Fildena and Cenforce are two of the most widely recognized Indian generic brands of sildenafil citrate, the active ingredient in Viagra. Fildena is made by Fortune Healthcare and Cenforce by Centurion Laboratories. People often ask which one is stronger or works better. The short answer is that, dose for dose, they contain the same medicine, so the real differences lie elsewhere. Here is how they compare.

Fildena vs Cenforce at a glance

Same drug, same dose, same effect

Both brands contain sildenafil, a PDE5 inhibitor that improves blood flow to the penis when you are sexually aroused. A 100 mg tablet of either brand is intended to deliver 100 mg of sildenafil, so you should expect the same timing: it starts working within 30–60 minutes and helps for around 4–5 hours. The side effects and safety rules are identical too.

Because neither brand is licensed in the US, UK or EU, neither has been through those regulators’ bioequivalence testing against the original. Online claims that one brand is “stronger” than the other at the same milligram strength are not backed by published data.

Where they differ

Manufacturer

The biggest difference is who makes them. Fortune Healthcare and Centurion Laboratories are separate Indian companies with their own factories and quality systems. Some people simply trust or tolerate one brand better, often out of habit.

Color and coating

Fildena tablets are purple, Cenforce tablets are blue. The coating and inactive ingredients differ slightly, which very occasionally matters for someone with an allergy to a particular dye or excipient.

Format choice

Fildena has a slightly wider range of formats, including Fildena CT 100 mg (a chewable tablet) and Fildena Super Active (a soft gel capsule). Cenforce offers Cenforce Soft 100 mg and a sublingual Professional version. Chewables can help people who dislike swallowing tablets, but they are not meaningfully faster in reliable studies.

Price

Prices are close. On our store, packs of Fildena 100 mg start from $70 and packs of Cenforce 100 mg from $75, with lower strengths costing less.

Picking the right strength

The strength matters far more than the brand. Sildenafil is licensed at 25, 50 and 100 mg, with 100 mg once a day as the maximum.

• 50 mg is the usual starting dose (for example Fildena 50 mg).
• 100 mg is for men who have tried 50 mg without enough effect and without troublesome side effects.
• 25 mg suits people over 65, those with liver or severe kidney problems, those on medicines that raise sildenafil levels, and anyone who gets side effects at 50 mg.

The 120, 150 and 200 mg tablets sold by both brands go beyond any approved dose. They add risk without proven extra benefit, so we do not recommend them.

Safety rules for both brands

• Never take sildenafil with nitrates (such as GTN spray or isosorbide) or riociguat.
• Take only one dose in 24 hours and never mix brands or formats on the same day.
• Seek urgent help for an erection lasting more than 4 hours, sudden vision or hearing loss, or chest pain.
• Tell your doctor about alpha-blockers, HIV medicines and antifungals, which can interact.
• Heavy meals delay the effect; heavy drinking reduces it.

How to spot counterfeit tablets

Fake sildenafil is one of the most counterfeited medicines in the world, and popular brands such as Fildena and Cenforce are copied too. Whichever brand you use, look for these signs of a genuine pack:

• A sealed blister strip with the brand name, strength, batch number and expiry date printed clearly on the foil.
• Tablets that are consistent in color, shape and embossing, with no cracks or powdery edges.
• A patient leaflet or carton with the manufacturer’s name and address.
• A supplier that shows its contact details and answers questions about the product.

If tablets look different from your previous pack, or cause unusual side effects, stop taking them and speak to a pharmacist.

Fildena or Cenforce: which should you choose?

If one brand already works well for you, there is little reason to switch. If you are choosing for the first time, pick a standard strength, then decide on format and price. If you would prefer a licensed product, ask your doctor about Viagra or licensed generic sildenafil instead; our comparison of Cenforce vs Viagra explains the trade-offs. Every option is listed in our sildenafil range.

Frequently asked questions

Is Fildena stronger than Cenforce?

Not at the same strength. Fildena 100 mg and Cenforce 100 mg both contain 100 mg of sildenafil.

Can I take Fildena and Cenforce together?

