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If you are currently suffering from erectile dysfunction, there are numerous treatment options available to help reverse your symptoms. ED treatment options include lifestyle, psychological as well as medication therapies. Two of the most commonly prescribed ED drugs are Viagra and Cialis (sildenafil).
Simply put, there is absolutely no benefit of combining Viagra with Cialis! You’ll only be doubling your risk of side effects.
These two are brand-name prescription medications that can treat erectile dysfunction. They belong to a group of drugs known as phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors and work by enhancing blow circulation toward your penile region. They help ED patients to get and sustain an erection firm enough for penetrative sex.
Because both Cialis and Viagra are highly effective ED treatment options, erectile dysfunction patients might wonder whether you would get more benefit by combining the two drugs. But this could be a huge mistake!
Today in this post, we are going to discuss the potential dangers of combining these two ED medications or the risk of taking alcohol alongside Viagra, among other issues involving the use of both Viagra and Cialis in the treatment of ED.
Do you need both Cialis and Viagra?
First and foremost, it is worth noting that Viagra and Cialis are two effective ED treatment medications. They both belong to the same family of drugs known as PDE5 inhibitors. They work by enhancing blood flow to your penis during sexual arousal, resulting in a harder erection
Perhaps the only difference between Viagra and Cialis is the duration of action. Cialis can stay in your system for up to 36 hours, allowing for spontaneity in your sex life. On the other hand, Viagra is a shorter-term medication, typically causing 4 to 6 hours of effects.
There are a few reasons why you shouldn’t combine these two ED medications, including:
- Viagra and Cialis work on a similar mechanism or sexual arousal and erection: This simply implies that taking both drugs at a go is the equivalent of enhancing your overall dose of PDE-5 inhibitors. And as we all know, increasing your dosage of any type of drug without the intervention of your healthcare provider can be highly dangerous. You not only risk suffering serious side effects, but your body may also not respond the same way to a fairly high dose of the drug.
- You must be sexually stimulated or aroused for PDE-5 inhibitors to work: It is worth noting that neither Viagra nor Cialis can trigger an erection on their own. They simply enhance blood flow toward your penis, helping your natural erection process to work easier. Simply put, using them together won’t help you if you are sexually stimulated.
- Cialis is intended to last for a longer duration compared to its Viagra counterpart: As earlier explained, Viagra typically lasts between 4 and 6 hours after taking it. On the other hand, Cialis lasts up to 36 hours after you take it. So, if you are already taking Cialis, Viagra may not add any additional effects because the other medication is still in your system.
And because Viagra and Cialis are similar in terms of how they work, they don’t have any harmful interactions with one another.
Regardless, increasing your dose of a PDE-5 inhibitor can potentially increase your risk of serious side effects. The common side effects associated with both Cialis and Viagra include:
- Indigestion.
- Headache.
- Stuffy or runny nose.
- Blurry vision.
- Nausea.
- Rash.
- Flushing.
- Back pain.
- Limb pain.
- Dizziness.
- Muscle aches.
If you are currently suffering from a heart-related condition and are already on other PDE-5 inhibitors, or nitrates, taking either Viagra or Cialis can cause your blood pressure to drop dangerously low levels!
Viagra and alcohol
Before we can discuss the relationship between Viagra and alcohol, let us first understand the connection between erectile dysfunction and alcohol.
Some ED patients might drink alcohol to feel a bit more composed and relaxed both before or during intercourse. And while a glass or two can potentially help get you in the mood, overdrinking can easily aggravate your erection problems.
And if you often drink a lot, your erection problems can become bigger and more frequent.

If you already have erectile dysfunction, drinking alcohol will make it highly unlikely to achieve and keep an erection. This is because alcohol is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, which simply means it can slow down the signals within your brain.
Your central nervous system plays a vital role in your erections, so slowing down these vital signals could result in erection problems. Moreover, alcohol can potentially cause other effects on your overall health that can lead to erectile dysfunction.
This may include reducing your testosterone levels, affecting your blood vessels, heart as well as nerves.
So, what is the connection between Viagra and alcohol?
As earlier explained, Viagra belongs to a class of ED treatment medications called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors. Alcohol can cause or even aggravate your ED symptoms.
If you are taking Viagra and drinking alcohol at the same time, especially in higher amounts, it will potentially counteract the effects of Viagra.
Simply put, it’s best to minimize your alcohol consumption if you are taking Viagra or any other ED medications.
Taking alcohol along with these drugs will not only prevent your ED medication from working effectively, but can also worsen side effects such as headaches, dizziness, back pain, and flushing!
