Tadalafil vs Vardenafil (Cialis vs Levitra) | Dose Track
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[Sexual health · Comparison]

Tadalafil vs vardenafil: how do Cialis and Levitra differ?

Approved uses · Label dosing · Half-life · Crossover studies

Short answer: Tadalafil (Cialis) lasts much longer than vardenafil (Levitra): half-life about 17.5 hours vs 4 to 5 hours.12 Both treat erectile dysfunction, but only tadalafil is also approved for enlarged prostate and as a daily low dose.1 In an open crossover study, 52% of men preferred tadalafil and 20% vardenafil.3

How do tadalafil and vardenafil compare side by side?

From the US Cialis and vardenafil labels.
Tadalafil (Cialis)Vardenafil (Levitra)
Approved forErectile dysfunction, enlarged prostate (BPH), or both1Erectile dysfunction2
Tablets5, 10 and 20 mg on the current Cialis label12.5, 5, 10 and 20 mg2
As-needed doseStart 10 mg before sex; 5 to 20 mg; once a day at most1Start 10 mg about 60 minutes before sex; 5 to 20 mg; once a day at most2
Daily dose option2.5 to 5 mg once a day for ED; 5 mg for BPH1None2
Works forUp to 36 hours after a dose vs placebo1Not stated as a window; taken about 1 hour before2
Half-lifeAbout 17.5 hours1About 4 to 5 hours2
Time to peak30 minutes to 6 hours (median 2 hours)130 minutes to 2 hours (median 1 hour), fasting2
FoodNot affected by food1High-fat meals lowered peak levels2
Headache in label trials11% to 15% vs 5% on placebo (as needed)115% vs 4% on placebo2
Other common side effectsIndigestion, back pain, muscle aches, stuffy nose, flushing1Flushing 11% vs 1%, stuffy or runny nose 9% vs 3%2

Reviewed . Half-life figures are shown only where the value Dose Track uses agrees with the cited source.

Why does the half-life matter?

Tadalafil's half-life of about 17.5 hours is why its label says it improves erections for up to 36 hours after a dose, and why it can also be taken as a low daily dose.1 Vardenafil clears in about 4 to 5 hours and is taken about an hour before sex.2 Neither should be taken more than once a day.12

Have they been compared directly?

Only in small open-label crossover studies, where men tried each drug in turn and knew which one they were taking:

  • In a Spanish preference study, 90 men took sildenafil 100 mg, vardenafil 20 mg and tadalafil 20 mg at least six times each. Erection scores improved on all three. 52% chose tadalafil, 28% sildenafil and 20% vardenafil.3
  • The Italian ENDOTRIAL study compared sildenafil, tadalafil 20 mg and vardenafil 20 mg over 8 weeks and found no difference between the drugs in erection scores.4

The two studies point in different directions, and neither was blinded.

What warnings do both labels share?

  • Nitrates and riociguat: both must not be taken with them.12
  • Other drugs: strong CYP3A4 blockers such as ritonavir sharply raise vardenafil levels (49 times higher exposure), and the label caps the dose at 2.5 mg in 72 hours in that case.2
  • Heart rhythm: the vardenafil label says men with congenital long QT or on class IA or III antiarrhythmic drugs should avoid it.2

More detail: Cialis side effects, the Cialis dosing schedule, Tadalafil vs sildenafil: how do Cialis and Viagra differ?, Cialis daily vs as needed: how do the two tadalafil schedules differ?, and the Tadalafil and Vardenafil guides.

Tadalafil vs sildenafil: how do Cialis and Viagra differ?17.5-hour vs 4-hour half-life Cialis daily vs as needed: how do the two tadalafil schedules differ?2.5 to 5 mg every day vs 10 to 20 mg when needed PT-141 vs Melanotan II: how do they differ?FDA-labeled bremelanotide vs its unapproved parent

Frequently asked questions

Which lasts longer, Cialis or Levitra?+
Cialis. Its half-life is about 17.5 hours and it improved erections for up to 36 hours after a dose in trials.1 Vardenafil's half-life is about 4 to 5 hours.2
Can vardenafil be taken daily like Cialis?+
No daily-dose option is on the vardenafil label; it is taken as needed, no more than once a day.2 Cialis has a 2.5 to 5 mg daily option.1
Does food affect them?+
Tadalafil absorption is not affected by food.1 For vardenafil, high-fat meals lowered peak levels.2
Have tadalafil and vardenafil been tested head to head?+
Only in small open-label crossover studies. One found more men preferred tadalafil (52% vs 20%); another found no difference in erection scores.34
Can I track either in Dose Track?+
Yes. Both are in the library; log daily or as-needed doses with times.

Sources

  1. Cialis (tadalafil) tablets prescribing information, sections 1 to 7, 12.3 and 14. DailyMed, version of June 2026.
  2. Vardenafil hydrochloride tablets (Lannett) prescribing information, sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.1 and 12.3. DailyMed, version 9 (July 2026).
  3. Tolrà JR, et al. Prospective, randomized, open-label, fixed-dose, crossover study to establish preference of patients with erectile dysfunction after taking the three PDE-5 inhibitors. J Sex Med. 2006;3:901-909.
  4. Jannini EA, et al. The ENDOTRIAL study: a spontaneous, open-label, randomized, multicenter, crossover study on the efficacy of sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. J Sex Med. 2009;6:2547-2560.

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