Erectile dysfunction (ED) issues are majorly dealt with by medications like Vardenafil and Tadalafil. Both these are the most commonly prescribed and effective treatments for ED. Vardenafil and Tadalafil belong to a class of drugs known as phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. The composition of these medications works towards increasing blood flow to the penile area during sexual stimulation.
Often people take Vardenafil and Tadalafil together. Though they have similar functions, their duration of action and onset times vary from one another. This is where an important question arises often – is it safe to consume the Tadalafil Vardenafil combination at the same time or should you avoid it? In this blog, we shall explore how Vardenafil and Tadalafil work, their interactions, dosages and the potential disadvantages of taking the medicines together.
The first thing that we need to know is what is Vardenafil. Vardenafil is a prescription medicine used for treating the problem of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. Men suffering from ED are not able to achieve or maintain an erection required for sexual activity.
Vardenafil belongs to a class of drugs called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. What does Vardenafil do? The medication works by relaxing the blood vessels in the penis and penile area, increasing blood flow to the area when a man is sexually stimulated. The improved blood circulation helps in achieving and sustaining a hard and long erection, making sexual activity pleasurable.
However, Vardenafil does not play any role in increasing sexual desire or causing an erection without any stimulation.
Now that we know what is Vardenafil and the way it works, let us quickly understand what is Tadalafil and its functioning in the male body.
Like Vardenafil, Tadalafil is also a prescription medicine used primarily for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men. However, it is also used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is an enlarged prostate in men. It has also proved to be effective in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension but is sold under a different brand name.
Similar to Vardenafil, Tadalafil also belongs to the drug class phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors.
What does Tadalafil do? Tadalafil relaxes the smooth muscles in the blood vessels, particularly in the penile area allowing more blood flow during sexual arousal. This helps to achieve and maintain an erection for a long time. The medication is effective only with sexual stimulation.
Before you start taking Vardenafil and Tadalafil, you must know about their interactions and the impact they have on your body. Both these drugs have a long list of drug and food interactions. Therefore take necessary precautions to avoid problems later.
Tadalafil Vardenafil combination might cause blood pressure to fall abruptly. Other prominent side effects of taking Vardenafil and Tadalafil together include:
Let us take a look at the drug interactions individually.
Grapefruit juice has the chance of increasing blood levels with medications like Vardenafil. Therefore it is recommended to restrict the consumption of grapefruit or grapefruit juice during the treatment with Vardenafil. However, you can consume orange juice as it shows no interaction with the medicine. It is always advisable to consult with your doctor regarding common and general Vardenafil interactions so that you can understand in case there is a side effect showing up.
There are no major drug interactions with Vardenafil.
Tadalafil tends to lower blood pressure in the body. Consuming alcohol during this period can increase this effect significantly. You might experience symptoms like headache, dizziness, light-headedness, heart palpitations, fainting and flushing. Limit or avoid the use of alcohol as much as possible for best results while taking Tadalafil. Take special caution and care when you are getting up from a lying or sitting position as your head might reel.
Also, like Vardenafil, avoid or restrict consuming grapefruit or grapefruit juice while using Tadalafil.
Both Vardenafil and Tadalafil interactions are common with certain drugs like nitrates (usually prescribed for treating chest pain), antifungal medications, specific HIV protease inhibitors, certain antibiotics, and so on.
Provide your healthcare with your complete medical history with all the medications you are consuming to avoid any potential interactions with Vardenafil and Tadalafil.
You must get the dosage right while using ED medications like Vardenafil or Tadalafil. Proper dosage ensures maximum effectiveness and also reduces the chances of side effects. Though there is a recommended dosage for both medicines, the doses might differ depending on the individual’s age, health conditions and other medications.
Vardenafil is available in three dosages – 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg.
The most common Vardenafil dosage is 10 mg. However, based on tolerance and effectiveness, the dosage can be adjusted between 5 mg and 20 mg.
It is recommended to take Vardenafil a minimum of 60 minutes before sexual activity. The effect of this medication lasts from about 5-7 hours on average and might be prolonged to even 12 hours. Take this medication once per day.
Tadalafil comes in four dosages – 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg.
There are two dosing options for Tadalafil – daily use or as-needed use.
