Tadalafil vs Sildenafil: Which Suits Your Weekend Best?

Around 1 in 4 Australian men live with erectile dysfunction (ED) – but only a small fraction ever ask for help or try treatment.

At the same time, large national surveys suggest more than 1 in 4 men aged 18–64 report ED when asked directly about their sexual health.

Put simply: ED is incredibly common in Australia, but most men are still quietly Googling “Viagra vs Cialis” or “Tadalafil vs Sildenafil” at midnight instead of talking to a doctor.

If that’s you, you’re in the right place.

In this article, we’ll unpack Tadalafil vs Sildenafil in real-world terms – what they are, how they differ, and which one might actually suit your weekend best. We’ll look at:

• How quickly each works and how long they last
• How food, alcohol, and timing affect them
• Side effects and safety
• How your relationship, schedule and other health issues shape the best choice
• How to buy ED meds online safely in Australia (and what to avoid)

We’re writing this as an Australian telehealth clinic that helps men across the country with discreet, evidence-based erectile dysfunction treatment every day. Our doctors follow Australian guidelines and use trusted resources like Healthdirect and the RACGP’s ED guidance when prescribing ED medication.

This post is general information only, not personal medical advice. But by the end, you’ll be far better prepared to have a confident chat with your own doctor – or with one of our online GPs – about which option fits your lifestyle, your health, and yes, your weekend plans.

Erectile dysfunction in Australia: more common (and more important) than you think

ED means ongoing trouble getting or keeping an erection firm enough for satisfying sex. It’s not just a “performance issue” – it can affect confidence, relationships, and long‑term health.

Some key Australian numbers:

• A large Western Australian study found about 25% of adult men had ED, and almost 9% had severe ED.
• Health summaries based on Australian data estimate over one million Aussie men live with ED.
• Newer national data from the Ten to Men study report 26% of men aged 18–64 experienced ED.

Despite that, only a small minority of affected men had ever received treatment in some studies.

ED also matters because it can be a window into your broader health. Australian GP guidelines emphasise that ED:

• Is often linked to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and smoking
• Can act as an early warning sign for cardiovascular disease, sometimes appearing years before heart symptoms like chest pain

That’s why a good ED assessment is not just: “Do you want Viagra or Cialis?” It’s a chance to:

• Check for underlying heart risk
• Optimise lifestyle factors
• Then choose medication that fits your body and your routine

Oral medications called PDE5 inhibitors are usually the first-line treatment for most men. In Australia, the main ones are:

• Sildenafil – best known by the original brand name Viagra®
• Tadalafil – best known as Cialis®

Vardenafil and avanafil (Spedra®) are also used, and we’ve written more about those in our guide “ED Medications: Your Complete Guide to Treatment Options”.

But for most Australians comparing options, the big question is:

"Tadalafil vs Sildenafil – which one actually suits my life (and my weekends)?"

Viagra vs Cialis 101: what are Sildenafil and Tadalafil?

At a basic level, Sildenafil and Tadalafil work in a very similar way.

Both are phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. They:

• Help the blood vessels in the penis relax
• Allow more blood to flow in during sexual arousal
• Make it easier to get and maintain an erection

Crucially:

• They do not increase sexual desire
• They do not cause an automatic erection – you still need sexual stimulation
• They do not protect against STIs or pregnancy

In Australia:

• Sildenafil is most famous as Viagra, but many generic brands now exist.
• Tadalafil is the active ingredient in Cialis, again with several generics.
• Both are Schedule 4 (prescription-only) medicines – you legally need a prescription from a doctor to use them.

Typical doses (your doctor will individualise this):

• Sildenafil: 25 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg tablets – most men start at 50 mg on-demand
• Tadalafil: 5 mg, 10 mg, or 20 mg – often 10 mg or 20 mg on-demand, or 2.5–5 mg as a daily low-dose option

From a chemistry perspective, they’re cousins. From a lifestyle perspective, they can feel very different.

Tadalafil vs Sildenafil: the key differences at a glance

Let’s break down the main points of this ED medication comparison in plain language.

