Viagra vs Cialis: Which One Should You Choose for Date Night?

Around 1 in 4 Australian men report some degree of erectile dysfunction (ED) in large population studies – yet only a minority ever seek treatment or talk to a doctor about it.

That’s not just older blokes. We’re talking tradies in their 20s, dads in their 30s, professionals in their 40s and retirees in their 70s. And while ED is common and treatable, a lot of Aussies still deal with it by quietly Googling “Viagra vs Cialis”, “best ED pill” or “sildenafil vs tadalafil” at midnight.

If that sounds familiar – especially if you’ve got a special date or weekend away coming up – this article is for you.

In this deep dive, we’ll unpack:

• What ED actually is (and when it’s a red flag for your heart)
• How Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil) work
• How fast they kick in and how long Cialis really lasts
• What happens if you’ve got a big dinner or a few drinks planned
• Side effects, safety and who should not use ED tablets
• How to choose the right option for your timing, lifestyle and relationship
• How to get ED treatment safely and legally online in Australia

We’re writing this as NextClinic, an Australian telehealth service that helps people across the country with prescriptions, ED treatment, sexual health, medical certificates and specialist referrals every day. Our doctors follow Australian guidelines and trusted resources like Healthdirect and RACGP clinical guidance when prescribing ED medicines.

This is general information for Australian residents, not personal medical advice. But by the end, you should feel far more confident about the Viagra vs Cialis decision – and ready to have a proper chat with your GP or one of our online doctors before your next date night.

A quick refresher: what actually counts as erectile dysfunction?

Healthdirect defines ED as an ongoing problem getting or keeping an erection firm enough for satisfactory sexual activity, not just a one‑off “off night”.

Key points:

• It’s persistent, usually over weeks or months
• It can be mild (sometimes soft) through to complete (never firm enough)
• It’s very common – more than 1 in 10 males are affected, and rates rise with age
• It can be physical, psychological, or a mix of both

Australian data suggest that ED is also linked with other health issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, depression and cardiovascular disease. In other words, it’s not just about sex – it can be an early warning sign that your heart and blood vessels need attention.

If you’re consistently struggling to get or keep an erection, it’s worth seeing a doctor even if you’re not ready for medication yet.

For a deeper dive into whether it’s true ED or more about anxiety and nerves, have a read of our post “[Is It ED or Just Nerves? How to Tell the Difference](https://nextclinic.com.au/blog/is-it-ed-or-just-nerves-how-to-tell-the-difference)” on our blog.

Meet the contenders: Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil)

Both Viagra and Cialis belong to a group of medicines called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. In Australia, they’re among the main first‑line medications for ED, along with a couple of others (vardenafil and avanafil).

In plain language, both:

• Help relax blood vessels in the penis
• Allow more blood to flow in when you’re sexually aroused
• Make it easier to get and maintain an erection

But there are some crucial truths many people miss:

• They do not increase libido (sex drive)
• They do not cause an automatic erection – you still need arousal and stimulation
• They do not protect against STIs or pregnancy
• In Australia, they are Schedule 4 (prescription‑only) medicines – you must have a valid prescription from an Australian‑registered prescriber

Generic vs brand

• Viagra® is the original brand name for sildenafil
• Cialis® is the original brand name for tadalafil
• Both now have generic versions, which are typically cheaper and just as effective when supplied through a TGA‑approved route

At NextClinic, we don’t lock you into a particular brand; our doctors choose a suitable sildenafil or tadalafil product based on your health, preferences and what’s available at Australian pharmacies.

For a broad overview of all ED tablets (including Levitra and avanafil/Spedra), check out our article “[ED Medications: Your Complete Guide to Treatment Options](https://nextclinic.com.au/blog/ed-medications-your-complete-guide-to-treatment-options)”.

Viagra vs Cialis: timing your dose for date night

When you’re comparing sildenafil vs tadalafil, two big questions usually matter most:

1. How fast will it start working?
2. How long will it last?

Australian guidelines and pharmacology data give us some fairly clear averages.

How fast they kick in

Viagra (sildenafil):

• Typically taken about 1 hour before sex
• Starts helping in 30–60 minutes for many people
• Reaches peak levels in the blood at around 60 minutes

Cialis (tadalafil):

• For on‑demand use, often taken 30–60 minutes before sex
• Can start working from about 30 minutes
• Reaches peak effect around 2 hours after a dose

In real life, both can cover a normal “date night” if you take them ahead of time – but the feel of that timing is different.

