Cialis Together and tadalafil sound like two different treatments, but they share the same active ingredient. Cialis Together is a 10mg tadalafil tablet you can buy from a pharmacy without a prescription.1 Generic tadalafil does the same job, but you will need a prescription for it.
So what's actually different? It comes down to strength, how you get it and how often you plan to use it. Here's how to work out which one suits you.
Same medicine, different route. The real decision is about flexibility, convenience and whether you need a doctor involved.
What is Cialis Together?
Cialis Together is a treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED), which means finding it hard to get or keep an erection firm enough for sex. It's licensed for men aged 18 and over who have ED.1
In 2023, the MHRA (the UK's medicines regulator) reclassified it as a pharmacy medicine.2 That made it the first tadalafil product you could buy without a prescription. Before that, the only ED tablet available this way was Viagra Connect, which contains sildenafil.2
You take one tablet at least 30 minutes before sex, with or without food.1 You still need to be sexually aroused for it to work. It won't cause an erection on its own.1
Think of it as a helping hand rather than an erection on demand. Arousal still has to play its part.
Is Cialis Together the same as tadalafil?
Yes, in the way that matters most. Cialis Together contains 10mg of tadalafil, the same active ingredient as prescription Cialis and generic tadalafil.1 It's even a light yellow, almond-shaped tablet marked "C 10", exactly like prescription Cialis 10mg.3
"Generic" simply means a medicine sold under its chemical name rather than a brand name. The active ingredient and strength are the same.
Tadalafil belongs to a group of medicines called PDE5 inhibitors. When you're aroused, your body releases chemicals that relax the blood vessels in your penis. Tadalafil helps keep that process going, so more blood can flow in and you get an erection.1
In clinical trials of tadalafil, 81% of men said it improved their erections, compared with 35% of men taking a placebo (dummy pill).3
Brand name or chemical name, the tablet works in the same way. What changes is how you get it and which doses are on the table.
What's the difference between Cialis Together and tadalafil?
Here's what actually sets them apart.
Strength
Cialis Together only comes as a 10mg tablet.1 Prescription tadalafil comes as 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg and 20mg tablets.4
Either way, 10mg is the usual starting dose for ED.4 But if 10mg doesn't do enough, a prescriber can consider 20mg.3 That option isn't available over the counter.
Daily use
Cialis Together is designed for taking when you need it. It isn't recommended for continuous daily use.1
Using it at least twice a week? Then the advice is to speak to a doctor, as a low daily dose of tadalafil may suit you better.1 That's only available on prescription, as Tadalafil Daily. Our guide on whether Tadalafil Daily is right for you goes into more detail.
If ED treatment has become part of most weeks, a daily low dose is worth asking about. It means you don't have to plan around a tablet.
How you get it
Cialis Together is a pharmacy (P) medicine. A pharmacist checks it's suitable for you before you buy it, and packs hold no more than 8 tablets.2 Online, that check happens through a short questionnaire.
Generic tadalafil is a prescription-only medicine. A prescriber needs to assess you first, which you can do through an online consultation. Because it's sold without the brand name, generic tadalafil also tends to cost less.
Can anyone buy tadalafil over the counter?
Only as Cialis Together, and not everyone can. The pharmacist check is there because some men need a doctor's input first.2
Cialis Together isn't suitable, or you'll need to speak to a doctor first, if you:
- Have a heart condition and have been told sex could put too much strain on your heart
- Have had a heart attack in the last 90 days or a stroke in the last 6 months
- Get chest pain (angina) during sex, or have unstable angina
- Have very low blood pressure, or high blood pressure that isn't under control
- Have severe kidney or liver problems
- Take alpha blockers, such as doxazosin or tamsulosin, for blood pressure or prostate problems
- Take certain antifungal, antibiotic or HIV medicines, such as ketoconazole, clarithromycin or ritonavir
- Have Peyronie's disease or another condition that affects the shape of your penis
Being turned away at the pharmacy doesn't always mean tadalafil is off the table. For some men, such as those taking alpha blockers, a doctor may decide a lower dose is more suitable.1
One rule applies whichever version you take. Tadalafil must not be taken with nitrate medicines (often used for chest pain) or nitric oxide donors, including amyl nitrite ("poppers").1 Together, they can lower your blood pressure too far, and this effect can last for more than a day after a tablet.1 You should also not take it alongside any other ED medicine.1
Never use poppers in the day or two after taking tadalafil. Waiting a few hours is not enough to make it safe.
