The Independent Pharmacy

How Long Does Tadalafil Last After Taking It?

Andy Boysan
Andy BoysanBPharmDirector & Superintendent Pharmacist

Reviewed on 16 Feb 2024

So you’re wondering, how long does Tadalafil (Cialis) last when taking it to treat erectile dysfunction (ED)? Typically, a single dose of Tadalafil can work for up to 36 hours, which is way longer than other popular ED meds like Viagra, which usually help for just 4-6 hours.

Tadalafil Tablets (10mg & 20mg)
Tadalafil Tablets (10mg & 20mg)
View Treatment

We know it might sound too good to be true that one little pill can improve erections for a day and a half! But Tadalafil is specially designed to have a nice long duration of action. The effects kick in anywhere from 30 minutes up to an hour after swallowing the tablet. Then, the ED-fighting benefits keep on going for the next day or even longer for some guys.

How long tadalafil works in your body depends on many factors, like your age, dosage, overall health, what foods you eat, other medications, and more. First, though, it’s worth understanding how exactly Tadalafil helps men get hard when the moment’s right. In simple terms, Tadalafil helps increase blood flow to the penis. This means that when you’re sexually aroused, more blood is able to flow into the penis, making it easier to get and maintain a firm erection.

Let’s explore how long Tadalafil lasts and how you can maximise its effects.

Key Findings:

  • A single Tadalafil tablet can help enable firm enough erections for sexual intercourse that last for up to 36 hours normally before wearing off. But each man’s results can vary.
  • How well and how long Tadalafil works can be impacted by health issues like diabetes or heart disease, other medicines a man takes, excess weight, smoking, or how much alcohol he drinks - things affecting overall blood flow.
  • Taking Tadalafil exactly as your doctor prescribes it and improving lifestyle habits like diet and exercise can help ensure it works reliably when you need it with minimal safety risks.

How Long Does Tadalafil Last?

For most men, Tadalafil starts working within 30-60 minutes after swallowing the oral tablet to enable improved blood flow to the penis. It remains effective at helping achieve and maintain erections for up to 36 hours from the initial dose before needing another tablet. This durable response is why it earned the nickname “the weekend pill” - one dose can cover sexual activity all weekend long. But keep in mind that this can vary based on individual factors such as metabolism, overall health, and other medications taken.

The most commonly prescribed dosage for treating erectile dysfunction is a 10-20mg tadalafil tablet consumed as needed approximately 30-60 minutes prior to sexual activity. However, some men are prescribed lower 2.5-5mg daily doses, which provide more subtle ongoing support.

A man’s individual health profile can impact results, too. Age, diet, lifestyle choices, and existing medical conditions or medications can all influence how quickly the treatment starts working and the duration of response from each tadalafil dose. We’ll explore these variables next.

Factors Affecting Tadalafil’s Duration

A man’s unique health and lifestyle profile can influence the efficacy and duration of Tadalafil’s effects. Common variables include:

  • Existing medical conditions - It’s important to consider that health conditions like diabetes, heart problems, lung issues, obesity, or problems with your kidneys, liver, or prostate can affect how Tadalafil works for you. We understand these challenges and encourage discussing them openly with your doctor for the best care.
  • Other prescription medications – Antibiotics, antifungals, anti-anxiety meds, and more may potentially interact with how Tadalafil gets absorbed and utilised. Discuss all medications with your prescribing doctor.
  • Excessive alcohol consumption – While moderate drinking is reasonably safe for most, excessive intake can lessen Tadalafil’s impacts.
  • Poor lifestyle and circulatory health – Factors like smoking, lack of exercise or activity, and obesity associated with heart issues can hamper duration.

Making positive changes in your diet and activity level can be more than just physically beneficial; it can also provide a boost in confidence and improve your overall well-being, potentially enhancing the effectiveness of Tadalafil in managing ED symptoms.

Maximising the Effects of Tadalafil

Dosage and Timing

It’s vital to take the proper tadalafil dose prescribed by your doctor. It’s usually 10-20mg tablet per dose, depending on factors like your age, weight, and health conditions. Consuming extra doses over 20mg does not generate harder erections or enhance sexual activity but only heightens side effect risks. To help Tadalafil work best, it’s a good idea to take it on an empty stomach. Try to avoid grapefruits and grapefruit juice while using it, as these can impact how much Tadalafil your body absorbs.

