Daily Cialis^®: Benefits, Dosage, & More

Other erectile dysfunction (ED) medications, such as Viagra^® (sildenafil) and generic vardenafil (the brand-name drug Levitra^® has been discontinued), work for four to five hours per dose. But Cialis^® (which contains the active ingredient tadalafil) is a long-lasting medication that can provide relief from ED for up to 36 hours per dose.

Cialis’s long duration of action has earned it the nickname the “weekend pill.” But while many people are familiar with the original 10- and 20-mg (milligram) Cialis tablets that can last a whole weekend, fewer know it’s also prescribed in a lower dose for use every day.

A daily dose of Cialis takes some of the guesswork out of as-needed medication for ED. It’s a great option for many guys but may not be for everyone.

We’ll explain how daily Cialis works, how it’s taken, and its advantages and disadvantages.

Like other ED medications, Cialis is a PDE5 inhibitor. It works by blocking the effects of PDE5 (cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase type 5), which eventually leads to relaxation of the blood vessels that supply blood to the penis.

In other words, by inhibiting the effects of PDE5, Cialis helps dilate the blood vessels that supply your penis and increase blood flow to erectile tissues, which helps with having and maintaining erections.

Contrary to popular belief, Cialis and other ED medications can’t cause you to get erections at random or increase sexual desire. They just make it so you can get an erection when aroused from sexual stimulation or sexual activity. If you take it as directed, you don’t have to worry about an errant erection.

That said, Cialis differs from other FDA-approved ED drugs in that it’s much longer-lasting. While Viagra typically works for about four hours and Levitra for four to five, a single on-demand dose of Cialis can stay active in the body for up to 36 hours.

This long duration of action makes Cialis a solid option if you’d like a long-lasting, easy-to-use medication for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Most ED medications, including Viagra, Levitra, and Stendra^® (avanafil), are designed for use on an as-needed basis, meaning they’re taken 30 minutes to an hour before sex, which requires some planning.

Cialis is also prescribed for use as needed. However, it can be taken daily when prescribed at a reduced dosage.

The idea behind low-dose daily-use Cialis is that you’ll be prepared for sex whenever you feel like it. How so? The medication will remain active in your body all day (and night).

When used as needed, it’s designed for consumption about one to two hours prior to sex. Like other ED treatments, Cialis is available as a brand-name drug and as a generic medication in the form of tadalafil.

Using Cialis or generic tadalafil as needed is a good option if you typically have sex a few times per week — every other day, for example. Since it lasts a long time, you can take Cialis close to the time you plan to have sex for stronger erections and a helpful confidence boost.

Cialis daily dosages are typically 2.5 mg and 5 mg.

That’s about a quarter of what’s prescribed for as-needed use, where Cialis typically comes in two different dosages: 10 mg and a maximum dose of 20 mg.

The recommended starting dose of tadalafil for once-daily use is 2.5 mg, taken at around the same time each day, regardless of the timing of sexual activity. It’s also occasionally prescribed as 5 mg of Cialis daily, usually to treat mild or moderate ED. If you experience side effects, your healthcare provider may advise you to take the lower dose (2.5 mg).

Cialis offers several advantages when taken daily for erectile dysfunction. These benefits include continuous treatment, which leads to reliable erections without having to plan ahead for the normal 36-hour, as-needed window of effectiveness. Sometimes, sex is spontaneous, and taking Cialis daily can make this possible.

When it comes to efficacy, Cialis compares well to other erectile dysfunction medications, such as Viagra, Levitra, and Stendra.

For instance, clinical trials have found that 57 percent of men with ED who use Cialis on a daily basis at a dosage of 5 mg are able to maintain an erection firm enough for vaginal intercourse — compared to just 49 percent of those treated with a non-therapeutic placebo. In men taking 10-mg Cialis, the success rate jumps to 73 percent.

Let’s look at some other advantages of using tadalafil daily.

A Simple, Once-per-Day Dosage

When you use Cialis daily, it integrates seamlessly into your routine. Instead of needing to remember to use Cialis before sex, you can take it every morning or at a consistent time each day.