No. That would double the dose of sildenafil. Take one tablet of one brand, at most once a day.

Why is Fildena purple?

It is simply the color of the tablet coating, which helps the brand stand out. It does not change how the medicine works.

Do chewable versions work faster?

Any difference is small. Food and timing affect onset more than the format does.

For general information only. Sildenafil is a prescription medicine; please see a doctor before using Fildena, Cenforce or any ED treatment.

Vidalista and Cialis both contain tadalafil, the long-acting erectile dysfunction (ED) medicine often called “the weekend pill”. Cialis is the original brand developed by Eli Lilly; Vidalista is an Indian generic made by Centurion Laboratories. This guide compares them on the things that actually differ, from licensing and strengths to daily versus on-demand use, so you can talk it through with your doctor.

Vidalista vs Cialis at a glance

How tadalafil works

Tadalafil is a PDE5 inhibitor, the same class as sildenafil and vardenafil. It blocks the enzyme that switches off the chemical signal responsible for relaxing blood vessels in the penis during arousal, so an erection is easier to achieve and keep. What makes tadalafil different from its relatives is its long half-life of about 17.5 hours. One dose can keep working for up to a day and a half, and food makes little difference to how it is absorbed.

Because Vidalista and Cialis contain the same drug at the same doses, you can expect the same timing, effects and precautions from both.

Two ways to take tadalafil

On demand

The usual starting dose is 10 mg, taken at least 30 minutes before sex. Depending on the response, a doctor may increase it to 20 mg or reduce it to 5 mg. The maximum is one dose a day, and many people find they do not need it every day. Vidalista 20 mg and Vidalista 10 mg match these on-demand doses.

Once daily

Low-dose tadalafil (2.5 mg or 5 mg) taken at the same time every day keeps a steady level in the body, so there is no need to plan ahead. This suits men who expect to have sex at least twice a week, and the 5 mg daily dose is also licensed for urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate. Vidalista 5 mg and Vidalista 2.5 mg correspond to these daily strengths. Do not add an on-demand dose on top of a daily dose.

What is actually different?

Licensing

Cialis and licensed generic tadalafil in the US, UK and EU have been assessed by regulators such as the FDA, MHRA and EMA. Vidalista is made and sold under Indian regulation but is not licensed in those markets, so it has not been through their independent quality and bioequivalence checks.

Strengths above the maximum

The licensed maximum for ED is 20 mg in 24 hours. Vidalista 40, 60 and 80 mg exceed that. Tadalafil 40 mg is used for pulmonary arterial hypertension, but only under specialist care and under a different brand; it is not an ED dose. Higher doses raise the risk of headache, back pain, dizziness and low blood pressure, and because tadalafil lingers for so long, those effects can last too.

Formats

Vidalista also comes as chewable tablets, such as Vidalista CT 20 mg, and sublingual “Professional” versions. They contain the same tadalafil dose; any difference in how quickly they work is small.

Price

Branded Cialis is the most expensive way to take tadalafil. Licensed generics have been available in the US and UK since 2017–2018 and cost much less, and Indian generics such as Vidalista are typically cheaper still.

Side effects

Headache, indigestion, flushing, a stuffy nose and dizziness are common with any PDE5 inhibitor. Tadalafil is more likely than sildenafil to cause back pain and aching muscles, usually starting 12–24 hours after a dose and settling within two days. Get urgent help for an erection lasting more than 4 hours, sudden loss of vision or hearing, or chest pain.

Who should not take Vidalista or Cialis

• Anyone taking nitrates or riociguat. If emergency nitrates are needed, at least 48 hours must pass after the last tadalafil dose.
• People with serious heart disease, a recent heart attack or stroke, or very low blood pressure.
• Those with severe kidney or liver impairment, unless a doctor sets a reduced dose.

Alpha-blockers, strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (such as ritonavir, ketoconazole or clarithromycin) and heavy drinking (five or more units) can all increase the risk of low blood pressure with tadalafil, so mention every medicine you take.

Vidalista or Cialis: which should you choose?

