Viagra vs Cialis. Which is better and why?

A little history

Viagra was the first on to the market in 1998 and it proved that the use of a PDE5 inhibitor was the most effective treatment for ED. Other manufacturers wanted a similar product but Viagra was protected by its patents. Pfizer had a monopoly on that particular chemistry. Two other manufacturers therefore began the work of producing a different version of the chemistry that would have the same effect. Both came out on to the market in 2003. At first, their progress was slow. Viagra maintained its market dominance. But Cialis has been steadily catching up. In some foreign markets, it has overtaken Viagra as the top selling ED drug.
Competition is good for the consumer

So long as there’s only one effective drug on the market, the manufacturer can set a high price. This is good for society because the manufacturer recovers the research and development costs quickly and can invest in trying to find new drugs. But the individual consumers suffer until competition arrives and drives down the price. Viagra is therefore squeezed on two fronts. In the US market, there are two competitors who offer comparable quality at lower prices. From the internet, a small army of online pharmacies sell the branded and generic Viagra from the lower cost markets around the world.
So what is the difference?

Although Viagra and Cialis work on the body in the same way, the effect is slightly different. As you may know, Cialis has earned the nickname of the «weekend pill». This reflects the surprising difference in time. Viagra allows erections to form for up to about five hours. Thereafter, sexual performance falls away quickly. But Cialis allows erections to form as needed for up to 36 hours. So, if you took a pill on Friday evening, you could still be sexually active on that pill on Sunday morning. This might look a big advantage except for the pricing. The branded Cialis is always more expensive per pill than Viagra so now the choice comes down to convenience. You can take two Viagra pills on successive days and get the same effect as Cialis for roughly the same cost. Or you can take one Cialis and have responsiveness for longer. If you are into one-night stands, Viagra is better value. If you really can take your partner away for the weekend, you buy whichever drug you feel is most comfortable. The price will work out about the same.