Cialis

Cialis is a medication you can take to help you get and keep an erection. It contains the active ingredient tadalafil, which belongs to a group of medicines called phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE5) inhibitors.

PDE5 inhibitors work by increasing blood flow to the penis when you’re aroused, allowing you to sustain an erection. This makes Cialis an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED), when you find it difficult to get a natural erection.

You should take Cialis as your doctor has directed you to do so. For most people, the starting dose of Cialis is one 10mg tablet before sex, a maximum of once per day.

To take Cialis:

• take 1 Cialis tablet at least 30 minutes before you plan to have sex
• swallow the tablet whole with water

You can take Cialis with or without food but you should avoid grapefruit juice or fresh grapefruits. Grapefruit can change the effectiveness of Cialis by interfering with how your body breaks it down to clear it from your system.

Try to limit your alcohol intake on the days you take Cialis, as it can make it difficult for you to maintain an erection.

You should not take Cialis tablets every day. Cialis stays in your body for around 36 hours. This means you’ll still benefit from its effects a day and a half after you have taken the tablet. Therefore, Cialis is a good option if you want to have sex frequently throughout the week.

If you prefer to take a daily tablet that does not interrupt when you have sex, you can request Cialis Daily. Cialis Daily is available as a 2.5mg and 5mg tablet and does not need to be taken before sexual activity. You take 1 Cialis Daily tablet every day without taking a break.

Cialis works by getting more blood to flow into the penis, so you can get an erection when you’re sexually aroused.

When you are sexually stimulated, your nerves release a chemical to make your blood vessels get wider. This allows blood to rush into your penis and cause an erection. Cialis helps keep this chemical in your blood so you can maintain an erection.

As this chemical is only released during sexual activity, you will only get an erection with Cialis when you feel like having sex.

Cialis is most effective when taken 30 minutes before you want to have sex and if you are sexually aroused.

The effects of Cialis will remain for around 36 hours, which means you can take fewer tablets throughout the week. This is suitable if you have frequent sex and do not want to take a tablet every time you have sex.

You may have a few or no side effects when taking Cialis. Some side effects of Cialis are more common than others. If a side effect is listed below, it does not mean you will definitely get it when you take Cialis.

Some common side effects of Cialis include:

• headache
• muscle aches
• back pain
• facial flushing
• nasal congestion
• indigestion

Uncommon side effects happen less often. These side effects will usually disappear after a few hours.

Uncommon side effects of Cialis include:

• dizziness
• feeling sick or being sick
• reflux
• blood in urine
• prolonged erections
• feeling your heartbeat
• a fast or irregular heartbeat
• changes to your blood pressure
• nosebleeds
• tiredness

If you get any side effects that do not go away after a few hours, speak to your doctor. They may suggest changing to an alternative ED medication.

You should stop taking Cialis and contact 999 right away if you have:

• an allergic reaction or a rash
• chest pain
• priapism (a prolonged erection that lasts for more than 4 hours)
• sudden loss of vision

If you get chest pain after taking Cialis, do not take medication that contains nitrates to relieve the pain. This includes glyceryl trinitrate spray or nitrate tablets.

For more details on the side effects of Cialis, read the patient information leaflet that is inside your pack.

You can take Cialis if you are a man over the age of 18 and struggle to get an erection when having sex.

You should not take Cialis if you:

• are a woman
• are under 18 years old
• are allergic to tadalafil or any other ingredients in Cialis
• are taking medicines that contain nitrates, such as nitroglycerin or isosorbide mononitrate
• are taking products that contain amyl nitrite (also called ‘poppers’)
• have a history of blood clots
• have blood pressure problems
• have a personal or family history of visual problems
• are taking riociguat, which is used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension

Speak to your doctor if you have:

• sickle cell anaemia
• multiple myeloma
• heart problems
• leukaemia
• any penis deformation, including Peyronie’s disease
• liver or kidney problems
• lactose intolerance

Your doctor will be able to advise whether Cialis is suitable for you to use.

For further information and guidance please read the Cialis patient information leaflet.

Cialis can interact with other medications that you might be taking.

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking:

• riociguat, used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension
• alpha-blockers, including doxazosin
• high blood pressure treatment
• 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, such as finasteride
• antifungal medication, such as ketoconazole and itraconazole
• protease inhibitors, like ritonavir used in HIV treatment
• epilepsy medication, including carbamazepine, phenytoin or phenobarbital
• antibiotics, including rifampicin, erythromycin and clarithromycin
• other erectile dysfunction treatments, such as alprostadil

If you take any of the above medications, your doctor can suggest the best Cialis dose that is most suitable for you or an alternative ED treatment.

If you want to try a different ED medication to Cialis, your options include:

• Viagra (also known as sildenafil)
• Levitra
• Spedra

These medications work in a similar way to Cialis.

While it is beneficial to use medication to treat erectile dysfunction, it is more helpful to find out the cause of your ED. Sometimes ED can occur due to side effects of other medications, such as antidepressants, or due to emotional stress. Psychotherapy can help you to understand if you have any emotional barriers that may be stopping you from getting an erection.

Your doctor will be able to help you find out if there are any underlying health conditions that may be causing your erectile dysfunction.