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Be ready for sex whenever you're in the mood
When it comes to erectile dysfunction (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 sexual activity. Viagra (sildenafil), on the other hand, works best when taken as needed one to four hours before sex.
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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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 penis, so by inhibiting it, there is more blood flow to the penis.
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 penisrelaxed, so blood can keep flowing in more easily.
This increase in blood flow can make it easier to get an erection when you feel ready for sex and maintain it during sexual intercourse.
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 erectile dysfunction.
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.
Erectile dysfunction 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 sex life honestly.
Taking both medications can increase the chances of certain side effects of Cialis and Viagra, like:
Fainting
Priapism (when an erection 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.
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.
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 erectile dysfunction.
Hims 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 sexual 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.
Can you take Viagra and Cialis together? In certain cases, but it depends on the dose.
Sexual 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 sexual performance anxiety.
Ready to find the right erectile dysfunction medication for your needs? Reach out today.
Hims & Hers has strict sourcing guidelines to ensure our content is accurate and current. We rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We strive to use primary sources and refrain from using tertiary references. See a mistake? Let us know at [email protected]!
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.
Bachelor of Arts, Egyptian and Ancient Western Asian Archaeology - Brown University | College, 2011
Doctor of Medicine - Brown University | Warren Alpert Medical School, 2017
Master of Public Health - Columbia University | Mailman School of Public Health, 2018
Master of Liberal Arts, Journalism - Harvard University | Harvard Extension School, 2022
Master of Science, Healthcare Leadership - Cornell University | Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 2024
Master of Business Administration - Cornell University | Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, 2024
Internship - NYU Grossman School of Medicine | Internal Medicine Residency—Community Health Track, 2019
New York, 2019
Certified in Public Health - National Board of Public Health Examiners, 2018
Medical Writer Certified - American Medical Writers Association, 2020
Editor in the Life Sciences - Board of Editors in the Life Sciences, 2020
Certified Personal Trainer - National Academy of Sports Medicine, 2022
Certified Nutrition Coach - National Academy of Sports Medicine, 2023
Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist - Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs, 2023
Certificate of Advanced Education in Obesity Medicine - Obesity Medicine Association, 2025
Regulatory Affairs Certification - Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society, 2025
General Practice
Medical Expert Board Member - Eat This, Not That!, 2021–
Director Scientific & Medical Content - Stealth Biotech PBC, 2023–2024
Director, Medical Content & Education - Ro, 2021–2023
Associate Director, Medical Content & Education - Ro, 2020–2021
Senior Medical Writer - Ro, 2019–2020
Medical Editor/Writer - Sharecare, 2017–2020
Medical Student Producer - The Dr. Oz Show, 2015–2016
Research Affiliate - University Hospitals of Cleveland, 2013–2014
Title: Biomechanical evaluation of a novel suturing scheme for grafting load-bearing collagen scaffolds for rotator cuff repair
Published in: Clinical Biomechanics
Date: 2015
URL: https://www.clinbiomech.com/article/S0268-0033(15)00143-6/abstract
Title: Pelvic incidence and acetabular version in slipped capital femoral epiphysis
Published in: Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics
Date: 2015
Title: Relationship between pelvic incidence and osteoarthritis of the hip
Published in: Bone & Joint Research
Date: 2016
URL: https://boneandjoint.org.uk/Article/10.1302/2046-3758.52.2000552
Title: Effects of PDGF-BB delivery from heparinized collagen sutures on the healing of lacerated chicken flexor tendon in vivo
Published in: Acta Biomaterialia
Date: 2017
URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1742706117305652
Dr. Bohl’s medical expertise is regularly featured in consumer health media:
Eat This, Not That!: Contributor and Medical Expert Board Member on nutrition and wellness topics
The Dr. Oz Show: Behind-the-scenes contributor to Emmy Award-winning health segments
Sharecare: Public-facing health writer, simplifying complex medical issues for millions of readers
Dr. Bohl developed a passion for medical content while working at The Dr. Oz Show. He realized that, through the media, he could bring important health information to the lives of many more people than he would be able to working in a doctor’s office.
Biking, resistance training, sailing, scuba diving, skiing, tennis, and traveling