Cialis Dosage Guide: What’s the Right Dosage?

Picture this: You have a handful of Cialis® pills and a hot date in six hours. Should you take your prescribed dose and hope for the best, or take a little more to make sure you’re ready to go?

Is taking more than your prescribed Cialis dosage more likely to land you in the emergency room or the sex stamina hall of fame?

Like other popular erectile dysfunction (ED) medications, Cialis has a stellar reputation for helping guys get and maintain erections. But it has some unique features too.

Also available as the generic medication tadalafil, Cialis can be used as needed or taken daily. One dose can last up to 36 hours — much longer than sildenafil (Viagra®), vardenafil (Levitra®), or avanafil (Stendra®).

Our Cialis dosage guide will go over how the different doses of Cialis work, the right dosages for different circumstances, and how to know if you should take Cialis daily or as needed.

Cialis belongs to a class of drugs known as phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors, or PDE5 inhibitors. These medications reduce the effects of the PDE5 enzyme, making blood vessels expand for increased blood flow to the penis, allowing for easier, more reliable erections.

Cialis (and its active ingredient tadalafil) is most commonly used as an ED medication. But it’s also used to treat a couple of other medical conditions, namely:

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH or enlarged prostate)

• Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)

The Cialis dosage your provider prescribes to treat one thing may be entirely different from the dosage they prescribe to treat another.

Below, we’ll discuss Cialis’s different uses and how the medication treats these conditions.

Cialis Dosage for ED

Cialis is best known as a treatment for erectile dysfunction — but it’s more about working plumbing than starting the motor on sexual stimulation.

As mentioned before, Cialis works by inhibiting the effects of the PDE5 enzyme, which is responsible for controlling blood flow to the penis.

Healthy erections are all about blood flow. When you feel sexually aroused, blood flows to your corpora cavernosa — the soft, sponge-like tissues inside your penis — causing it to become firm and enlarged.

Cialis tablets come in four FDA-approved doses: 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg (milligrams).

If you’re prescribed 5mg Cialis and wondering, Can I take two 5mg Cialis at once? to bump yourself up to the 10mg dose, don’t do it.

You should never take two doses on your own without approval from a medical professional. Doing so can increase the risk of common side effects, including headaches, back pain, and indigestion.

Cialis Doses for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

Your ED medication of choice is also used to treat the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

BPH is common in older men. Although an enlarged prostate isn’t a cancerous growth, it can cause irritating issues. Symptoms of BPH include an increased need to urinate, dribbling at the end of urination, and pain during urination or after ejaculation.

According to the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration), a daily dose of 5mg tablets of Cialis has been shown to be effective in treating this disorder — though generic tadalafil may actually be what’s prescribed.

When figuring out the right dosage of Cialis, providers will consider factors like:

• Why the medication is being used

• Whether the patient is taking other medications

• How old the patient is

So a Cialis dosage for 70-year-olds with BPH may look totally different from a Cialis dosage for 30-year-olds with ED.

Tadalafil Dosage for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)

The active ingredient in Cialis, tadalafil, is also used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension. By dilating the arteries inside the lungs, the medication reduces blood pressure and improves blood flow.

Tadalafil is usually sold under the brand name Adcirca® when used to treat PAH. Brand-name Cialis isn’t prescribed for this use. To learn more, read our blog on Adcirca versus Cialis.

According to the FDA, Adcirca is typically prescribed in doses of 40mg for the treatment of PAH.

The most appropriate Cialis dose for you will depend on your needs, your healthcare provider’s assessment, and how well you respond to the medication.

For ED, Cialis is available in two forms: daily or as needed.

• Cialis daily dosage: 2.5mg and 5mg

• Cialis as-needed dosage: 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg

Keep scrolling for more details.

Daily Cialis Dosage

If you’re prescribed this medication for daily use, it’s important to take it at roughly the same time every day. In other words, don’t take it based on your lovemaking time block on iCal.

Daily Cialis is a good option if you’ve already responded well to PDE5 inhibitors or if you have sex more than two times a week.