Cialis Together side effects
Cialis Together has the same side effects as any 10mg tadalafil tablet. Most are mild to moderate and don't last long.1
Common side effects can affect up to 1 in 10 people.1 They include:
- Headache - one of the most commonly reported side effects
- Indigestion - a burning or uncomfortable feeling in your upper stomach
- Back pain and muscle aches - including pain in your arms or legs
- Flushing - warmth and redness in your face
- Blocked nose - a stuffy feeling, a bit like a cold
Dizziness and blurred vision are less common, affecting up to 1 in 100 people.1
If a side effect bothers you or doesn't settle, speak to a pharmacist or GP.
Side effects are usually mild and short-lived. If one hangs around or worries you, speaking to a pharmacist is a good first call.
Which one is right for you?
There's no single right answer. It depends on your health and how you'd like to use it.
Cialis Together may suit you if you're new to ED treatment, you're generally healthy and you'd like to start on the standard 10mg dose for occasional use.
Prescription tadalafil gives you more room to adjust. It may suit you if 10mg isn't working well enough, you'd rather take a low dose every day, or you need a doctor's oversight because of a health condition or other medicines.
Weighing up tadalafil against sildenafil instead? Our sildenafil vs tadalafil guide breaks down how they compare.
Starting over the counter and moving to a prescription later is a perfectly normal route. Your first choice doesn't lock you in.
When should you see a doctor about ED?
ED can sometimes be an early sign of another health problem, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or depression.1 That's why men using Cialis Together are advised to see their GP for a check-up within 6 months.1
Speak to a GP if:
- Your erections haven't improved after taking Cialis Together on several different occasions
- Your ED is getting worse
- You find you're using it at least twice a week
Stop taking tadalafil and get urgent medical help if you:
- Have an erection that lasts 4 hours or more
- Get chest pain during sex (stop sexual activity straightaway)
- Notice a sudden change in, or loss of, your vision
- Notice a sudden drop in, or loss of, your hearing
An erection that lasts too long can damage the tissue in your penis if it is not treated quickly.1
A long-lasting erection is a medical emergency, not something to wait out. Fast treatment protects your erections in the long run.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Cialis Together last?
Cialis Together can work for up to 36 hours after you take it. That doesn’t mean a 36-hour erection. It means you can get an erection more easily when you’re aroused during that window. It can start working from around 30 minutes. You must not take more than one tablet in 24 hours, even if you plan to have sex again.
Can you take Cialis and Viagra together?
No. Do not take Cialis, Cialis Together or generic tadalafil with Viagra, Viagra Connect or any other ED medicine. The safety of combining them hasn’t been studied, so it isn’t recommended. If one treatment isn’t working well enough, speak to a pharmacist or prescriber about switching rather than adding a second tablet.
Is 10mg of tadalafil enough?
For many men, yes. 10mg is the usual starting dose for ED and the strength in Cialis Together. Most men get an erection the first or second time they use it, though some need a few tries on different days. If 10mg still isn’t enough after several attempts, a prescriber may suggest 20mg tadalafil instead.
Can you take 10mg tadalafil every day?
It isn’t recommended. The 10mg and 20mg tablets are meant for taking when you need them, as their effects can last longer than 24 hours. If you’d like to take tadalafil every day, a lower dose of 2.5mg or 5mg is used instead. That’s available on prescription as Tadalafil Daily, once a prescriber has checked it’s right for you.
What’s the difference between Cialis Together and Viagra Connect?
They contain different active ingredients. Cialis Together contains tadalafil 10mg, while Viagra Connect contains sildenafil 50mg. Both are pharmacy medicines you can buy without a prescription after a pharmacist check. Tadalafil’s effects can last up to 36 hours, so it may suit men who’d like more flexibility on timing. Neither is right for everyone, so it’s worth talking through your options with a pharmacist.
Can you drink alcohol with Cialis Together?
A drink or two is unlikely to cause problems, but heavy drinking is best avoided. Alcohol and tadalafil can both lower your blood pressure, so drinking a lot makes you more likely to feel dizzy or lightheaded. Drinking heavily can also make it harder to get an erection in the first place, which works against the treatment.
References
- Opella Healthcare UK Limited. Cialis Together 10 mg tablets: Summary of Product Characteristics. Electronic Medicines Compendium; 2025. medicines.org.uk/emc
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. MHRA reclassifies Cialis Together tablets to a Pharmacy medicine. GOV.UK; 2023. gov.uk
- Eli Lilly and Company Limited. Cialis 10mg film-coated tablets: Summary of Product Characteristics. Electronic Medicines Compendium; 2026. medicines.org.uk/emc
- NHS. How and when to take tadalafil. NHS website; 2022. nhs.uk
This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always read the patient information leaflet supplied with your medication and speak to a healthcare professional if you have specific concerns.