosing in the future our doctors will be standing by to help you reach your goals.

Free shipping
Free follow-up care
Cancel anytime, no fees
Free online MD visit

Related posts