Article by Dr Clare Morrison
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Levitra and Cialis are two options available to treat erectile dysfunction, which affects 30 percent of men over the age of 40 at some point in their lives. There are many similarities between these two medications; but also some differences. For example, Cialis 36-hour is longer-lasting than Levitra; but Levitra can work more quickly than Cialis. Both can be taken with or without food.
Here’s a chart looking at the main differences between Levitra and Cialis:
| Levitra | Cialis | |
| MedExpress Price | From £37 | From £40 |
| Prescription required? | Yes | Yes |
| Active ingredient | Vardenafil | Tadalafil |
| Dosage | Available in 5, 10 and 20mg tablets | Available in 2.5, 5, 10 and 20mg tablets |
| How fast does it work? | Can work in just 15 minutes, though normally takes effect within 30 minutes | Can take anywhere between 30 minutes to two hours to work |
| How long does it last? | Effects can last up to five hours | Effects can last up to 36 hours |
| How to take | May be taken with or without food | May be taken with or without food. Be careful to avoid taking with greasy or fatty foods, or eating or drinking grapefruit, as this can affect how the drug works |
| Selling point | Can be effective very quickly, and may be used as an alternative to Viagra | Is available in lower doses and is long-lasting – which means you won’t need to time your sexual activity |
| Side effects | Facial flushing, headache, indigestion, and a stuffy or runny nose | Facial flushing, headache, indigestion, and a stuffy or runny nose |
Levitra tablets contain the active ingredient Vardenafil – a PDE-5 inhibitor, which works by relaxing the muscles in the walls of the blood vessels, increasing the blood flow to the penis. PDE5 is an enzyme found in most men suffering from ED and suppresses another important substance – cGMP, or cyclic guanosine monophosphate, which is a crucial component in the process of maintaining a healthy erection. When there’s too much PDE5 and not enough cGMP, your body simply cannot interpret the signals coming from your nerve endings, which makes maintaining an erection harder to achieve.
Levitra Orodispersible differs from Levitra medication by the fact that it works quickly and is easy to use. The tablets should be placed in the mouth on the tongue, where they will rapidly disintegrate, and then swallowed. Levitra Orodispersible tablets must be taken without liquid.
Tadalafil. The patent recent expired on the drug in November – meaning that other companies can make a generic version of the treatment. The drug works similarly to other erectile dysfunction drugs – acting as a PDE-5 inhibitor (see above).
Levitra usually takes around 30 minutes to take effect – but it can work in as little as just 15 minutes. It should be taken about an hour before it’s needed, whereas Cialis may take up to two hours before it’s effective.
Most people find that Levitra remains active for around five hours, whereas Cialis may last for up to 36 hours – that’s eight times longer than Viagra. Levitra lasts for a similar amount of time as Viagra; however, Levitra tends to be less affected by food or alcohol, so can be taken with meals.
Side effects for both Levitra and Cialis are almost identical. These include:
Always let your doctor know if you’re taking other drugs and decide to take erectile dysfunction medication.
If you’re looking for a fast-acting erectile dysfunction treatment which remains active for around five hours, Levitra’s a great choice. Chemically, Levitra is very similar to Viagra, and so Viagra may be prescribed as an alternative to Levitra if you find that for some reason this medication does not work for you.
However, if you’re looking for a longer-lasting treatment, Cialis could work for you.
Remember to discuss your treatment options with your doctor – and do get in contact with our team if you need more information.