• For a licensed product, choose Cialis or a licensed generic tadalafil prescribed by your doctor.
• If price matters most, Indian generics such as Vidalista are widely used. Stay at 20 mg or below, take one dose a day at most, and never combine it with nitrates.
• If you want spontaneity, ask your doctor whether daily 2.5–5 mg dosing would suit you.

Not sure whether tadalafil or sildenafil is the better fit? Read our comparison of sildenafil vs tadalafil, or browse all strengths in our tadalafil range.

Frequently asked questions

Is Vidalista the same as Cialis?

Both contain tadalafil and work the same way. Vidalista is a different brand from a different manufacturer and is not licensed in the US, UK or EU.

Why is tadalafil called the weekend pill?

Because a single dose can help for up to 36 hours, covering a Friday evening to Saturday morning without another tablet.

Is Vidalista 40 mg twice as effective as 20 mg?

No. 20 mg is the licensed maximum for ED. Doubling the dose mainly doubles the side effects.

Can I drink alcohol with tadalafil?

A small amount is usually fine, but heavy drinking can cause dizziness and a drop in blood pressure.

This guide is general information, not medical advice. Tadalafil is a prescription medicine; check with a doctor that it is suitable before you take it.

Cenforce and Viagra are both erectile dysfunction (ED) tablets that contain the same active ingredient, sildenafil citrate. Viagra is the original brand made by Pfizer, while Cenforce is a generic version made in India by Centurion Laboratories. Because the medicine inside is the same, most of the differences come down to licensing, the strengths on offer, the formats available and price. This guide sets them side by side so you can have an informed conversation with your doctor.

Cenforce vs Viagra at a glance

The same medicine, working the same way

Sildenafil belongs to a group of medicines called PDE5 inhibitors. During sexual arousal, nitric oxide triggers a chemical messenger (cGMP) that relaxes the smooth muscle in the penis and lets blood flow in. PDE5 is the enzyme that breaks that messenger down. By blocking it, sildenafil helps an erection develop and last. It does not create desire and does nothing without stimulation.

Because the active ingredient is identical, a 100 mg Cenforce tablet is designed to deliver the same dose of sildenafil as a 100 mg Viagra tablet. The expected onset, duration, side effects and precautions are therefore the same for both.

What is actually different?

1. Licensing and quality checks

Viagra and licensed generic sildenafil sold in the US, UK and EU have been assessed by regulators such as the FDA, MHRA or EMA, including checks that generics release the drug in the same way as the original. Cenforce is manufactured and sold under Indian regulation, but it is not a licensed medicine in the US, UK or EU, so those regulators have not reviewed it. That does not mean it is ineffective, but it does mean the independent checks you would get with a licensed product are not there.

2. The strength range

The licensed maximum dose of sildenafil for ED is 100 mg once a day. Cenforce is also sold as 120, 150 and 200 mg tablets. These strengths go beyond what any major regulator has approved and increase the risk of side effects such as headaches, dizziness and low blood pressure without clear extra benefit. If a doctor has agreed that sildenafil is suitable for you, stay within 25–100 mg. Our range of Cenforce 100 mg, Cenforce 50 mg and Cenforce 25 mg covers the standard doses.

3. Formats

Beyond standard tablets, Cenforce comes in variations such as Cenforce Soft 100 mg, a chewable tablet some people find easier to take. These contain the same sildenafil dose. Claims that chewable or sublingual versions work dramatically faster are not well supported, and you should never combine formats or take more than one dose in 24 hours.

4. Price

Branded Viagra carries the cost of Pfizer’s original research and marketing. Generic sildenafil, whether a licensed generic or an Indian brand such as Cenforce, usually costs far less per tablet. In the US and UK, licensed generic sildenafil is now widely available with a prescription at a much lower price than the brand.

