Cialis

What Is Cialis (Tadalafil)?

Cialis is the brand name of tadalafil, a prescription drug for men used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED).

Tadalafil is also prescribed under the name Adcirca for treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Additionally, it has been approved to treat signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or enlargement of the prostate.

Cialis was originally developed as a heart medicine by Glaxo Wellcome (now GlaxoSmithKline) in 1991, when another drug company Pfizer discovered that a similar enzyme inhibitor, sildenafil, caused erections in men taking part in a study.

The Lilly ICOS company tested Cialis as an ED medicine, and it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating ED in 2003.

Cialis was approved by the FDA in 2009 for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Cialis vs. Viagra

Cialis helps to increase blood flow to the penis, enabling a man to hold an erection for a longer duration.

While similar to its competitors, sildenafil (Viagra) and vardenafil (Levitra), Cialis is known as ‘the weekend pill’ because its effects last for up to 36 hours.

Cialis Warnings

Cialis should not be taken more than once every 24 hours.

A man needs to be sexually aroused for the medication to work. It does not provide an instant erection without stimulation.

Men who use Cialis should be healthy enough to have sex, not take nitrates for chest pain (angina), and consult a physician if an erection lasts more than four hours or is painful.

Cialis S >

Common Side Effects of Cialis

Headache
Back pain
Muscle aches
Stomach pain or discomfort
Indigestion
Burping
Acid reflux
Flushing
Stuffy or runny nose

Serious Side Effects of Cialis

Vision impairment
Irregular heartbeat or chest pain
Shortness of breath
Lightheadedness
Sudden hearing loss.

Patients are urged to contact physicians for erections lasting more than four hours.

Cialis Interactions

Ask your healthcare provider if your heart is healthy enough for sexual activity.

Don’t take Cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain, or if you take recreational drugs called “poppers” (amyl nitrate), because you could experience a sudden drop in blood pressure.

Do not drink alcohol to excess when using Cialis.

Cialis and Other Drug Interactions

Tell your doctor about any allergies you have, and about all the medications you take, whether prescription or over-the-counter (OTC), vitamins, illegal or recreational drugs, and dietary or herbal supplements, as they can affect how Cialis works.

Consult your doctor if you take the following medications:

Alpha-blockers for prostate problems
Blood pressure medications
HIV medicines
Oral antifungal medications
Antibiotics
Other medicines for ED

Cialis Dosage

Cialis tablets are yellow, film-coated, almond-shaped tablets, available in doses of 5, 10, and 20 milligrams (mg).

Cialis for daily use comes in 2.5 mg and 5 mg.

Recommended dosage of Cialis for ED is 10 mg, taken at least 30 minutes before sexual activity. Dosage may be increased to 20 mg or decreased to 5 mg, based of efficacy and tolerability.
Recommended dosage for Cialis once daily for ED is 2.5 mg, taken at the same time every day. Dosage may be increased to 5 mg based on efficacy and tolerability.
Recommended dosage for Cialis once daily for BPH is 5 mg, taken at the same time every day.
For pulmonary arterial hypertension patients, doses of 20, 40, and 60 mg may be prescribed. Typically, after 16 weeks of treatment, a 40 mg daily dose proved effective.

For patients experiencing both ED and BPA, the recommended dose of Cialis is 5 mg, taken at the same time every day.

Cialis Overdose

Contact your physician if you experience numbness or pain during sexual activity.

Get emergency help if you experience sudden vision loss because Cialis can decrease blood flow to the optic nerve in the eye.

Missed Dose of Cialis

Patients using Cialis may not be on a dose schedule, so simply take it as needed.

Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

Cialis Pictures

Cialis FAQ

Q: Can I safely split or cut a 20 mg Cialis tablet in half?

A: Cialis (tadalafil) is a film-coated tablet that is not scored (marked with a line down the middle). Scoring on tablets allows them to be split in roughly even halves and provides some assurance of approximate dose. Since Cialis is not scored, it will make it more difficult to split and have any assurance of an accurate dose. Cialis is available in a variety of dosage strengths, including 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg. Consult your healthcare provider to see if a lower dosage form may be appropriate for you. You may also find helpful information at //www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/cialis Sarah Lewis, PharmD

Q: Can you purchase Cialis without a perscription?

A: Cialis (tadalafil) is a prescription only medication used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Other medications like it; Viagra (sildenafil) and Levitra (vardenafil) are also prescription only. Talk to your doctor to see if you are a candidate for Cialis (tadalafil). Please see the following Everyday Health link for more information on Cialis (tadalafil). //www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/cialis Laura Cable, PharmD

Q: Is the 5 mg “daily” Cialis pill the same compound as the 10 mg or 20 mg? The doctor gave me a sample pack and I wish to use them as a single dose as needed; in other words, can I take three 5 mg pills in place of a single pill?

A: All dosage forms of Cialis (tadalafil) are the same compound, there are no time release or extended release tablets at the current time. Following is the link to additional information on Cialis //www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/cialis

Q: I take Codiovan, Zanidip, Disprin CV, atenolol, glucophage, insulin, and Crestor. Can I take Cialis? If I am correct, other meds don’t have nitrogen compounds.

A: As you know, if you are taking any form of a nitrate medication, then you can not take Cilais or any other medications in this drug class. Since you are taking blood pressure medications and a diabetic, you should discuss the use of Cialis with your physicians. They know your medical condition the best and will make the determination whether they feel it is safe for you to use this medication. Do not use before talking to them first. You may also find helpful information on Cialis at //www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/cialis. Gerald R. Levy, RPh

Q: Please tell me about Cialis.