1. How quickly they work

Sildenafil (Viagra):

• Take it about 1 hour before sex
• Starts working in 30–60 minutes for most people
• Works best when you’re planning sex in a roughly 2–3 hour window

Tadalafil (Cialis):

• Can start helping from 30 minutes, but reaches peak effect at about 2 hours
• For on-demand use, you’re usually told to take it 30–60 minutes before sex

In practice, both can cover a standard “date night” if you take them ahead of time. But the big difference is what happens after that first few hours.

2. How long they last

This is where the Viagra vs Cialis debate heats up.

Sildenafil:

• Has a half-life of about 4 hours (your body clears half the drug in that time)
• The effective window for most men is up to ~4 hours, sometimes a bit longer
• You won’t have a constant erection – you’ll just find it easier to get one with stimulation during that window

Tadalafil:

• Has a much longer half-life – around 17–18 hours
• Can stay effective for up to 36 hours, which is why it’s nicknamed “the weekend pill”

Again, that doesn’t mean a 36-hour erection (that would be a medical emergency). It just means:

"If you take Tadalafil on Friday evening, you may be able to respond more easily to sexual stimulation at various times right through Saturday and even into Sunday morning."

If your main goal is spontaneity over a whole weekend, Tadalafil usually wins this round.

3. How you take them: on-demand vs daily

Sildenafil is almost always used on-demand:

• You take a tablet when you expect to have sex
• Maximum once per 24 hours

Tadalafil offers more flexibility:

• On-demand: 10 or 20 mg taken before sex, with effects lasting up to 36 hours
• Daily low-dose: 2.5–5 mg taken once a day. This can suit men who:
  • Have sex multiple times a week
  • Prefer not to plan around a pill
  • Also have urinary symptoms from an enlarged prostate (BPH)

Daily low-dose Tadalafil has been shown to improve both ED and lower urinary tract symptoms in some men.

If you’re in a long-term relationship and want “always-on” support rather than timing tablets around sex, daily Tadalafil is often the more convenient option – provided your doctor agrees it’s safe for you.

4. Food, alcohol and your social life

This is a big one for Aussie weekends.

Sildenafil:

• A high‑fat meal (think big greasy pub feed) can slow absorption and reduce peak levels, meaning it may:
  • Take longer to start working
  • Feel less effective
• Best taken on a relatively empty stomach, or well before/after a heavy meal

Tadalafil:

• Food – including high‑fat meals – has minimal effect on how it’s absorbed
• That makes it easier to fit around real‑world situations like:
  • Long dinners
  • Drinks with mates
  • Weekends away where you’re not eating like a monk

Alcohol:

Moderate alcohol intake is usually permitted with both, but there are two important caveats:

1. Heavy drinking itself is a major cause of temporary ED (and long‑term sexual issues).
2. Combining a lot of alcohol + ED meds can worsen dizziness, low blood pressure and poor performance.

If you’re curious about the alcohol angle, we unpack it in detail in our post “Can One Night of Drinking Cause ED?”.

5. Side effects: more similar than different – but with a twist

All PDE5 inhibitors share a similar side-effect profile because they work in related ways.

Common side effects (both medicines):

• Headache
• Flushing (warm, red face)
• Indigestion or heartburn
• Nasal congestion
• Dizziness
• Muscle or back pain

These are usually mild and short‑lived.

Subtle differences:

Clinical reviews and Australian guidelines note that:

• Sildenafil is more commonly linked to:
  • Temporary visual changes (like a blue tinge or increased light sensitivity)
  • More pronounced flushing in some men
• Tadalafil is more likely to cause:
  • Backache and muscle aches (often mild-to-moderate)

Serious but rare side effects for both include:

• Sudden vision or hearing loss
• Chest pain
• A prolonged, painful erection lasting more than 4 hours (priapism)

If you ever have an erection lasting longer than 4 hours, or severe chest pain, you should treat it as an emergency and go straight to hospital.

If you’ve tried one medicine and hated the side effects, that’s worth discussing with your doctor. Many men feel better on one option than the other.

6. Who should not take Sildenafil or Tadalafil?

This is where “just grabbing something online” becomes genuinely unsafe.