How to take sildenafil

• The usual starting dose is 50 mg, taken about an hour before sex. A doctor may raise it to 100 mg or lower it to 25 mg depending on effect and side effects.
• Take no more than one dose in 24 hours.
• A heavy, fatty meal can delay the effect, so a light meal works better.
• A lower starting dose (25 mg) is often advised for people over 65, those with liver problems or severe kidney disease, and anyone taking certain medicines that raise sildenafil levels, such as ritonavir or some antifungals.
• Alcohol in moderation is unlikely to be harmful, but heavy drinking makes erections harder and increases dizziness.

Side effects

The most common side effects are the same for both brands: headache, facial flushing, indigestion, a blocked or runny nose, dizziness and, occasionally, a temporary blue tinge or blurring of vision. Get urgent medical help if you have:

• an erection lasting more than 4 hours (priapism)
• sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes, or sudden hearing loss
• chest pain, fainting or an irregular heartbeat during or after sex

Who should not take Cenforce or Viagra

Do not take sildenafil if you use any nitrate medicine (such as nitroglycerin (glyceryl trinitrate) sprays or isosorbide tablets) or the lung medicine riociguat, because the combination can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure. Sildenafil is also unsuitable for people who have been advised to avoid sexual activity because of heart problems, have had a recent heart attack or stroke, have very low blood pressure or have certain inherited eye conditions. If you take alpha-blockers for blood pressure or prostate symptoms, a doctor will usually start sildenafil at 25 mg.

Erectile dysfunction can be an early sign of heart disease, diabetes or hormone problems, so it is worth having a check-up rather than simply treating the symptom.

Cenforce or Viagra: which should you choose?

Clinically, both deliver sildenafil, so the choice is mostly practical:

• If regulatory approval matters most to you, choose Viagra or a licensed generic sildenafil prescribed by your doctor.
• If cost is the main concern, many people use Indian generics such as Cenforce. If you do, stick to the licensed strengths (25–100 mg), follow the dosing rules above, and never take it alongside nitrates.
• If sildenafil’s 4–5 hour window feels restrictive, a longer-acting medicine such as tadalafil may suit you better. Our guide to sildenafil vs tadalafil explains the differences.

You can compare every strength and format in our sildenafil range.

Frequently asked questions

Is Cenforce the same as Viagra?

It contains the same active ingredient, sildenafil citrate, and works in the same way. It is a different brand from a different manufacturer and is not licensed in the US, UK or EU.

Is Cenforce 200 mg stronger or better than 100 mg?

It contains twice the licensed maximum dose. Higher doses mainly increase side effects; they are not recommended.

Can I switch from Viagra to Cenforce?

If you already take Viagra without problems, the same dose of sildenafil should have a similar effect. Check with your doctor or pharmacist first, and never take both on the same day.

What is Cenforce FM?

Cenforce FM is marketed for women, but sildenafil is not approved for female sexual problems and the evidence that it helps is weak. Women with low desire or arousal difficulties should speak to a doctor about proven options.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Sildenafil is a prescription medicine; speak to a doctor before starting it.

Sildenafil and tadalafil are the two most widely prescribed medicines for erectile dysfunction (ED). Both belong to the same drug class and work in a similar way, yet they feel quite different in everyday use. One acts for a few hours, the other for up to a day and a half. This guide compares sildenafil vs tadalafil side by side so you can have a better-informed conversation with your doctor about which one suits your lifestyle.

How Sildenafil and Tadalafil Work

Both medicines are PDE5 inhibitors. During sexual arousal, the body releases nitric oxide, which relaxes the smooth muscle in the penis and lets more blood flow in. An enzyme called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) normally switches this process off. By blocking PDE5, sildenafil and tadalafil help the body maintain the blood flow needed for an erection.

An important point that many men do not realize: neither medicine causes an erection on its own. Sexual stimulation is still needed. They make a natural response easier, rather than creating one.

Sildenafil vs Tadalafil at a Glance

Sildenafil: Fast-Acting and Predictable

Sildenafil was the first PDE5 inhibitor and has more than 25 years of real-world use behind it. It is usually taken about an hour before sexual activity, and its effect lasts for several hours. Many men like that it has a clear, predictable window.