Daily Tadalafil dosage is used for treating ED and BPH together. 2.5 mg or 5 mg of the medication is to be taken at the same time every day.
For as-needed use, take 10 mg Tadalafil at least 30 minutes before sexual activity. Taking the medicine once per day is sufficient as the effect of the same remains for almost 36 hours. Some people might need to adjust the dosage between 5 mg to 20 mg depending on side effects and the overall effectiveness of the medicine.
Now that we have a fair idea about Vardenafil and Tadalafil, their dosages, interactions and way of functioning, let us quickly take a look at the difference between Vardenafil and Tadalafil to get a comparative analysis.
Vardenafil is mainly used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men.
On the other hand, Tadalafil is also used for treating erectile dysfunction along with other disorders like benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and pulmonary arterial hypertension.
There are minimal or zero food interactions for Tadalafil.
High-fat meals often impact the effectiveness of Vardenafil, which causes a delay in absorption.
Vardenafil is only taken when needed. There is no need for regular consumption of this medicine.
On the other hand, Tadalafil is prescribed for daily use for the treatment of erectile dysfunction along with other conditions like benign prostatic hyperplasia and pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Both medicines are to be taken once daily only.
Tadalafil comes in four dosage options – 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg.
Vardenafil comes in three dosage options – 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg.
Tadalafil has an action duration of almost 36 hours. This is the reason, it is often termed as ‘weekend pill’.
The effect of Vardenafil lasts for 5-7 hours.
Tadalafil starts working within 30 minutes of consuming the medicine. Sometimes, the onset is even earlier in certain cases.
The onset time for Vardenafil is between 30 to 60 minutes.
Vardenafil is often sold under brand names like Staxyn and Levitra.
Tadalafil is sold under brand names like Cialis and Adcirca.
One of the most common questions that people often ask is ‘Can You Take Vardenafil and Tadalafil Together?’
Frankly, it is recommended not to take Vardenafil and Tadalafil together. While both medicines are effective individually, taking them together might cause potential dangers. Tadalafil Vardenafil combination can increase the risks of several side effects including:
Taking both medicines together strains the heart and blood circulation. Therefore, if you suffer from heart ailments, have high or low blood pressure issues and take nitrates or alpha-blockers, you must refrain from taking Vardenafil and Tadalafil at the same time.
Both Vardenafil and Tadalafil are highly effective in treating erectile dysfunction primarily. However, Tadalafil is also used in treating conditions like benign prostatic hyperplasia and pulmonary arterial hypertension.
It is strongly recommended to avoid taking Vardenafil and Tadalafil together as that can have serious side effects. Even while taking the medicines separately, you must tell the physician about your health condition and the medications you take to ascertain the right dosage of the medicine.
It is strongly recommended not to use Vardenafil and Tadalafil together. The Tadalafil Vardenafil combination can aggravate the side effects significantly causing serious health problems.
Combining Vardenafil and Tadalafil can increase the risks of several side effects like:
There is no clear answer to the question ‘Is Vardenafil better than Tadalafil’. Both the drugs are effective similarly. However, the effectiveness depends on the lifestyle and individual needs of the person. Both medicines have their pros and cons and interactions.
Vardenafil relaxes the blood vessels in the penis and penile area. This leads to increased blood flow to the penis when a man is sexually aroused. The increased blood circulation helps to achieve and sustain a hard and long erection for successful sexual activity.
Tadalafil plays a crucial role in relaxing the smooth muscles in the blood vessels, particularly in the penile area allowing more blood flow during sexual arousal. This helps to achieve and maintain an erection for a long time. However, the medication is effective only with sexual stimulation.
Vardenafil is available in three dosages – 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg.
The most common Vardenafil dosage is 10 mg. However, based on tolerance and effectiveness, the dosage can be adjusted between 5 mg and 20 mg. It is recommended to take Vardenafil a minimum of 60 minutes before sexual activity. Take this medication once per day.
Tadalafil comes in four dosages – 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg. There are two dosing options for Tadalafil – daily use or as-needed use.
Daily Tadalafil dosage is used for treating ED and BPH together. 2.5 mg or 5 mg of the medication is to be taken at the same time every day.
For as-needed use, take 10 mg Tadalafil at least 30 minutes before sexual activity.