Alcohol and Erectile dysfunction
As already explained, alcohol is a depressant, and this is why it may help relieve stress, anxiety, and help you feel more relaxed after a chaotic event. Because of this, when taken in moderation, it may help ED patients whose symptoms are caused by psychological factors to have satisfying sex lives.
However, excessive consumption of alcohol can disrupt both normal nerve function and blood circulation, which in turn, can cause symptoms of erectile dysfunction. In fact, according to a particular study, it was established that at least 72% of heavy alcohol drinkers experience some form of sexual dysfunction!
Effects of alcohol on testosterone and estrogen:
First and foremost, it is imperative to note that testosterone is the primary sex hormone among men. This vital hormone is responsible for male functions such as hair growth, muscle and bone development, and sex drive!
The levels of testosterone vary throughout your lifetime. The levels of testosterone are usually highest during puberty and early adulthood.
However, the levels tend to naturally decline around age 30. Low levels of testosterone have been consistently associated with decreased muscle and bone mass, anxiety, depression, and low sex drive.
On the other hand, estrogen is a female sex hormone that plays numerous roles in the body. In women, it helps develop and maintain both the female characteristics such as pubic hair and breasts and the reproductive system.
So, how does alcohol consumption affect testosterone and estrogen levels in your body?
Alcohol use reduces the amount of testosterone among men. Regular, heavy alcohol consumption can potentially result in elevated levels of the female sex hormone estrogen. This is due to the conversion of testosterone to estrogen, and increased levels of the stress hormone known as cortisol, which can destroy testosterone.
To be more precise, alcohol causes damage to the cells in your testes that secrete and manufacture testosterone. What’s more, a coenzyme known as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), is vital for both testosterone synthesis and alcohol metabolism.
However, when you drink alcohol, this vital coenzyme must first help in metabolizing alcohol at the expense of synthesizing testosterone.
Alcohol consumption also results in the release of certain endorphins. And while these endorphins produce relaxing and pleasant feelings, they may also impact testosterone synthesis. What’s more, alcohol increases the conversion of testosterone into female sex hormone, estrogen, in the body.
Generally, moderate consumption of alcohol should not have adverse effects on your health. However, heavy drinking can potentially cause negative effects, including a reduction of testosterone levels in your body.
Cialis and Viagra are very similar:
Yes, Viagra and Cialis are very similar. We have already explained that these two ED drugs are PDE-5 inhibitors that work by relaxing your muscles and arteries, causing more blood to flow toward your penis and cause an erection.
However, they are not the same! Whereas Cialis contains tadalafil as its active ingredient, Viagra features sildenafil as its active ingredient. What’s more, they may cause some different side effects and can also have different applications.
There are also differences in the duration of their action. Cialis can last up to 36 hours whereas Viagra effects can only last for up to 4-6 hours.
Doubling the side effect risk
It is important to note that you’ll never get twice as hard from taking a double dosage of both Viagra and Cialis on the same day. Likewise, you won’t get twice as hard from taking a double dosage of either Viagra or Cialis!
Both Viagra and Cialis are PDE-5 inhibitors that work by enhancing blood flow toward your penile region, making it possible for you to get hard but only after sexual stimulation. Simply put, they only help create the ideal conditions for an erection, but do not cause erections out of the blue!
Just because you are using either of these medications, doesn’t necessarily imply you’ll get erect. Stimulation of some type is still needed for an erection to occur.
Unfortunately, the fact that Viagra and Cialis won’t complement each other’s benefits doesn’t mean they won’t complement each other’s negative effects. And this is what usually happens! These two medications can cause adverse effects, and many of these effects tend to overlap.
Besides common side effects such as dizziness, headaches, rashes, flushing, back pain, blurry visions, among others, they can both result in a sudden drop in blood pressure, which could have far-reaching consequences, including heart failure and death!
Another potential serious consequence of taking Cialis and Viagra at the same time is priapism; an erection that lasts several hours! This is usually a painful and serious condition that warrants immediate medical intervention.
Simply put, there is absolutely no benefit of combining Viagra with Cialis! You’ll only be doubling your risk of side effects.

The bottom line: Can You Take Cialis In The Morning And Viagra At Night?
So, can you take Cialis in the morning and Viagra at night? The simple answer is no! you shouldn’t take these two ED medications together to reverse ED symptoms.
These drugs don’t cause an erection on their own. Instead, they only help create an ample environment for an erection to occur by boosting blood flow toward your penis.
Taking both Viagra and Cialis will only cause more harm than benefits, increasing your risk of developing serious side effects such as low blood pressure, stroke, or heart failure.
If you feel you need a different ED medication because the first drug isn’t effective enough, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor to diagnose any underlying conditions that could be causing your ED symptoms.