• If your night is fairly predictable (e.g. dinner at 7, home by 9:30), sildenafil often fits well.
• If your plans are looser (maybe things will happen tonight… or tomorrow morning… or both), tadalafil’s longer window starts to shine.

How long does Cialis last (compared to Viagra)?

This is the question everyone Googles: “how long does Cialis last?”

Pharmacology data show:

• Sildenafil has a half‑life of about 4 hours, and its most noticeable effect is usually within up to around 4 hours after taking it (some people get useful benefit for a bit longer).
• Tadalafil has a much longer half‑life – about 17–18 hours – and can remain effective for up to 36 hours in many men. That’s why it’s nicknamed the “weekend pill”.

Important: that doesn’t mean a 36‑hour erection (which would be a medical emergency). It means that if you take tadalafil on Friday evening, you may find it easier to respond to sexual stimulation from Friday night through much of Saturday, and sometimes into Sunday morning.

So, from a “date night vs whole weekend” perspective:

• Sildenafil = sharper, shorter window (good for one main evening)
• Tadalafil = longer, more forgiving window (good for unplanned or multiple encounters across 1–2 days)

We also explore these timing differences in more detail in our post “[Tadalafil vs Sildenafil: Which Suits Your Weekend Best?](https://nextclinic.com.au/blog/tadalafil-vs-sildenafil-which-suits-your-weekend-best)”.

Food, alcohol and your dinner plans

Of course, real‑world date nights often involve big meals and a few drinks. That’s where the Viagra vs Cialis decision can really affect how smooth your evening feels.

Food

Sildenafil is more sensitive to heavy, high‑fat meals than tadalafil:

• High‑fat meals can slow stomach emptying and delay sildenafil absorption
• Studies show the peak concentration can be delayed by around an hour (or more) and peak levels reduced – which can make it feel like the tablet “isn’t working” if you’ve mis‑timed it

Tadalafil, on the other hand:

• Has minimal clinically significant food effect
• Can generally be taken with or without food, including heavier meals, without much change in how it’s absorbed

Practical takeaway for Aussies:

• If you’re planning a heavy pub feed or multi‑course restaurant meal, tadalafil usually plays more nicely with that.
• If you’re on sildenafil, you’ll generally get the best results if you:
  • Take it on a relatively empty stomach or after a lighter meal
  • Allow extra time (60–90 minutes) after a big, fatty dinner before expecting full effect

Alcohol

Moderate alcohol is usually permitted with both sildenafil and tadalafil, but there are some caveats:

• Heavy drinking itself is a major cause of temporary ED
• Combining a lot of alcohol with ED meds can increase:
  • Dizziness or feeling faint
  • Drops in blood pressure
  • Poor performance (ironically, the opposite of what you’re aiming for)

A good rule of thumb: if you’re planning to take ED medication, go easier than usual on the booze, especially in a short time frame.

Side effects and safety: more similar than different

Because sildenafil vs tadalafil are in the same drug class, their side‑effect profiles overlap quite a bit. Australian guidance and large reviews describe PDE5 inhibitors as generally safe and well‑tolerated when used under medical supervision.

Common side effects (both medicines)

Most men either get no side effects or only mild, short‑lived ones, such as:

• Headache
• Facial flushing (feeling warm/red)
• Nasal congestion
• Indigestion or reflux
• Dizziness

These are usually temporary and stop once the medicine wears off.

Subtle differences

Clinical guidance notes a few trends:

• Sildenafil is more often linked to:
  • Temporary changes in vision (blue tinge, increased light sensitivity)
  • More noticeable flushing for some men
• Tadalafil is more commonly associated with:
  • Muscle and back pain, often mild to moderate

Not everyone gets these, and many men tolerate one medicine better than the other. If you’ve tried one and hated the side effects, it’s worth discussing a switch with your doctor rather than giving up on ED treatment altogether.

Rare but serious side effects (both)

These are uncommon, but you need to know about them:

• Sudden loss of vision or hearing
• Chest pain or symptoms of a heart problem
• A prolonged, painful erection lasting more than 4 hours (priapism)
• Signs of an allergic reaction (e.g. swelling of face/lips/tongue, difficulty breathing)

If any of these occur, you should seek urgent medical help (call 000 or go to the nearest emergency department).

