Cialis dosage guide: what to expect

What are the different dosages of Cialis?

Cialis comes in 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg to treat erectile dysfunction. 

The 2.5mg or 5mg dosage can be prescribed to patients to be taken once every day. This helps patients who engage in sexual activity frequently to achieve and maintain spontaneous erections at any point during the week.

The 10mg or 20mg dosage is prescribed to be taken as needed and no more than once in 24 hours, with effects lasting up to 36 hours. This helps men with erectile dysfunction who engage in sexual activity less frequently.

Why are there different dosages of Cialis?

There are different dosages of Cialis because not everyone will react to Cialis in the same way.

Some people may be more prone to experiencing side effects, and for others, the standard dosage may not work. 

The active ingredient in Cialis (tadalafil) can also be used to treat pulmonary hypertension and benign prostate enlargement.

Our article, Tadalafil Dosage Guide: What Strength Might You Need, explains more about tadalafil and the dosage needed to treat each condition.

What is the standard dosage of Cialis?

The standard dosage of Cialis is 10mg, taken as needed and no more than once every 24 hours.

10mg is generally effective and well tolerated by men whose GP or pharmacist has deemed them suitable for Cialis medication.

Even if you fit the eligibility criteria for Cialis medication (male aged over 18 with erectile dysfunction), Cialis may not be suitable for you if you have certain medical conditions, allergies, or are taking specific medications.

For a list of the contraindications for Cialis (tadalafil), you can read our Tadalafil Side Effects - From Common to Rare Guide and the Cialis Patient Information leaflet.

What is the standard dosage of Cialis Daily?

The standard dosage of Cialis Daily is 2.5mg, which needs to be taken at the same time every day. 

Cialis Daily can offer men the freedom and flexibility to engage in sexual activity spontaneously and at any point.

Cialis Daily can only be obtained with a GP prescription; no over the counter version exists. 

Patients must speak to their doctors about increasing their daily dosage to 5mg if they find that 2.5mg isn't allowing them to achieve and maintain an erection during sexual activity.

What is the dosage of Cialis Together?

Cialis Together is an over-the-counter version of Cialis that is available in UK Pharmacies after a consultation and an eligibility review by a clinician. 

Cialis Together only comes in the standard dosage of 10mg. 

There are no other Cialis Together dosages available over the counter. This means you must speak to your GP if you’re unable to achieve or maintain an erection on 10mg of Cialis Together.

What is the highest dosage of Cialis?

The highest dosage of Cialis to treat erectile dysfunction is 20mg.

The higher your dosage of Cialis, the higher your risk of experiencing side effects. 

Cialis will only work if you are sexually aroused, so this is important to keep in mind when assessing its effectiveness. For the ‘as needed’ dose (10mg or 20mg), some people may not respond the first time they take it. This is especially true if there are underlying health conditions. It is recommended to try Cialis on several separate occasions, but never more than once a day, before deciding whether it works for you.

If you are taking Cialis Daily (2.5mg or 5mg), it may take a few days to a week of consistent daily use before the medication builds up to effective levels. In some cases, 4-5 days or longer may be needed to experience the full benefit. 

If you experienced no side effects on 10mg, have no contraindications, and weren’t able to achieve or maintain an erection on 10mg, then 20mg could be an appropriate option to discuss with your doctor.

If you don’t wish to increase your dosage, you could also speak to your GP about the other  erectile dysfunction medications available on the market, such as Viagra (sildenafil) and vardenafil.

How to access 20mg of Cialis?

20mg of Cialis is only available with a GP prescription. 

Once you have a private or NHS GP prescription, you can collect your medication at your local in-store pharmacy or use our online prescription service to deliver it straight to your door.

Read our article on How to Access Cialis in the UK for more information on how to access each dose of Cialis.

Where can I find more information on Cialis?

If you’re in the early stages of researching erectile dysfunction medication, we have lots of available  erectile dysfunction resources online on our Health Hub.

You can also book an appointment with our online doctor to see if you are eligible for treatments.

Advice and information to help erectile dysfunction