Tadalafil Price: How Much Does Tadalafil Cost?

So, you’ve been diagnosed with erectile dysfunction (ED) and your provider wrote you a prescription for tadalafil, an effective, research-backed medication for ED.

But how much does tadalafil cost? Can you afford it or do you need to choose between ED medication and other expenses? 

Before you start stressing about tadalafil prices, you should know that tadalafil is the generic version of Cialis^®, so it’s generally much cheaper than its brand-name counterpart. 

But a few factors can affect tadalafil costs, like where you buy it from, your dose, and your insurance coverage.

Let’s get into it.

Tadalafil is a long-lasting, FDA-approved medication for ED treatment. It’s part of a class of drugs called phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5 inhibitors). Doctors also prescribe it to treat symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

These drugs relax your blood vessels, which increases blood flow to your penis. This makes it easier to get and maintain an erection for sexual activity.

It’s a common misconception that oral ED medications give you an instant erection. They only work when you’re sexually aroused. 

Tadalafil lasts longer than any other FDA-approved ED treatment. It stays in your system for about 17.5 hours, and can remain effective for up to 36 hours.

Because ED can vary in severity, there’s no one-size-fits-all dosage of tadalafil. Your doctor may prescribe 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg, or 20mg tablets of tadalafil for use either before sex or daily. 

The optimal dosage for you depends on:

• Your symptoms

• Other health conditions you might have

• How you respond to the medication

The higher the dose, the more likely it is that you’ll experience side effects of tadalafil like headache, flushing or nasal congestion.

Tadalafil prices vary significantly. Perhaps the biggest factor that determines the price is whether you buy a generic medication or brand name Cialis.

Generic Tadalafil Cost

Generic tadalafil is usually significantly cheaper than brand-name Cialis. You can buy generic tadalafil for just a few dollars per pill, with prices varying based on the amount of tadalafil in each tablet and how many tablets come in a package.

In general, stronger tablets tend to be more expensive than lower-dose tablets.

Pricing will vary depending on where you purchase tadalafil and whether you have insurance, but here’s an overview of what you can expect of tadalafil prices.

• Tadalafil 5mg costs less than $1 to $8 or more per tablet. Your healthcare provider may prescribe tadalafil at this dosage if you only have mild erectile dysfunction symptoms or if you’re experiencing side effects from higher doses.

• Tadalafil 10mg costs between $1 to $25 per tablet (or more). This is the typical starting dose of as-needed tadalafil. Your healthcare provider will likely suggest using tadalafil at this dosage if you have moderate erectile dysfunction.

• Tadalafil 20mg costs between $2 to $25 or higher per tablet. This is the strongest dose of tadalafil that’s used to treat ED. Your healthcare provider may suggest this dosage if you have severe ED that doesn’t improve with 10mg of tadalafil.

Cialis Cost

Cialis generally cost more than generic alternatives.

The Cialis price per pill can range from roughly $10 to more than $50 per dose, depending on the dosage of tadalafil in each tablet and where you buy it. For a standard 30-day supply of Cialis, you can expect to pay from roughly $310 all the way up to $1,000 or more, depending on the dose

Read more about Cialis pricing in our guide.

Since tadalafil is a medication you’ll generally use often, small differences in price can add up to a lot over the long term. Try using the tips and techniques below to purchase tadalafil at the best possible price.

Go with Generic

But wait — aren’t brand-name drugs better than generic medications? It’s understandable to think that brand name means better. 

But generic versions contain the same active ingredient as the brand name and are even required to be the same as a brand-name medicine in dosage, effectiveness, safety, strength, quality and more.

Check Your Healthcare Insurance

Some insurance plans may include coverage for ED drugs like tadalafil. However, Medicare typically doesn’t cover ED meds.

Consider talking to your insurance company to find out if tadalafil or similar medications for ED (and refills) are covered under your health insurance plan.

You might have to pay a copay, but it will still be cheaper than the full price in most cases.

Our guide to Cialis and insurance coverage goes into more detail about using insurance to access tadalafil and other ED medications.

Consider Another ED Medication

If you only need to treat ED occasionally or prefer a shorter-acting treatment, you may be able to save money by using a different medication to treat ED.

Other options include:

• Sildenafil (Viagra^®)

• Avanafil (Stendra^®)

• Vardenafil (Levitra^® and Staxyn^®)

Sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra^®, lasts for about four hours per dose and is available at an affordable price, making it a good alternative to tadalafil for as-needed ED treatment.

Learn more about the types of PDE5 inhibitors.

Tadalafil is one of the most popular medications for treating ED, making it easy to find and purchase. 

Once you have a prescription for tadalafil, you can get it from:

• Your local pharmacy. Most pharmacies sell brand-name Cialis and generic tadalafil. Pricing and availability can vary based on your location.

• Our telehealth platform. We offer tadalafil and other erectile dysfunction medications online, following a consultation with a healthcare provider who can give you a prescription for ED medication if it’s right for you. You can also either buy the traditional oral tablet ED medications or chewable hard mints. Our products are also shipped in discreet packaging.

One thing to keep in mind is that popular ED medications like tadalafil and Viagra are often counterfeited. That’s why it’s important to buy from a trusted in-person or online pharmacy.

How can you tell if a medication is counterfeit? Here are a few red flags to watch out for:

• It’s shipping from outside the U.S. 

• You can buy it without a prescription.

• There’s no label on the product.

Tadalafil has also shown up in over-the-counter products like herbal supplements, which aren’t tightly regulated by the FDA. In 2020, the FDA issued a warning letter urging consumers to avoid 50 male enhancement and weight loss products from Amazon or Walmart due to undisclosed ingredients like tadalafil.

If you’re dealing with ED symptoms, a medication like tadalafil might be a part of your treatment plan. With generic versions of this medication now available, tadalafil is more accessible than ever. 

Here’s what to remember about tadalafil and its cost:

• Tadalafil, which is the generic version of Cialis, helps improve blood flow to your penis. It only causes an erection if you’re aroused and its effects can last up to 36 hours.

• Generic tadalafil is typically much cheaper than brand-name Cialis. A 30-day supply of tadalafil 5mg averages between $42 to over $100. 

• If you’re looking for the cheapest tadalafil, check with your healthcare insurance provider to see if they cover the cost of tadalafil. If they don’t, you can seek medical advice from your healthcare provider about other ED medication options.

If your doctor prescribes tadalafil or Cialis, this guide on how to get the maximum effects can help you get the best results.

And while tadalafil can help with ED, it’s also possible to experience symptoms due to psychological causes. Whether you have sexual performance anxiety, daily stress, or mental health issues like anxiety and depression, the state of your mental health can also affect your sex life.

In this case, different types of therapy, including talk therapy, can help you figure out what triggers your anxiety and how to overcome these issues.