Halo Medix Medicines reference

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Each contrast chapter follows one labelled tablet

7 min readReviewed 21 August 2026. Updated

At a glance

Page typeComparison
Locked marksCialis 2.5 daily / Viagra 100 / Levitra 2.5
Shared stopOrganic nitrates
ReviewerCamille Rousseau, MD

Once-daily tadalafil for erectile dysfunction starts at 2.5 mg at about the same time each day. Later chapters on this page cover the 100 mg sildenafil ceiling and the 2.5 mg vardenafil film-coated tablet.

Three PDE5 tablets aligned on contrast grid with signal-blue hairline borders

01Once-daily tadalafil at 2.5 mg

Locked markLabelled job on this page
Cialis 2.5 mg dailyOnce-daily ED start; may rise to 5 mg daily
Viagra 100 mgAs-needed ceiling; usual start 50 mg; once per day
Levitra 2.5 mgUsual labelled start 10 mg; 2.5 mg is a lower film-coated tablet

CIALIS for once daily use in erectile dysfunction starts at 2.5 mg, taken at approximately the same time every day. The once daily dose may be increased to 5 mg based on individual efficacy and tolerability. Once daily tadalafil is taken without regard to the timing of sexual activity.

Sexual stimulation is needed. Tadalafil may be taken with or without food. Do not split tadalafil tablets; the entire dose should be taken. The mean terminal half-life is 17.5 hours in healthy subjects. Tadalafil is not indicated for use in females.

Tadalafil is contraindicated in patients using any form of organic nitrate, either regularly or intermittently. Do not combine CIALIS with other PDE5 inhibitors or other ED therapies.

5 mg once-daily start.

02Levitra 2.5 mg about 60 minutes before sexual activity

LEVITRA is taken orally, as needed, approximately 60 minutes before sexual activity. The recommended starting dose of LEVITRA is 10 mg. This contrast features 2.5 mg. LEVITRA is available as 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg film-coated tablets.

The dose may be increased to a maximum recommended dose of 20 mg or decreased to 5 mg based on efficacy and side effects. The maximum recommended dosing frequency is once per day. Sexual stimulation is required. LEVITRA is not indicated for use in women.

LEVITRA may be taken with or without food. A high-fat meal may delay the time to peak concentration.

Vardenafil is contraindicated in patients using any form of organic nitrate, either regularly or intermittently. Do not combine LEVITRA with other PDE5 inhibitors.5 mg.

03The 100 mg sildenafil ceiling

The maximum recommended dose of sildenafil is 100 mg. The maximum recommended dosing frequency is once per day. For most patients the recommended starting dose is 50 mg, used as needed about 1 hour before sexual activity.

VIAGRA may be taken anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours before sexual activity. Most studies assessed the efficacy of VIAGRA approximately 60 minutes post dose. Sexual stimulation is required. Viagra is not indicated for women.

Both sildenafil and the metabolite have terminal half lives of about 4 hours. A high-fat meal can delay how fast sildenafil works.

Sildenafil is contraindicated in patients using any form of organic nitrate, either regularly or intermittently. Do not combine with other PDE5 inhibitors.

How to cite this page - Vancouver style

Halo Medix Medicines Reference. Each contrast chapter follows one labelled tablet [Internet]. Montreal: Halo Medix; 21 August 2026 [cited 2026 Aug 21]. Available from: https://halomedix.com/contrast/pde5/

Sources and how this page was reviewed

  1. DailyMed - CIALIS (tadalafil) tablets
  2. DailyMed - VIAGRA (sildenafil citrate) tablets
  3. DailyMed - LEVITRA (vardenafil hydrochloride) tablets

Numbers come from the cited labels. Dr. Camille Rousseau, MD reads the draft, then the page is dated. See the method page and editorial standards.

Reader questions

Readers around Montreal sent these questions. Answers follow one labelled tablet at a time.

Laurent Côté, Plateau asks

How is Cialis 2.5 mg once daily used?

Reply from our reviewer

CIALIS for once daily use in erectile dysfunction starts at 2.5 mg, taken at approximately the same time every day. The once daily dose may be increased to 5 mg based on individual efficacy and tolerability. Once daily tadalafil is taken without regard to the timing of sexual activity. Sexual stimulation is needed. Tadalafil may be taken with or without food. Do not split tadalafil tablets; the entire dose should be taken. The mean terminal half-life is 17.5 hours in healthy subjects. Tadalafil is not indicated for use in females. Tadalafil is contraindicated in patients using any form of organic nitrate, either regularly or intermittently. Do not take a double dose of tadalafil to make up a missed dose. Store at 25 C (77 F); excursions permitted to 15 to 30 C (59 to 86 F).

Mei Chen, Laval asks

How is the 100 mg Viagra tablet used?

Reply from our reviewer

The maximum recommended dose of sildenafil is 100 mg. The maximum recommended dosing frequency is once per day. For most patients the recommended starting dose is 50 mg, used as needed about 1 hour before sexual activity. VIAGRA may be taken anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours before sexual activity. Most studies assessed the efficacy of VIAGRA approximately 60 minutes post dose. Sexual stimulation is required. Viagra is not indicated for women. Both sildenafil and the metabolite have terminal half lives of about 4 hours. A high-fat meal can delay how fast sildenafil works. Sildenafil is contraindicated in patients using any form of organic nitrate, either regularly or intermittently.

Antoine Rivard, Hochelaga asks

How is Levitra 2.5 mg taken relative to sex?

Reply from our reviewer

LEVITRA is taken orally, as needed, approximately 60 minutes before sexual activity. The recommended starting dose of LEVITRA is 10 mg. This page features 2.5 mg. LEVITRA is available as 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg film-coated tablets. The dose may be increased to a maximum recommended dose of 20 mg or decreased to 5 mg based on efficacy and side effects. The maximum recommended dosing frequency is once per day. Sexual stimulation is required. LEVITRA is not indicated for use in women. LEVITRA may be taken with or without food. Vardenafil is contraindicated in patients using any form of organic nitrate, either regularly or intermittently.

Nadia El-Khatib, Saint-Laurent asks

Can I add a second PDE5 tablet on the same day as daily 2.5 mg Cialis?

Reply from our reviewer

Do not combine CIALIS with other PDE5 inhibitors or other ED therapies. The maximum recommended dosing frequency is once per day. CIALIS for once daily use in erectile dysfunction starts at 2.5 mg, taken at approximately the same time every day. The mean terminal half-life is 17.5 hours in healthy subjects. If you miss a dose, you may take it when you remember but do not take more than one dose per day.

Hugo Bélanger, Rosemont asks

What as-needed tadalafil start sits next to the 2.5 mg daily lock?

Reply from our reviewer

The recommended starting dose of tadalafil for use as needed is 10 mg, taken prior to anticipated sexual activity. The dose may be increased to 20 mg or decreased to 5 mg. The maximum recommended dosing frequency is once per day. Tadalafil for use as needed was shown to improve erectile function compared to placebo up to 36 hours following dosing. After a dose, the maximum tadalafil concentration is reached between 30 minutes and 6 hours. The median time to maximum concentration is about 2 hours. 5 mg.

Inès Gagnon, NDG asks

Which QT drugs sit on the Levitra stop list?

Reply from our reviewer

LEVITRA is contraindicated in patients with congenital QT prolongation. LEVITRA is contraindicated with Class IA (e.g. quinidine, procainamide) or Class III (e.g. amiodarone, sotalol) antiarrhythmics. LEVITRA is taken orally, as needed, approximately 60 minutes before sexual activity. The maximum recommended dosing frequency is once per day.