Who should not take Viagra or Cialis?

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

You must tell your doctor about:

• Any heart or blood vessel problems
• Current medications (including sprays/tablets for chest pain, and recreational drugs like “poppers”)
• Liver or kidney disease
• Eye conditions, especially rare retinal diseases
• History of stroke or heart attack
• Low blood pressure

Australian guidance is very clear that *PDE5 inhibitors are not suitable* if you:

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

Combining ED tablets with nitrates or poppers can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure. That’s why a proper medical assessment – including via telehealth – is so important before getting a script.

So… which is the “best ED pill” for your date night?

There’s no single “winner” in the erectile dysfunction treatment comparison between Viagra and Cialis. The best ED pill is the one that:

• Is safe for your health
• Fits your timing and lifestyle
• Has manageable side effects for you and your partner

Let’s look at some common Aussie scenarios.

Scenario 1: The classic planned date night

You’ve booked a 7 pm dinner. You expect to be home and (hopefully) intimate later that evening.

Sildenafil (Viagra) might suit you if:

• You’re okay taking a tablet about 1 hour before you think you’ll have sex
• You can keep dinner reasonably light or time your dose away from a very heavy meal
• You’re mainly aiming for one main encounter that night
• You’d prefer a drug that’s out of your system faster

Tadalafil (Cialis) might suit you if:

• You’re not sure exactly when intimacy will happen
• You’d like the option of more than one encounter over the night/morning without re‑dosing
• You don’t want to stress as much about the timing of a big meal

Scenario 2: The spontaneous weekend away

You’re heading down the coast Friday afternoon with your partner. You don’t know when you’ll have privacy, but you want to feel confident whenever the moment’s right.

This is where tadalafil shines:

• A single on‑demand dose can give you a window of up to 36 hours
• That can cover Friday night, Saturday morning, Saturday night, and sometimes Sunday morning
• You’re not constantly clock‑watching or trying to predict “the exact time”

Sildenafil can still work here, but usually with more planning around each encounter, which can feel less spontaneous.

Scenario 3: Cohabiting couple with regular, unplanned sex

Maybe you and your partner have sex a few times a week, often unplanned – in which case “take a tablet exactly one hour before” isn’t realistic.

In this situation, doctors sometimes use daily low‑dose tadalafil (e.g. 2.5–5 mg once daily), which puts a steady background level of the drug in your system. That can:

• Reduce the need to plan around tablets
• Help support erections whenever the mood strikes
• Also improve urinary symptoms in some men who have an enlarged prostate (BPH)

Daily dosing isn’t right for everyone – it costs more overall and needs careful review of your heart, liver, kidneys and other medicines – but for the right person, it can be a game changer.

Scenario 4: Mostly performance anxiety, occasional ED

Maybe you can usually get a decent erection, but things fall apart when the pressure feels high – new partner, long dry spell, big night out, or a previous “failure” you’re now obsessing over.

In that case:

• Either Viagra or Cialis could be used on‑demand
• 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 personally tolerate each medicine

But medication is rarely the full answer for performance anxiety. Evidence strongly supports combining tablets with psychological strategies or sex therapy, especially if you’re stuck in a worry spiral.

Our article “Is It ED or Just Nerves?” goes much deeper into that side of things.

Scenario 5: ED plus premature ejaculation (PE)

ED and PE often occur together. Some men:

• Struggle to stay hard and
• Ejaculate sooner than they’d like

In this situation a doctor might:

• Use a PDE5 inhibitor (sildenafil or tadalafil) to stabilise erections
• Add a PE‑specific medicine (like dapoxetine/Priligy) or suggest delay sprays or behavioural techniques

If that’s you, we’ve written detailed PE guides:

• “[Pills vs Sprays: Which PE Treatment Is Right for You?](https://nextclinic.com.au/blog/pills-vs-sprays-which-pe-treatment-is-right-for-you)”
• “[Stay in Control: A Guide to Treatment for PE](https://nextclinic.com.au/blog/stay-in-control-a-guide-to-treatment-for-pe)”

Can you take Viagra and Cialis together?

Short answer for self‑prescribers: no – don’t mix them on your own.

