You know the saying: Time is money. But when it comes to your sex life, the more accurate phrase would be “Time is vital.” During intercourse, the difference between a couple seconds and a couple minutes can mean either a night of passionate lovemaking, or a night of disappointment and arguing. Thus, it is vital that both parties are ready and raring to hop between the sheets at the same time, lest the moment passes and sex goes from wild to mild. For men that struggle with erectile dysfunction, timing is even more important, as ED drugs often require some time to kick in, leading to a delicate balancing act of keeping the eroticism going while waiting for the drug to get to get to work. This is why it is vital that the correct ED drug is selected, to ensure that the timeline for effects is right for you. So how long does it take the various ED drugs to start working?

If time is of the essence, there’s one clear winner: Stendra. This little pill has the quickest activation time of any ED drug on the market, taking only around 15 to 30 minutes to take effect. After Stendra has gotten to work, its effects should be felt for another 6-12 hours.

Behind Stendra would be Cialis, which takes a little longer. For Cialis, results will begin to show within 30 to 45 minutes of ingestion. While Stendra has Cialis beat in speed, Cialis would take the crown for duration, as this little yellow pill tends to stay in the body for around 24-36 hours.

While Stendra and Cialis take top spots in speed, Viagra and Levitra would be tied neck-and-neck. This is because both of these well known erectile dysfunction drugs are clocked in at around 30-60 minutes to take effect. The two drugs are also tied in the duration category, as both brands tend to stick around for 4-5 hours.

While some men might be eager to dive right into intercourse, others would rather engage in some foreplay or cuddling before hopping between the sheets. As such, each major ED drug offers something different, so when its time to decide which is right for you, keep these times in mind.