A: Cialis (tadalafil) is a prescription medication used to treat erectile dysfunction. Cialis works by increasing blood flow to the penis when it is stimulated. Viagra (sildenafil) and Levitra (vardenafil) are similar to Cialis, but the major difference is that Cialis can last up to 36 hours. Cialis can interact with many medications and health conditions. Cialis should not be taken if you are using a nitrate drug for chest pain. If you become dizzy or nauseated after taking Cialis, or if you have pain, numbness, or tingling in your chest, neck, arms, or jaw, call your doctor immediately. The most common side effects of Cialis are warmth or redness in the face or chest, stuffy nose, sore throat, memory problems, headache, diarrhea, muscle pain or back pain. For more information about Cialis consult your physician. If you would like to submit another question, return to Everyday Health. Burton Dunaway, PharmD

Q: Can you purchase Cialis without a prescription?

A: Cialis (tadalafil) is a prescription-only medication used to treat erectile dysfunction. Other medications like it, such as Viagra (sildenafil) and Levitra (vardenafil), are also prescription-only. Talk to your doctor to see if you are a candidate for Cialis or a similar medication. For more information on Cialis, go to //www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/cialis. Laura Cable, PharmD

Q: What is a side effect of Cialis?

A: Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. If you become dizzy or nauseated during sexual activity, or if you have pain, numbness, or tingling in your chest, arms, neck, or jaw, stop and call your doctor right away. You could be having a serious side effect of Cialis (tadalafil). Stop using Cialis (tadalafil) and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects: sudden vision loss; ringing in your ears, or sudden hearing loss; chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling; irregular heartbeat; swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet; shortness of breath; seizure (convulsions); vision changes; feeling light-headed, fainting; or penis erection that is painful or lasts 4 hours or longer. Less serious side effects may include: warmth or redness in your face, neck, or chest; stuffy nose, sore throat; headache; memory problems; diarrhea, upset stomach; or muscle pain, back pain. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. Lowell Sterler, RPh

Q: Can you give me some Cialis information?

A: Some Cialis (tadalafil) information, which may be beneficial when considering or beginning treatment, should include reason for use and mechanism of action, proper dosage and administration, contraindications, frequently observed side effects and important drug interactions. Cialis is approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Cialis is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor which enhances erectile function. This process is mediated by the release of nitric oxide which causes the subsequent relaxation of smooth muscle and increased blood flow. Sexual stimulation is required to stimulate the release of nitric oxide. Therefore, Cialis will not exhibit a therapeutic effect in the absence of sexual stimulation. Cialis is approved for two different treatment approaches, as needed use and once daily use. For treatment with Cialis, for as needed use, the recommended initial dose is 10 mg administered once daily, at least 30 minutes prior to sexual activity. During clinical trials, Cialis for as needed use demonstrated efficacy, improved erectile function, for up to 36 hours following dose administration. Doses may be increased to 20 mg or decreased to 5 mg based upon therapeutic response and patient tolerability. When prescribing Cialis for once daily use, the recommended initial dose is 2.5 mg administered once daily and without regard to timing of sexual activity. Cialis for once daily use should be administered at the same time each day. Doses may be increased to 5 mg depending on therapeutic response and tolerability. For either treatment approach, Cialis may be taken without regard to food. Cialis should be stored at controlled room temperature and out of reach of children. Cialis is contraindicated in patients currently being treated with nitrates, regularly or intermittently. The concomitant use of Cialis with nitrates can potentiate the hypotensive effect of nitrates causing a sudden and dangerous drop in blood pressure, dizziness, fainting, heart attack or stroke. According to the prescribing information, the most common adverse reactions, occurring in greater than 2% of patients during clinical trials, include headache, dyspepsia, back pain, myalgia, nasal congestion, flushing and pain in limb. Less common adverse reactions may include priapism (erection lasting more than four hours), sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes or a sudden decrease or loss of hearing. It is imperative to contact your physician, immediately, if any of these serious adverse reactions occur. Cialis should be prescribed and administered with caution in patients taking alpha blockers or other antihypertensive medications because of the potential for additive blood pressure lowering effects. Patients should also be advised regarding the consumption of alcohol in combination with Cialis. Cialis can also potentiate the hypotensive effects when used in combination with alcohol increasing the risk for orthostatic symptoms, including increased heart rate, decreased standing blood pressure, dizziness and headache. This is some Cialis information that should be taken into consideration when considering or beginning treatment. Other side effects and drug interactions are possible, so it is important to discuss any other medications you currently take prior to initiation of treatment with Cialis.

Q: If my partner is using Cialis can I get a stuffed up nose? In other words, can it’s side effects be transferred to me via his sperm? I have noticed I get stuffy after we use it.

A: Cialis (tadalafil) is a phosphodiesterase-5 enzyme inhibitor used to treat erectile dysfunction. The most common side effects with Cialis are flushing, headache, nausea, muscle pain, back pain, extremity pain, respiratory tract infection and inflammation of the nose and throat. Other side effects with Cialis include nasal congestion. A search of the prescribing information for Cialis did not specifically mention side effects in the partner of the person taking Cialis. This is not a complete list of the side effects associated with Cialis. Laura Cable, PharmD

By Don Wall | Medically Reviewed by Sherry Brooks, MD

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