Both are PDE5 inhibitors that lower blood pressure a little. Taking sildenafil and tadalafil together can:

• Drop your blood pressure too far
• Increase the risk of:
  • Dizziness or fainting
  • Palpitations
  • Chest pain
  • Prolonged, painful erection (priapism)

Some specialist‑supervised protocols in severe, treatment‑resistant ED use combinations or cross‑overs, but this is definitely not DIY territory. If one medicine isn’t working, the usual safe options are:

• Adjusting the dose
• Switching from one PDE5 inhibitor to another
• Combining medication with lifestyle changes and psychological support
• Investigating other treatments (like injections or vacuum devices) under specialist care

If you’re even considering mixing medications, talk to a doctor first – don’t experiment based on what you’ve read in forums.

Getting ED treatment safely in Australia (and avoiding dodgy online pills)

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

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

Here’s the key Australian reality:

• Sildenafil and tadalafil are Schedule 4 prescription‑only medicines.
• You must have a valid prescription from a licensed prescriber in Australia.
• No genuine Australian service can legally sell you these without a proper consult.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has repeatedly warned that counterfeit or unapproved ED pills bought from dodgy online suppliers often contain:

• The wrong dose
• Hidden sildenafil or tadalafil (even when the label says “herbal” or “natural”)
• Other undeclared drugs, including some banned in Australia
• Contaminants or inconsistent ingredients

These products have triggered multiple recalls and safety alerts because of serious health risks, especially in people with heart disease, diabetes or those taking nitrates.

What a safe, legal online pathway looks like

A legitimate Australian telehealth ED service should always include:

1. Real consultation with an AHPRA‑registered doctor or prescriber
   • Often via phone consult, sometimes video
   • They ask about your heart risk, current meds, ED symptoms and overall health
2. Electronic prescription (eScript) from an Australian prescriber
   • Sent as a QR “token” via SMS or email
   • Redeemable at Australian pharmacies
3. Medication supplied by an Australian pharmacy
   • Either your local chemist
   • Or a reputable online pharmacy with an Australian address and pharmacist

That’s exactly the model we follow at NextClinic. Our post “[ED Medications: Your Complete Guide to Treatment Options](https://nextclinic.com.au/blog/ed-medications-your-complete-guide-to-treatment-options)” explains how our ED prescription pathway works in detail, and “[Tadalafil vs Sildenafil: Which Suits Your Weekend Best?](https://nextclinic.com.au/blog/tadalafil-vs-sildenafil-which-suits-your-weekend-best)” digs into the weekend side of things.

Red flags to avoid:

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

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

When ED tablets aren’t the whole answer

Even with the “perfect” tablet and timing, some men still struggle – which is usually a sign it’s time to zoom out.

ED as a heart health warning

The Medical Journal of Australia and other research highlight that ED can be an early warning sign of cardiovascular disease, sometimes appearing years before chest pain or other heart symptoms.

That’s because the same risk factors – smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, lack of exercise – affect the small blood vessels in the penis and the larger arteries around the heart.

So a good ED work‑up doesn’t just stop at “do you want Viagra or Cialis?” It’s also a chance to:

• Check your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar
• Review your medications and lifestyle
• Talk about exercise, smoking, drinking and sleep
• Order blood tests if needed (including testosterone in some cases)

The mental and relationship side

Australian research shows that performance anxiety, depression, general stress and relationship issues are strongly linked with sexual difficulties, including ED.

Things that can help:

• Honest conversations with your partner about what’s going on
• Seeing a GP for a Mental Health Treatment Plan and psychologist referral (with Medicare rebates)
• Sex therapy or relationship counselling, often via telehealth
• Simple anxiety tools (breathing techniques, mindfulness, gradual exposure)

We explore these themes more in “Is It ED or Just Nerves?” and “3 Big Myths About ED Pills You Need to Stop Believing” on our blog.

A simple date‑night timing playbook

Let’s bring this back to the practical question you probably came here with:

“For my next date night, which should I choose – Viagra or Cialis, and when should I take it?”