You must not take PDE5 inhibitors if you:

• Use nitrate medicines (e.g. GTN spray, nitroglycerin tablets, isosorbide mononitrate) for chest pain
• Use recreational “poppers” (amyl nitrite)
• Have been told your heart is not strong enough for sex

The combination of nitrates and PDE5 inhibitors can cause a dangerous, sudden drop in blood pressure.

Other situations where extra care or specialist advice is needed include:

• Recent heart attack or stroke
• Severe heart failure or unstable angina
• Significant low blood pressure
• Serious liver or kidney disease
• Certain rare eye diseases (e.g. retinitis pigmentosa)

Remember:

• Because Tadalafil stays in the body longer, you generally need to wait at least 48 hours after your last dose before it’s safe to use nitrates, compared with about 24 hours for Sildenafil.

This is a key reason doctors ask a long list of questions before prescribing ED meds – and why borrowing a mate’s pills or ordering from an unknown website is a bad idea.

7. Cost and availability in Australia

In Australia:

• Both medicines are prescription-only (S4)
• Generic versions of Sildenafil and Tadalafil have driven prices down compared to original brands
• For ED itself, they are generally supplied on private prescriptions (you pay the full cost of the medicine), though there are:
  • PBS listings for certain veterans (Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme)
  • PBS subsidies for pulmonary arterial hypertension that also use these drugs at different doses

The exact price you pay per tablet will depend on:

• Dose
• Brand vs generic
• Individual pharmacy pricing

At NextClinic, our ED Treatment Plan is designed so you know the consultation cost and medication pricing upfront, and our doctors choose an affordable, clinically appropriate option for you.

Matching the medicine to your weekend: real-world scenarios

Let’s bring this down from half‑lives and milligrams to what actually happens on a Friday night.

Scenario 1: The planned Friday date night

You’ve got a dinner booking at 7 pm. You expect things might get intimate later that evening.

Sildenafil might suit you if:

• You’re okay timing a dose about an hour before you think you’ll have sex
• You’re fine avoiding a super‑heavy meal right beforehand
• You’re mainly looking for support for one main encounter that night
• You’d prefer a drug that’s out of your system faster

Tadalafil might suit you if:

• You’re not sure exactly when things will happen – tonight, tomorrow morning, or both
• You want the option of more than one encounter without taking extra doses
• You’d like less worry about whether a big meal will blunt the effect

Scenario 2: The spontaneous weekend away

You and your partner are driving down the coast Friday afternoon. You don’t know when you’ll have privacy, but you want to feel ready whenever the moment’s right.

This is what Tadalafil was built for.

Tadalafil advantage:

• A single 10–20 mg dose on Friday can give you an effective window up to ~36 hours
• That covers Friday night, Saturday morning, Saturday night, and sometimes even Sunday morning
• No need to watch the clock quite so closely

Sildenafil can still work in this scenario, but you’d have to plan ahead more carefully for each anticipated encounter – which may feel less “weekend away”, more “medical schedule”.

Scenario 3: The cohabiting couple with regular sex

You and your partner have sex a couple of times a week, often unplanned.

Daily low-dose Tadalafil can sometimes be a good fit here:

• You take 2.5–5 mg once daily
• There’s a steady background level in your system
• You don’t have to plan around tablets or carry them everywhere
• If you also have urinary symptoms from an enlarged prostate, you may get a two‑for‑one benefit

That said, daily dosing:

• Costs more overall than infrequent on-demand dosing
• Needs careful assessment of your liver, kidneys, other meds and heart risk

Scenario 4: Performance anxiety and occasional ED

Maybe your erections are fine most of the time, but you lose confidence in high‑pressure situations – a new partner, months of stress at work, or after a big night out.

In these cases:

• Either Sildenafil or Tadalafil on-demand can be considered
• The choice often comes down to:
  • How much you value a shorter vs longer window
  • Whether you tend to have sex once or multiple times in 24–36 hours
  • How you tolerate each medicine

But medication is only one piece of the puzzle. For stress‑ or anxiety‑driven ED, evidence strongly supports combining tablets with psychological strategies or sex therapy.

We explore that side more in our posts like “Quick Relief: The New 15-Minute Solution for Erectile Dysfunction” and our general ED medications guide.