This also means there’s no need to take your medication with you if you’re going out on a date and want to take Cialis in time to have sex the same night.

Easier Spontaneous Sex

Because Cialis has a long half-life (the amount of time it takes for half of the drug to leave your body), it can remain active for the full day if it’s taken on a daily basis. This means you’ll always be prepared for sex, even if it’s been many hours since you took your medication.

This long-lasting duration makes daily tadalafil a good option if you want to enjoy spontaneous, unplanned sex with your partner without worrying about ED.

Increased Sexual Confidence

It can give you a helpful confidence boost to reduce anxiety before sexual intercourse. This, in turn, can help get you in the mood.

Reduced Risk of Side Effects

Because daily-use Cialis is taken at a lower dosage than as-needed Cialis, you may have a reduced risk of experiencing side effects from your medication.

A Potential Health Boost

Cialis and Adcirca^® (another brand name for tadalafil) have also been approved by the FDA for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). So this medication may serve a double treatment purpose for some older men with urinary frequency or a weak stream from an enlarged prostate.

Using Cialis on a daily basis is mostly positive, but it does have a few potential disadvantages. This includes the risk of mild side effects lasting longer and the medication potentially needing a little extra time to start working to its fullest.

Here’s what to keep in mind:

• When used daily, Cialis is always “on.” Although this is mostly a plus, the fact that daily-use Cialis is always working to improve erectile function when needed could be inconvenient in some situations. For example, if you only have sex once or twice each week and know when you’ll spend time with your partner, using Cialis every day may not be totally necessary.

• Cialis can take three to five days to reach its peak concentration. Since Cialis is prescribed at a reduced dosage for daily use, it can take several days before it reaches its peak concentration in your bloodstream (Unlike the as-needed version of Cialis, which takes between 30 minutes and six hours to reach its peak). This means you may need to wait to notice the full effects of Cialis after starting treatment. 

• Some side effects of Cialis may be more persistent. Cialis is always active within the body when taken on a daily basis, so side effects such as headaches, nasal congestion, dyspepsia (heartburn), and muscle pain may be more persistent. But since it’s prescribed at a lower dose for daily use, certain side effects may be less intense.

There are several ED medications currently available, which can make choosing the “right” one feel overwhelming.

If you can’t decide between daily-use Cialis and another option, try asking yourself the following questions:

• How often do you have sex during the week? If you have sex more than two to three times a week, using Cialis daily will generally be more convenient for you, as there’s no need to take medication an hour ahead of time.

• Do you often have spontaneous sex? If you often have sex without planning ahead (or just don’t want to wait for Cialis to start working), using Cialis daily can give you a greater degree of control over your sexual schedule. 

• Do you use other prescription medications? Cialis and other medications for ED may interact with other drugs, including medications for heart problems, chest pain (angina), high blood pressure (hypertension), congestive heart failure, and antifungal treatments. If you use other prescription medications, talk with your healthcare provider before using Cialis.

• Do you have an existing health condition? Some medical conditions may make Cialis unsafe or unsuitable for you. Fully inform your healthcare provider about any and all pre-existing conditions before using Cialis or similar medications for ED.

• Do you drink alcohol often? Although it’s okay to consume a small amount of alcohol while using Cialis, drinking excessively can lead to orthostatic hypotension, a form of low blood pressure that may cause dizziness, headache, and other issues. If you’re a frequent or heavy drinker, using Cialis on a daily basis may not be suitable for you.

• Do you get side effects from Cialis? Though the lower dose of Cialis used daily may make some side effects less severe, daily use of Cialis could cause some unwanted side effects to stick around for longer.

• How effective is Cialis for you? If you still occasionally deal with ED after using Cialis at a 10- or 20-mg dosage, switching to a lower dosage for daily use might make Cialis work less effectively for you.

Still need help? Talk to your healthcare provider about the advantages and downsides of using Cialis daily. 

Like other ED medications, Cialis and generic tadalafil can cause side effects. Most side effects of daily-use Cialis are identical to those that can happen when Cialis is used as needed. But as mentioned, the lower dosage prescribed for daily use makes some side effects less common.

