What are the side effects of Cialis?

Side effects of Cialis tablets are either common, uncommon, or rare. This is measured by the number of people who get side effects when taking the medication in trials and over time. Below are some of the most common side effects of tadalafil (the active ingredient of Cialis), as well as the uncommon and rare side effects.

Common side effects (affect 1 to 10 in every 100 users) include:

• a stuffy/blocked nose
• flushed (red) face
• headache
• indigestion
• muscles aches
• pain in your arms, legs or back

Uncommon side effects (affect 1 to 10 in every 1000 users) include:

• a prolonged erection
• breathing problems
• blood in urine
• blurred vision or eye pain
• changes to blood pressure levels
• dizziness
• heart palpitations
• high heart rate
• nausea or vomiting
• nose bleeds
• stomach ache
• swollen hands, feet or ankles
• tiredness or fatigue
• reflux
• ringing in the ears

Rare side effects (affect 1 to 10 in every 10,000 users) include:

• blood in semen
• fainting
• hearing loss
• itchy skin or rash (hives)
• seizures and passing memory loss
• sweating
• swelling of the eyelids
• red eyes
• penile bleeding

Other rare side effects that can occur at a very low (unrecorded) rate include migraines, serious skin rashes, severe allergic reactions, stroke, or heart attack. Most of the people who had a heart attack or stroke had known heart problems before taking Cialis.

If you have any side effects you should contact your doctor so they can give you advice on how to manage them. They will tell you if you need to change your dosage or medication.

Some serious side effects may occur from taking Cialis. If you have any of these side effects, you should stop taking your medication right away and seek emergency medical help.

These include:

• an allergic reaction, including a skin rash, swelling of face and throat, irregular heartbeat, or cardiac
• a prolonged or painful erection (known as priapism) that lasts more than 4 hours
• sudden pain in your chest
• sudden loss of vision

If you have any other severe or painful side effects from using Cialis, then you should stop taking your medication right away and seek urgent medical attention.

It is not always possible to avoid the side effects of medication but most of the time your body gets used to the treatment and side effects will go away on their own.

Here is fact sheet to help break down all the ways you can decrease your risk of side effects:

While Cialis will be safe for most people, there are instances where it might not be suited for people who have certain medical conditions. You should avoid Cialis if you are:

• allergic to tadalafil or one of its ingredients
• have angina pectoris and take any form of organic nitrate or nitric oxide donors (such as amyl nitrate) to treat it
• have heart disease or have had a heart attack in the last 3 months
• have had a stroke in the last 6 months
• have blood pressure issues (either low or uncontrollably high)
• have had a loss in vision due to non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION)
• taking riociguat (a medication used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension)

"If the treatment is working for you and you do not have side effects that bother you, Cialis can be used for as long as you need it. A clinical study looking into the long-term use of tadalafil for 18 to 24 months found that both the 5mg daily dose and the 10mg and 20mg doses taken as needed were safe and well-tolerated. No current studies suggest that long-term use is dangerous, but your doctor will check in on your usage and side effects while you’re taking it.”

— Dr Brenda Ikeji, Medical Editor

There are no specific long-term side effects of taking Cialis reported in clinical trials. Most side effects happen when first starting the medication and usually wear off with time. You may also notice them if you have a dose increase or take a break from the medication and come back to it. Side effects should stop within a few hours of your dose, or within a few days if you’re taking Cialis Daily.

If mild side effects persist (last longer than a few days), do not get better, or worsen, you must let your doctor know. It might mean that Cialis is not the right ED treatment for you, however, there are other alternatives that you may react differently to.

Serious side effects could cause some long-term health complications, especially if not treated early, so you must seek medical attention straight away if you notice signs of any rare or serious side effects:

• blurred vision
• sudden decrease of vision
• chest pain
• priapism (painful erection lasting longer than 4 hours)

Other erectile dysfunction treatments are not more or less likely to cause side effects. All medications have a risk of side effects but it may be that one is more suited to you based on your medical history or tolerance to the active ingredient. Other medications that are similar to Cialis include Viagra, Viagra Connect and sildenafil. The best way to find a treatment that works best for you and causes minimal side effects is by trying it.

Talking to your doctor will allow you to weigh up the pros and cons of your treatment options, which could help you decide on which one to try next.

The side effects of these medications are mostly similar. However, always consult with your doctor before changing your medication.

The only ED treatments that are likely to be free from side effects will be non-medical treatments.

These include:

• lifestyle changes (following a healthy diet, quitting smoking, drinking less alcohol, and regular exercise)
• psychological treatments (like counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy)

You can also use a penis pump, which is a non-medical device, however, this can come with side effects like soreness, bruising, and swelling.

To decide which form of ED treatment is best for you, speak to your nurse or doctor for more information about your available options.

Like most erectile dysfunction medications, people taking Cialis may experience some side effects. However, most are mild and will likely pass over time. If you have concerns over your symptoms and dosage, speak to your doctor before making any changes to your medication.