Levitra vs. Cialis- Which is the Best Treatment for ED?

Published On
Updated On
Written By Julie Ingram
Taking pills with a glass of water- Levitra vs. Cialis

Erectile dysfunction has been haunting men worldwide for years. By 2025, around 322 million men can suffer from sexual dysfunction. 

However, medical science has made significant leaps ahead in the cure of ED. Among all treatments, the most revolutionary are ED pills. 

With so many ED medicines promising an antidote to the condition, it is essential to draw the correct comparison. 

Here, we will compare Levitra and Cialis- the two popular choices of ED pills.

Which is the best, Levitra or Cialis?

Both Levitra and Cialis are medicines to treat erectile dysfunction. 

They fall under the class of phosphodiesterase (PDE5) inhibitors. This means that Levitra and Cialis work by boosting the blood flow in the penile tissues. 

Despite similarities in the working mechanism, the two are still quite different.

Levitra and Cialis can differ in efficacy, side effects, peak time, and interactions. 

Also Read: Everything you need to know about Levitra

Below is the detailed analysis of Levitra vs. Cialis-

Comparison between Levitra and CialisLevitraCialis
Class of DrugPDE5 InhibitorPDE5 Inhibitor
Active SaltVardenafil Tadalafil
Doses available 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg
Peak time30-45 minutes2 hours
Effects last till8-12 hours36 hours
Prescription Not required Not required
Brand/Generic availabilityBrand and genericBrand and generic
Drug interactions NitratesNitrates
Side effectsHeadaches, nasal congestion, flushing, heartburn, bloodshot eyes, and impaired vision.Headaches, nasal congestion, flushing, heartburn, bloodshot eyes, impaired vision, leg cramps, and backache.
Interaction with food and drinksis Not affected. Although, food rich in fat delays the efficacy. Not affected. Although, food rich in fat slows the efficacy. 
How to buy Buy online Buy online or over the counter (OTC)
Woman holding daily dose of medicine and glass of water
LaylaBird/ Getty Images Signatures

What is the difference between Cialis and Levitra?

Let us compare Levitra and Cialis, one question at a time- 

Which is stronger, Levitra or Cialis?

Both Levitra and Cialis are available in similar doses. These are-

  • 2.5 mg
  • 5 mg
  • 10 mg
  • 20 mg

While the salt composition is the same for each dose of medicines, Cialis still has a more prolonged efficacy. 

Once consumed, Cialis can show its effect for 36 hours. 

For more information, you can read our detailed article on the dosage of Levitra.

Which is faster?

It takes longer for the effects of Cialis to reach their peak. 

Levitra begins to show the impact in 30-45 minutes from consumption. Whereas 2 hours is the peak time for Cialis. 

ED pills have a success rate of more than 70%. 

They might not work when a person has a severe medical condition or takes medicines that interact with PDE5 inhibitors. 

Ed pills can also be ineffective if you consume fatty meals or alcohol right before taking the pills. 

To learn more about how to make Levitra more effective, click here.

You can buy these medicines online from trusted online pharmacies. 

We recommend For Daily Medicine to buy Levitra or Cialis. They have thousands of happy customers who verify the premium quality of medicines and efficient service. 

Do Levitra and Cialis have different working mechanisms?

Both Levitra and Cialis are PDE5 inhibitors. This means that both the medicines follow the exact mechanism to cure ED in men. 

Two work by blocking the phosphodiesterase in the penile region, which promotes the action of cGMP. 

This helps the smooth muscles in the penis to relax, thereby increasing the blood flow in the penile tissues. 

Both Levitra and Cialis work in the same manner. 

What conditions do the pills cure?

If you compare, it is evident that both Levitra and Cialis are PDE5 inhibitors and treat erectile dysfunction in men. 

However, ED pills are also natural vasodilators. 

Therefore, they can also work for people with high blood pressure.

Image by Prostock-Studio

We highly recommend consulting your doctor before taking ED pills to treat hypertension. 

FDA has approved both medicines for the cure of ED. However, Cialis also has a green pass in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). 

So what is BPH? It is a male disorder identified by prostate enlargement. 

In addition to the above-listed conditions, the salts used in both medicines have shown a positive impact in treating altitude sickness. 

Further, Levitra and Cialis can treat pulmonary hypertension and Raynaud’s phenomenon. 

However, this treatment is off-label. 

Also read: All uses of Levitra and can women use it too?

What types of erectile dysfunction do Levitra and Cialis treat?

Erectile dysfunction is a sexual disorder where a man becomes incapable of getting hard during intercourse. 

The condition can be caused due to different reasons- an underlying disease, irregular blood flow, stress, or poor mental health. 

Sometimes, ED is also a symptom of some underlying disease and not an effect. 

ED pills can significantly cure erection problems in men. 

However, they might not work if erectile dysfunction caused due to-

1. a severe underlying health condition
2. depression or anxiety disorder 
3. deficient testosterone levels in the body
4. too much stress

Comparing Levitra and Cialis for side effects

Whether you take Levitra or Cialis, both medicines have the same side effects. 

However, they might differ in severity. 

Following are the possible side effects of the two drugs-

  • Flushing and redness of the face
  • Indigestion
  • Headache
  • Runny/stuffy nose
  • Back pain
  • Muscle pain
  • Blurred vision
  • Nausea, etc.

Read here about the dangers of expired Levitra.

Image by Aleksandrdavydovphotos

Drug Interactions: Levitra vs. Cialis

Both the medicines have been reported to interact with certain medications. 

However, there are differences in what medications they interact with.

Cialis (Tadalafil) is studied to interact with 275 drugs. 

Of these, 98 are minor interactions, while nine accounts for severe interactions. 

168 of these drugs are classified as moderate interactions. 

Levitra, on the other hand, is reported to interact with more medicines. Around 444 drugs show interactions with Levitra. 

Out of these, 3 are minor interactions, 76 are serious interactions, and365 are classified as moderate interactions. 

Medical professionals also strictly advise against taking expired Levitra.

Food interactions of Levitra and Cialis

When it comes to food interactions, Levitra and Cialis do not differ in any way. 

Both the medicines can display serious interaction with alcohol.

This is because alcohol can worsen the side effects of ED pills like nausea, dizziness, and flushing. 

Grapefruit also interact with Levitra and Cialis. 

Disease interactions: Levitra or Cialis

Many health conditions show interactions with Levitra and Cialis. 

If you are suffering or have a history of any of the following diseases, avoid taking Cialis- 

  • Liver diseases
  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Pulmonary disease
  • Hearing imparities
  • Renal complications
  • Alcoholism
  • Retinitis pigmentosa
  • Seizure disorders.

On the other hand, Levitra interacts with the following diseases-

  • Liver diseases
  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Hearing imparities
  • Renal dysfunction
  • Priapism
  • Retinitis Pigmentosa 
  • QT Prolongation
  • Alcoholism
  • Seizure disorder.
MagnetCreative/ Getty Images Signature

Mixing Cialis and Levitra

It is never advisable to take more than one ED pill within 24 hours. 

Consuming Levitra and Cialis together can be detrimental to your health. 

This will double your risk of side effects and might cause permanent damage to the penis. 

Therefore, mixing Cialis and Levitra is a bad idea.