The most common side effects of Cialis include:

• Headache

• Dyspepsia (indigestion or heartburn)

• Back pain or muscle aches

• Facial flushing

• Dizziness

• Nasal congestion and other cold-like symptoms

These side effects affect only a small number of users. For instance, headache, one of the most common Cialis side effects, affects 11 to 15 percent of people who use Cialis as needed. Meanwhile, just three to six percent of daily users report headaches.

Other side effects, such as dyspepsia, nasopharyngitis (cold-like symptoms), and various forms of muscle and joint pain, are reported by less than five percent of men with ED who take Cialis on a daily basis.

Put simply, side effects from daily-use Cialis tend to be mild and only affect a small percentage of men who use this medication.

Our guide to Cialis side effects goes into more detail about the potential side effects associated with Cialis, as well as the steps you can take to deal with them if you’re affected.

As with other medications for erectile dysfunction, Cialis can interact with certain drugs used to treat hypertension, cardiovascular disease, chest pain, and other medical conditions affecting the heart and vascular system.

For example, Cialis and other PDE5 inhibitors can cause severe interactions when used at the same time as blood pressure medications like nitrates and alpha-blockers.

When used together, these medications can result in more serious side effects, including a sudden drop in blood pressure that could lead to dizziness, fainting, or cardiovascular events such as a heart attack or stroke.

To reduce your risk of experiencing drug interactions while using Cialis — whether as needed or on a daily basis — inform your medical provider about all medications you currently use or have recently used.

Also, avoid using illicit drugs, including “poppers” that contain nitrates, while using Cialis. 

Thanks to its long-lasting duration of action and ability to be taken daily, Cialis offers a range of unique advantages.

However, it’s definitely not the only treatment option available for ED, nor is it necessarily the best choice for everyone.

Other ED medications include:

• Sildenafil. The active ingredient in Viagra, sildenafil, provides relief from ED for around four hours per dose. Since it can only be used once a day, sildenafil works best as an as-needed treatment for erectile dysfunction for a single night.

• Vardenafil. The active ingredient in Levitra (the brand-name drug has been discontinued), vardenafil, can provide relief from ED for up to six hours per dose. Similar to sildenafil, it can be taken once daily and works best as a medication for treating ED in the short term.

• Avanafil. Sold as Stendra, avanafil is a second-generation ED medication that works in as little as 15 to 30 minutes. It also has a reduced risk of causing certain side effects as a result of its more selective action within the body.

Since everyone’s needs are slightly different, there’s no “perfect” erectile dysfunction medication for everyone.

Is Daily Cialis Right for You?

If you prefer a medication you can take once a day for continuous relief from ED, daily Cialis might be the best choice for you.

On the other hand, you might be looking for as-needed relief from ED or want a shorter-acting medication that doesn’t have as much risk of causing lingering side effects. In that case, you may prefer sildenafil, vardenafil, or Stendra.

Besides brand-name and generic Cialis and Viagra, Hims offers access to chewable ED medications that contain sildenafil and tadalafil at personalized dosages. To learn more, get medical advice from a healthcare provider today. 

Using Cialis on a daily basis offers several major benefits, as well as some minor downsides. Here’s the bottom line:

• Daily Cialis can make your sex life more convenient. If you often have sex spontaneously or simply dislike having to take a pill before sex, daily Cialis can make managing erectile dysfunction much more convenient.

• You may not want to take Cialis if you don’t have sex regularly. If you have sex infrequently and only need occasional relief from ED, taking a shorter-acting medication on an as-needed basis could be a better choice.

• You can’t get Cialis without a prescription. Cialis is a prescription medication, meaning you’ll need to consult your healthcare provider and get a valid prescription before you can purchase and use it.

Hims offers access to daily-use tadalafil online, along with other sexual health treatments. Fill out our quick virtual questionnaire to start exploring treatments.

Not sure if Cialis is the right choice for you? Learn how to get the maximum effect from Cialis, read more about how Cialis compares to Viagra, and find out if Cialis can help you last longer.