Scenario 5: ED plus premature ejaculation (PE)

ED and PE often show up together. Some men:

• Struggle to maintain hardness and
• Ejaculate sooner than they’d like

In this situation your doctor might:

• Use a PDE5 inhibitor (Sildenafil or Tadalafil) to stabilise erections
• Consider a PE‑specific medicine such as Dapoxetine (Priligy®) or other strategies

If that’s you, it’s worth reading our PE article “Stay in Control: A Guide to Treatment for PE” and talking to a doctor about a combined plan.

“Buy ED meds online”: how to do it safely in Australia

Type “buy ED meds online” into Google and you’ll see:

• Overseas pharmacies promising cheap “Viagra without prescription”
• “Herbal” or “natural” male enhancement pills
• Sites that look vaguely Australian but don’t list an address, AHPRA‑registered doctors, or an Australian pharmacy

In Australia, there are very clear rules:

• Sildenafil and Tadalafil are prescription-only medicines (Schedule 4) – you legally must have a valid prescription.
• Healthdirect and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) both warn that buying prescription medicines from unregulated or overseas websites can mean:
  • Fake or contaminated products
  • Wrong doses
  • Ingredients not listed on the label
  • Breaching Australian law

The TGA specifically notes that erectile dysfunction medicines are a common target for counterfeiting.

Safe ways to get ED treatment online in Australia

A legitimate pathway should always include:

1. A real consultation with an Australian‑registered doctor
   • Usually via phone (video is optional for many issues)
   • They ask about your medical history, heart risk, current meds and ED symptoms
2. An electronic prescription (eScript) from an Australian prescriber
   • Sent to you as a QR “token” via SMS or email
   • Can be dispensed at any Australian pharmacy that supports eScripts
3. Medication supplied through an Australian pharmacy
   • Either your local chemist
   • Or a reputable online pharmacy based in Australia, with a physical address and phone number

At NextClinic we follow this model closely:

• You complete a private online assessment via our ED Treatment Plan
• An AHPRA‑registered doctor reviews your answers and calls you for a short consult
• If it’s safe and appropriate, they prescribe an ED medicine tailored to your health and preferences (which may be based on Sildenafil, Tadalafil or another option)
• You choose:
  • Home delivery in discreet packaging, or
  • eScript only, to fill at your favourite local pharmacy

Australian regulations mean we can’t advertise specific prescription brands or doses in advance, and that’s a good thing – it keeps the focus on safe, individual care rather than “pick a pill from a menu”.

Red flags to avoid:

• Websites offering ED pills without any doctor consult
• “Too good to be true” prices from overseas
• No Australian address, phone number or pharmacist details
• Sites that push “herbal Viagra” with miracle claims

If in doubt, stick with Australian‑based telehealth providers and pharmacies, or talk to your usual GP.

How we support ED treatment at NextClinic

Sexual health is a big part of what we do at NextClinic. Alongside general telehealth consults, we offer:

• A dedicated, discreet ED Treatment Plan with phone-based doctor review
• Online prescriptions for related issues like premature ejaculation and contraception
• Telehealth consultations for broader sexual health concerns (e.g. STIs, genital herpes, menopausal HRT)

For ED in particular, our approach is:

1. Confidential online questionnaire
   • 5–10 minutes
   • Covers your symptoms, heart risk, medications, and goals (e.g. “just occasional help” vs “more spontaneity all weekend”)
2. Doctor call (no awkward waiting room)
   • Australian‑registered GP or prescribing clinician
   • Can explore the “Tadalafil vs Sildenafil” question in the context of your blood pressure, other medications, and relationship situation
3. Tailored treatment plan
   • On‑demand or daily options depending on your situation
   • Ability to switch approach if side effects or timing aren’t quite right
   • Regular check‑ins to make sure things are working and still safe
4. Flexible supply
   • Free home delivery from partner pharmacies
   • Or eScripts you can redeem anywhere in Australia

If your ED looks more complex – for example, if we’re worried about an underlying heart issue or prostate problem – our doctors can help you organise further investigations or referrals. Our guide “How to Fast-Track Your Specialist Referral” explains how that works via telehealth.