Here’s a basic framework you can discuss with your doctor (this is not a dosing guide, just timing logic):

If you and your doctor decide on sildenafil (Viagra‑type)

Think about:

• When’s dinner?
  • If it’s a big, fatty meal, expect onset to be slower
  • Try to avoid taking your tablet immediately after a huge pub feed
• When is sex most likely?
  • Aim to take it about 1 hour before you expect intimacy
  • Allow a window of 2–3 hours after that where it’ll be at its best
• How much are you drinking?
  • The more you drink, the less reliably it (and your body) will work

If you and your doctor decide on tadalafil (Cialis‑type)

Think about:

• How wide a window do you want?
  • If you take it in the late afternoon or early evening, you’ve got a long runway into the night and next day
• Is the timing unpredictable?
  • Tadalafil is usually better when you don’t know exactly when things will happen
• Regular sex?
  • If sex is frequent and unplanned, your doctor might talk about a daily low‑dose option instead of on‑demand

Whichever option you land on, remember:

• Only one PDE5 inhibitor at a time – don’t mix Viagra and Cialis on your own
• Never combine them with nitrates or poppers
• Don’t exceed the prescribed dose or frequency, even if you feel “under‑dosed”
• If timing or effect isn’t quite right, talk to your doctor about adjusting the plan, rather than just taking more

Bringing it all together – and your challenge for this week

Let’s recap the most important points:

• ED is incredibly common in Australia, affecting roughly a quarter of adult men, yet many never seek help.
• Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil) both help blood flow to the penis, but they feel different in real life:
  • Sildenafil: faster peak, shorter window (roughly up to 4 hours)
  • Tadalafil: slower peak, much longer window (up to 36 hours)
• Tadalafil is generally less fussy about food and better for weekends and spontaneity; sildenafil can suit well‑timed single evenings, especially if you can avoid very heavy meals near dosing.
• Side effects are mostly mild and similar, with sildenafil more linked to visual changes and flushing, tadalafil more to back/muscle pain – but both are usually safe when prescribed properly.
• The “best ED pill” is the one that fits your health, timing, lifestyle and preferences, not whatever works best for a mate or an online reviewer.
• You should never self‑mix Viagra and Cialis, and never use them with nitrates or unregulated “herbal” products.
• ED treatment is also about heart health, mental health and relationships, not just a tablet – especially if you’re younger or the issue came on suddenly.
• In Australia, legitimate ED meds are prescription‑only, and telehealth services like ours at NextClinic can help you get safe, guideline‑based care without the awkward waiting room.

Your challenge for this week

If you’ve read this far, you’re already taking your sexual health seriously. Now pick one concrete action to take in the next 7 days:

1. Book a consult – with your usual GP or one of our NextClinic doctors – specifically to talk about ED and whether Viagra or Cialis makes more sense for you.
2. Have a brave chat with your partner about what’s been happening in the bedroom, and share one thing you’re doing to address it.
3. Tweak one lifestyle factor that supports erections and heart health – for example, start a daily 20‑minute walk, cut back mid‑week drinking, or make a plan to quit smoking.
4. If anxiety is a big part of the picture, try a simple calming routine (like 5 minutes of slow breathing) before sex this week and notice what changes.

Then, if you’re reading this on our blog, scroll down and tell us in the comments:

• Which strategy did you choose?
• How did it go?

Your story might be exactly what another Aussie – quietly Googling “Viagra vs Cialis” on his phone right now – needs to see to realise that what he’s going through is common, understandable, and, most importantly, treatable.

References

• Male erectile dysfunction: its prevalence in Western australia and associated sociodemographic factors - PubMed
• Erectile dysfunction - symptoms and treatment | healthdirect
• Counterfeit Tadalafil 100mg Tablets | Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
• RACGP - Much more than prescribing a pill – Assessment and treatment of erectile dysfunction by the general practitioner
• Erectile dysfunction medicines | healthdirect
• Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ) and Australasian Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine (AChSHM) for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) clinical guidelines on the management of erectile dysfunction | The Medical Journal of Australia
• Pharmacokinetics of a novel orodispersible tablet of sildenafil in healthy subjects - PubMed
• Tadalafil - Australian Prescriber
• Is It ED or Just Nerves? How to Tell the Difference | NextClinic
• Can you take Cialis and Viagra together? Risks explained.
• H.R.D. Tablets | Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
• Erectile dysfunction a predictor of heart disease | The Medical Journal of Australia
• Health and lifestyle factors associated with sexual difficulties in men – results from a study of Australian men aged 18 to 55 years - PMC

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