Your healthcare provider may prescribe Cialis for daily use at a dosage of 2.5mg. If you don’t respond to the lower dosage or need a more significant effect from the medication, it might be increased to 5mg.

Cialis Dosage for Occasional Use

For those who like to follow their hearts, Cialis is also available to take as needed. This means you can take it just before you plan to have sex.

Like other medications for ED, Cialis starts working quickly. In most cases, you’ll start to notice its effects in 30 to 60 minutes.

The medication reaches its maximum concentration in the body 30 minutes to six hours after swallowing the pill.

When prescribed for as-needed use, Cialis is available in 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg doses. The typically recommended starting dose is 10mg.

If you still find it difficult to get or maintain an erection at a 10mg dose, your provider might bump it up to 20 mg, or you may reduce it to 5mg if you experience side effects.

Some words of caution about taking as-needed Cialis:

• Cialis is designed for use one time per day. You shouldn’t take it (or any other ED medication) more than once per day — even the as-needed version.

• You can take Cialis on its own or with a meal. This shouldn’t affect how long it takes for the medication to start working. However, fatty foods can sometimes reduce its effect, so go with the filet instead of the bone-in ribeye if you’re planning on having sex later.

Daily-use and on-demand Cialis each have advantages and disadvantages, so there’s no “best” option for everyone. Like the other details of your sex life, what works for you will be unique to your needs.

That said, those needs will dictate the best way to take it, so we’ll go over the major benefits and drawbacks of each dosing option below.

Advantages of Daily Cialis

Taking Cialis daily offers the convenience of a predictable routine and the ability to have sex whenever you want — without having to worry about taking medication right before.

Here are some highlights:

• You can be spontaneous. Taking a daily dose of Cialis means you’ll be able to enjoy spontaneous sex without having to worry about carrying the medication with you or waiting 30 to 60 minutes after taking your medication because it’ll be in your system at all times.

• It’s a set-it-and-forget-it strategy. You can take it at the same time every day without thinking about other factors.

So if you’re on vacation or just suddenly feel in the mood, the “always on” effects of daily Cialis can be a major upside.

Since daily-use Cialis is typically taken at a 2.5mg or 5mg dosage, it may also be less likely to cause side effects than a higher dose.

Disadvantages of Daily Cialis

Despite its advantages, taking a daily dose of this ED medication also has a few minor downsides. The first is that, because of the lower dosage, it often takes several days to become fully effective.

It can take about five days for the active ingredient tadalafil to reach a steady state in your system. That’s a small problem if you’ve already been waiting for some time.

Another potential disadvantage of daily-use Cialis is that the medication is always working — and this can increase the risk of side effects or allergic reaction.

Advantages of On-Demand Doses of Cialis

Using Cialis on an as-needed basis offers several advantages. The first is that you gain more autonomy when it comes to treating ED.

Here are some highlights:

• You don’t have to worry about missing a dose. Tailoring your usage based on when you plan to have sex can be helpful if you only see your partner a few days a week and don’t need your medication every day.

• You don’t have to acclimate to the medication. There’s no need to wait several days for the medication to reach a steady state in your body. Thanks to the higher dose, as-needed Cialis starts working quickly and typically reaches its peak concentration within two hours.

• It’s less costly. If you have sex infrequently, only taking Cialis when it’s needed could reduce the total amount you spend on ED treatments (and potentially increase the amount you spend on lube and sex toys).

Disadvantages of On-Demand Cialis

The main disadvantage of taking Cialis on demand is that you’ll need to plan ahead when you want to have sex. This can be tricky for men who, for instance, aren’t great at reading signals.

Since Cialis usually takes 30 to 60 minutes to start working, you’ll need to time your medication to make sure it’s active when you need it.

But you don’t have to be that specific with the timing. Since Cialis has a long half-life, it’s okay to take it several hours before you have sex. This makes timing as-needed Cialis much easier than shorter-acting ED medications, like sildenafil, vardenafil, and Stendra.

A bigger disadvantage of as-needed Cialis is the higher dosage. This isn’t an issue for everyone, but if you’re prone to side effects, it might make certain side effects of Cialis more intense.