When ED tablets aren’t the whole answer

Even with perfect timing and the “right” pill, some men still struggle – which is usually a sign to zoom out.

Check your general health

ED is strongly linked with:

• Smoking
• Obesity and metabolic syndrome
• High blood pressure and high cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Depression and anxiety

Improving these areas – even modestly – can make a meaningful difference to erections and your long‑term health.

Lifestyle changes that help:

• Getting more regular exercise (even brisk walking)
• Cutting down on smoking and vaping
• Moderating alcohol, especially binge drinking
• Prioritising sleep and stress management

Consider the emotional and relationship side

Stress, porn use, relationship conflict and performance anxiety can all feed into ED.

Talking honestly with your partner, working with a psychologist or sex therapist, or even just reading up on how ED and mental health interact can be incredibly helpful. Our article “Can One Night of Drinking Cause ED?” touches on this mind–body crossover in more depth.

Know when to seek urgent care

Skip telehealth and go straight to a hospital or call 000 if you have:

• Chest pain, severe shortness of breath or stroke‑like symptoms
• An erection lasting more than 4 hours
• Sudden vision loss or severe eye pain
• A sudden, severe headache with neck stiffness

ED tablets are helpful tools – but they’re never worth risking your life for.

Bringing it all together: which pill suits your weekend?

Let’s recap the big points from this ED medication comparison:

• ED is common and treatable – around 1 in 4 Australian men live with it, and many never seek help.
• Both Sildenafil (Viagra) and Tadalafil (Cialis) are effective first‑line treatments when prescribed safely.
• The key Tadalafil vs Sildenafil differences are:
  • Duration: Sildenafil ~4 hours vs Tadalafil up to ~36 hours
  • Dosing: Sildenafil on-demand; Tadalafil on-demand or daily low‑dose
  • Food effects: High‑fat meals affect Sildenafil more than Tadalafil
  • Side effects: Both similar; Sildenafil more visual changes, Tadalafil more back/muscle aches in some men
• Your ideal choice depends on:
  • How often you have sex
  • Whether you want spontaneity over a whole weekend vs one planned encounter
  • Your other health conditions and medications
  • How you tolerate each medicine

In Australia, you can’t legally or safely buy ED meds online without a prescription. The right way is:

1. Talk to a doctor (in person or via telehealth)
2. Get a proper assessment
3. Use an Australian eScript and pharmacy

At NextClinic, we’ve built our ED pathways to make that process as fast, discreet and affordable as possible – while still keeping safety front and centre.

Your next step: choose one action this week

If you’ve read this far, don’t let it stop at theory.

This week, choose just one step to act on:

• Book a telehealth consult (with us or your usual GP) to discuss ED properly
• Have an honest chat with your partner about what’s been going on
• Start a simple lifestyle change – a daily walk, less smoking, one less big night – aimed at supporting your erections and heart
• Read one of our deeper dives, like “ED Medications: Your Complete Guide to Treatment Options”, and jot down questions for your doctor

Then, we’d love to hear from you:

Which strategy are you going to try first – and why? Share your plan or questions in the comments below. Your story might be exactly what another Aussie bloke needs to finally reach out for help.

References

• Male erectile dysfunction: its prevalence in Western australia and associated sociodemographic factors - PubMed
• The health of men in Australia - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
• Erectile dysfunction - symptoms and treatment | healthdirect
• Male sexual dysfunction (erectile dysfunction; impotence) | Healthengine Blog
• RACGP - Much more than prescribing a pill – Assessment and treatment of erectile dysfunction by the general practitioner
• Sildenafil (Viagra) | healthdirect
• No down-scheduling for ED treatments and a host of news on medicines, consultations and new guidelines | Australian Medical Association
• Tadalafil (Cialis) | healthdirect
• Oral Pharmacotherapy and the Contemporary Evaluation and Management of Erectile Dysfunction - PMC
• Tadalafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction - PMC
• Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) | Sildenafil Citrate, tablet, 20 mg, Revatio® November 2006
• Buying medicines online | healthdirect
• Counterfeit (fake) medicines and medical devices | Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
• Can You Get a Script Without a Video Call? | NextClinic
• ED Treatment Online | NextClinic Australia

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