What is Cialis?
Cialis (tadalafil) belongs to the cGMP-Specific Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitor (PDE5) family of medications.
Cialis is primarily used as a treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED), but in some cases, it’s also used for treating the signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
For more resources, including a full list of the risks and benefits of Cialis, please review the product monograph.
How does Cialis work?
Treatment of ED: Following sexual stimulation, Cialis works by helping the blood vessels in your penis to relax, allowing the flow of blood into your penis. This results in improved erectile function.
It’s important to note that sexual stimulation is still needed for Cialis to function.
What is Cialis used to treat?
Cialis is most commonly used as a treatment for the symptoms of erectile dysfunction (ED).
In some cases, Cialis is used to treat the signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
How do you take Cialis?
In most cases, Cialis prescriptions are taken as needed, between 30-60 minutes before starting sexual activity. Its median full-effect takes place around 2 hours after taking Cialis, but its effects can last up to 36 hours from a single dose.
However, when once-a-day Cialis prescriptions are recommended, timing for the pill doesn’t matter as much. It’s only recommended that the dose is taken at roughly the same time each day, so that its effects are maximized. It may take up to 5 days for once-a-day Cialis to reach steady blood levels.
How long does Cialis last after you take it?
What are the common side effects of Cialis?
The most common side effects from using Cialis include:
- Indigestion (dyspepsia)
- Headache
- Back pain
- Muscle pain (myalgia)
- Nasal congestion
- Facial flushing
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
Uncommon side-effects:
- Swelling of the eyelids
- Eye pain
- Red eyes
Allergic reactions (including skin rashes). In rare cases, people may experience a priapism; in which an erection lasts for more than four hours.
Sudden decrease or loss of vision has occurred rarely after the use of oral erectile dysfunction medications, including Cialis. If this occurs, it’s best to seek immediate medical attention.
If you start to experience any serious side effects, it’s best to talk to your healthcare practitioner at Felix about them. They’ll be able to suggest a different dosage or alternative medications, which may be a better option for you.
Who shouldn't take Cialis?
There are a number of people that should avoid using Cialis, such as:
- People under the age of 18
- People taking nitrate medication
- People with a hypersensitivity to tadalafil
- People who’ve had a previous episode of non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION)
- People taking other guanylate cyclase stimulators
- People taking other erectile dysfunction treatments or PDE5 inhibitors
In addition to these concerns, people with a history of cardiovascular issues, or a renal impairment should be sure to discuss these issues with their healthcare practitioner, before starting Cialis.
Women are not intended to use Cialis, and there are minimal studies to explore the potential outcomes, so it’s best for people assigned female at birth to not take this medication.
Further reading