Both forms of Cialis are well tolerated and effective at treating ED. Ultimately, the best option depends on your needs, lifestyle, and preferences.

Our guide to daily-use Cialis explains in greater detail how to choose between a daily or as-needed dose to treat ED.

If you’re prescribed Cialis for daily use, it’s common to sometimes forget to use your medication. What to do when you forget to take Cialis depends on the time of day you actually remember.

If you forget to take Cialis, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it’s close to your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue using the medication as usual.

But generally speaking, don’t use this medication more than once per day.

Erectile function isn’t about loading up with a massive dose to get the full effects. You should never exceed the maximum dose of Cialis in 24 hours.

Cialis dosage 20mg is the Cialis max dose for erectile dysfunction when taken as needed or 5mg when taken on a daily basis — but a healthcare professional will almost certainly start you on a lower dose.

If you’re starting Cialis and don’t notice any improvements at the dose you’re prescribed, consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your dosage or use of this medication.

The 5mg dose of Cialis generally starts working quickly, sometimes within a half-hour of taking the pill. It could take up to six hours, though.

And with the daily version, it might take several days for this ED medication to reach maximum effectiveness.

No, you shouldn’t take 80mg of Cialis. This is four times the maximum Cialis dosage of 20mg and isn’t safe. And if you’re on daily Cialis, the max is 5mg a day.

Never take more than what’s prescribed — of Cialis, tadalafil, or any medication.

No, 40mg of Cialis isn’t safe to take and could lead to more or worsened side effects. This is twice the maximum as-needed 20mg dose.

If Cialis isn’t working for you, ask your healthcare provider about trying a different ED medication.

Once-daily Cialis is usually dosed at 2.5 to 5mg. The as-needed version ranges from 10 to 20mg. The typical dosage for as-needed Viagra is 50mg, but it can range as well.

Interested in a more affordable option? Learn about generic tadalafil dosage in our guide.

When taking Cialis, you should know certain prescription drugs and other substances can affect your dosage.

Cialis (and other medications used to treat erectile dysfunction) may interact with other medications. The list of contraindicated meds includes nitrates, alpha-blockers, and other meds used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure).

It also includes medications that can increase the concentration of the active ingredient in your blood by affecting the CYP3A4 enzyme, like doxazosin and ketoconazole.

FYI, grapefruit juice also has this effect, so watch your breakfast beverage intake if you’re a morning sex guy.

Some recreational drugs, such as “poppers,” that contain amyl nitrate or butyl nitrate can also interact with Cialis and cause a sudden decrease in blood pressure. And low blood pressure could lead to more serious side effects like heart failure.

Before taking Cialis, let your healthcare provider know about all medications you currently use or have recently used. Additionally, give them a heads up about any liver problems or renal issues (like kidney disease) or if you suffer from Peyronie’s disease.

Cialis is one of the most popular medications used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction — and for good reason. Not only is it effective at treating ED, but its long duration of action means it only needs to be taken once a day to provide lasting effects.

But don’t take the medication’s convenience and safety track record as excuses to mess around.

Still asking yourself, How much Cialis should I take? Here are the key takeaways from our Cialis dosage guide:

• Only take Cialis when it’s prescribed by a healthcare professional. Unlike supplements, FDA-regulated Cialis must be prescribed by a licensed medical professional.

• There are two options for using this medication. Take a low dose on a daily basis or take a slightly higher dose as needed.

• Take Cialis as needed if you don’t have sex often. If your sexual activity is limited to once or twice a week, taking Cialis as needed may be the best choice.

• Take daily Cialis if you have sex regularly. If you’re more sexually active and have sex multiple times a week — or if you prefer the convenience of being able to have sex when you want to — taking a daily dose of Cialis may offer more advantages.

We offer brand-name Cialis and generic tadalafil online, following a consultation with a licensed healthcare provider who’ll determine if a prescription is appropriate.

Our range of erectile dysfunction medications also includes sildenafil, brand-name Viagra, and Stendra, a new, faster-acting ED treatment with a favorable side effect profile.