The main practical drawback is that a large or fatty meal can slow its absorption, so it tends to work best on a light stomach. Doctors commonly start at 50 mg and adjust up or down depending on response and side effects. The maximum is one dose in 24 hours.

Popular generic sildenafil brands include Fildena 100 mg, Cenforce 100 mg and Aurogra 100 mg. You can see all strengths in our sildenafil range.

Tadalafil: Long-Lasting and Flexible

Tadalafil’s biggest advantage is its long duration. A single as-needed dose can remain effective for up to 36 hours, which is why it earned the nickname “the weekend pill”. This removes much of the pressure of timing, and food has little effect on how well it works.

Tadalafil is also available as a low daily dose (2.5 mg or 5 mg) taken at the same time every day. This keeps a steady level in the body, so there is no need to plan around a tablet at all. The daily 5 mg dose is also used to relieve urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate. This makes it a practical option for men who have both conditions.

Common generic tadalafil options include Vidalista 20 mg and Tadarise 20 mg for as-needed use, and Vidalista 5 mg for daily use. Browse our full tadalafil range.

What About Vardenafil and Avanafil?

Two other PDE5 inhibitors are also available:

• Vardenafil works much like sildenafil, lasting around 4–5 hours. Some men who don’t respond well to one medicine find another suits them better.
• Avanafil is the newest of the group and can start working in as little as 15–30 minutes, with fewer reported visual side effects.

Side Effects to Know About

Because both medicines widen blood vessels, they share similar common side effects. These are usually mild and short-lived:

• Headache
• Facial flushing
• Blocked or runny nose
• Indigestion or heartburn
• Dizziness

There are a few differences. Sildenafil is more likely to cause temporary visual changes, such as a blue tint or sensitivity to light. Tadalafil is more likely to cause back pain or muscle aches, which typically appear 12–24 hours after a dose.

Seek urgent medical help if you have an erection lasting more than 4 hours (priapism), sudden loss of vision or hearing, or chest pain during sexual activity.

Who Should Not Take Them

PDE5 inhibitors are not safe for everyone. Do not take sildenafil or tadalafil if you:

• Use nitrate medicines for chest pain (such as nitroglycerin/GTN spray or isosorbide) or recreational “poppers”. The combination can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
• Take riociguat for pulmonary hypertension.
• Have been advised by a doctor to avoid sexual activity because of a heart condition.
• Have had a recent heart attack or stroke, or have very low blood pressure.

Extra caution is needed if you take alpha-blockers for blood pressure or prostate problems, certain antifungals or HIV medicines, or if you have liver or kidney disease. Never take two different ED medicines together. Limit alcohol, which can reduce effectiveness and increase dizziness. Grapefruit juice can raise drug levels in the blood.

Which One Should You Choose?

There is no single “best” ED medicine. Large studies show sildenafil and tadalafil are similarly effective, so the right choice mostly comes down to your routine and preferences:

• Choose sildenafil if you prefer a shorter-acting tablet taken shortly before planned activity, or you have used it successfully before.
• Choose tadalafil if you want more spontaneity, a longer window of effect, or also have enlarged-prostate symptoms.
• Consider daily tadalafil if you are sexually active several times a week and would rather not plan around a tablet.

Your doctor will consider your heart health, other medicines and any side effects you’ve had before recommending a medicine and dose.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take sildenafil and tadalafil together?

No. Combining PDE5 inhibitors increases the risk of low blood pressure and other side effects without improving results.

Is tadalafil stronger than sildenafil?

Not exactly. They are similarly effective at their recommended doses. Tadalafil simply lasts longer, which some men experience as “stronger”.

Do I need to take them every day?

Sildenafil and as-needed tadalafil (10–20 mg) are taken only before sexual activity. Low-dose tadalafil (2.5–5 mg) is the option designed for daily use.

Does ED always need medication?

Not always. ED can be an early sign of heart disease, diabetes or high blood pressure, and lifestyle changes such as exercise, weight loss, stopping smoking and drinking less can make a real difference. Read our guide to tips for managing erectile dysfunction for more.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always speak to a doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.