Discuss optimal timing strategies with your doctor for peak impact that aligns with your needs and sexual activity schedules. Most men attain improved blood flow, enabling erections 30-120 minutes after taking Tadalafil. But reaching maximum stable concentrations of the drug for the hardest, longest-lasting erections can take 2 hours. Plan tablet consumption accordingly with enough buffer built in depending on your unique needs and any health issues.

Tips for Success

  • Take Tadalafil doses as prescribed by your doctor – they are formulated based on your health profile. Doubling doses is not more effective and boosts safety issues.
  • Stay active through at least 150 minutes weekly of moderate cardiovascular exercise to maintain healthy circulation, blood vessel elasticity and weight. This allows Tadalafil to work more effectively. But avoid overexertion, which strains the heart.
  • Quit smoking completely - smoking introduces toxins and damages delicate blood vessels and arteries necessary for erectile rigidity. This sabotages Tadalafil’s mechanisms.
  • Reduce emotional stress through counselling, yoga, meditation or other outlets, as excessive stress can worsen ED progression. Learning relaxation techniques facilitates erectile response.
  • We can’t emphasise enough the importance of open communication with your healthcare provider. If you experience any changes, whether they’re physical symptoms or concerns about the treatment’s effectiveness, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Your comfort and well-being are paramount. When needed, alternate erectile dysfunction drugs or dose adjustments can be prescribed. Exploring options ensures optimal results are sustainably achieved.

Take the Next Step With The Independent Pharmacy

As an online pharmacy, The Independent Pharmacy offers men convenient, personalised treatment of erectile dysfunction without the need for awkward in-person doctor visits. Our simple process involves first completing a self-assessment questionnaire where you detail your ED symptoms, medical history, failed treatments and needs.

This questionnaire only takes less than 3 minutes to fill out, and your responses remain completely confidential. Our clinical team of erectile dysfunction specialists then promptly reviews your input and emails back guaranteed medication options aligned to your unique health profile within hours.

Whether your ED is situational, mild or more advanced, we have experience helping men of all backgrounds and health profiles reclaim confidence, performance and satisfaction discreetly. Regain control today by contacting The Independent Pharmacy to complete your initial assessment and get custom treatment recommendations fast from our dedicated men’s health experts.

FAQs

How long does it take for Tadalafil to wear off?

A single 10-20mg oral tablet dose of Tadalafil for erectile dysfunction will remain effective, enabling improved penile blood flow and erection capabilities for up to 36 hours on average before efficacy starts to decline as the active drug gets metabolised and concentrations diminish in the bloodstream. Most men find complete effects wear off within 2 days post-tablet ingestion.

Does Tadalafil keep you hard after coming?

No, Tadalafil does not override normal male refractory periods or cause painful, prolonged erections after ejaculation without ongoing physical and mental sexual stimulation. The drug facilitates improved vasodilation and blood flow to the penis only during arousal to enable erection response, not continuing rigidity after orgasm once arousal ceases. The duration of effectiveness to treat ED remains up to 36 hours prior to the complete drug cycle metabolism.

Can you take Tadalafil 2 days in a row?

The recommended maximum dose for Tadalafil is a single 20mg tablet per day, with at least 24 hours in between for full clearance from the bloodstream to avoid drug interactions or heightened common side effects. Taking more than a maximum daily 20mg dose over any 2-day span risks adverse effects and repercussions without medical guidance and monitoring.

Is Tadalafil as strong as Viagra?

Tadalafil and Sildenafil (Viagra) are both PDE5 inhibitor medications that improve blood circulation to the penis to enable erectile response. When prescribed at maximum doses for ED, Tadalafil (20mg tablet) can have longer-lasting efficacy than sildenafil (100mg tablet), with a slower onset but effects wearing off at about 36 hours versus 4-6 hours for Viagra. However, results vary based on the individual, dose strength, and health considerations. Overall, both are very effective and recommended ED treatment options. Discuss comparisons with your doctor.

Sources:

About tadalafil - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Common questions about tadalafil - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Determining the Earliest Time within 30 Minutes to Erectogenic Effect after Tadalafil 10 and 20 mg: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled, At‐Home Study - ScienceDirect

Related Guides

Treating Diabetes-Related ED: Understanding and Overcoming Erectile Dysfunction

Daniel Hurley
Written by Daniel Hurley

Need something else?

We stock 1040 treatments for 90 conditions

Or browse all treatments or conditions

A customer at the pharmacist looking for medication