[7] Tadalafil is a PDE5 inhibitor which increases blood flow to the penis.
[7] Onset is typically within half an hour and the duration is up to 36 hours. Common side effects include headache, muscle pain, flushing, and nausea. [7] Caution is advised in those with cardiovascular disease. [7] Rare but serious side effects include a prolonged erection that can lead to damage to the penis, vision problems, and hearing loss. [7] Tadalafil is not recommended in people taking nitrovasodilators such as nitroglycerin, as this may result in a serious drop in blood pressure. [7] It also dilates blood vessels in the lungs, which lowers the pulmonary artery pressure. Tadalafil was approved for medical use in the United States in 2003.
[7] It is available as a generic medication. [8] In 2022, it was the 172nd most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 3 million prescriptions.
Tadalafil is used to treat erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and pulmonary arterial hypertension. [7] In the United States, tadalafil (as Cialis) is indicated for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and the signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia;[4] and (as Adcirca) for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension to improve exercise ability.
| Product | Dosage | Quantity + Bonus | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cialis Professional | 20mg | 60 + 2 Pills | 183.83€ 175.08€ | |
| Kamagra | 100mg | 180 + 6 Pills | 436.79€ 415.99€ | |
| Kamagra Gold | 50 mg | 32 Pills | 103.06€ 98.15€ | |
| Apcalis SX Oral Jelly | 20mg | 10 Sachets | 58.75€ 55.95€ | |
| Apcalis SX Oral Jelly | 20mg | 30 + 5 Sachets | 141.84€ 135.09€ | |
| Tadalista Super Active | 20mg | 10 Pills | 55.64€ 52.99€ | |
| Levitra Soft Tabs | 20mg | 180 + 10 Pills | 398.14€ 379.18€ | |
| Cialis Generic | 5mg | 90 + 6 Pills | 115.91€ 110.39€ | |
| Apcalis SX Oral Jelly | 20mg | 120 + 13 Sachets | 280.38€ 267.03€ | |
| Cialis Soft Tabs | 20mg | 60 + 4 Pills | 159.37€ 151.78€ | |
| Cialis Super Active | 20mg | 60 + 8 Pills | 230.32€ 219.35€ | |
| Apcalis SX Oral Jelly | 20mg | 70 + 7 Sachets | 184.98€ 176.17€ | |
| Cialis Generic | 40mg | 360 + 10 Pills | 477.87€ 455.11€ | |
| Apcalis SX Oral Jelly | 20mg | 17 + 4 Sachets | 95.52€ 90.97€ | |
| Apcalis SX Oral Jelly | 20mg | 50 + 6 Sachets | 146.39€ 139.42€ |
A meta‐analysis found that tadalafil is an effective treatment for lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia and that such treatment had a low rate of adverse effects. [11] Tadalafil is FDA-approved for males as a therapy to treat and prevent symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, such as urinary urgency, hesitancy, weak stream, dribbling, and incontinence.
| Indication | Recommended Dosage | Onset of Action | Duration of Effect | Contraindications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erectile Dysfunction | 10 mg taken 30-60 min before activity | 30-60 min | Up to 36 hours | Nitrate medication, severe cardiovascular conditions |
| Pulmonary Hypertension | 20 mg once daily | 30 min | 4-6 hours | Liver impairment, hypersensitivity |
| BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) | 5 mg daily | N/A | N/A | Severe hepatic impairment |
Tadalafil was found to have similar benefits for lower urinary tract symptoms as the usually prescribed tamsulosin.
They’re both PDE5 inhibitors that help achieve the same goal. Your doctor can help you decide which would be best for you, but there’s no need to take both. While all ED medications help achieve the same goal, they differ in dosage, length of effects, and potential side effects. Consider all of these factors when determining which ED medication might work best for you. If you have ED, consider talking with your doctor about Viagra and Cialis.
Tell your doctor if you take other over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription drugs or supplements. Be sure to mention all other health conditions you have. When used correctly, each of these drugs has been shown to help people with ED. Take them exactly as your doctor prescribes, and be sure to let them know if you have questions or concerns. All of these medications have been shown to produce good results, but it may take a little time and patience to find the right one for your needs.
If one drug does not work or causes unpleasant side effects, you can try another one. It may also take some trial and error to find the dosage that works best for you. If you’re not sure that using ED medication is right for you, you can also give natural ED treatments a try. If you’re considering natural ED treatments, talk with your doctor or a healthcare professional first to learn more about risks, benefits, and potential drug interactions. Tadalafil, sold under the brand name Cialis among others, is a medication used to treat erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Tadalafil is approved in the United States, Canada, and Japan to improve exercise ability in people with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
| Active Ingredient | Dosage | Inactive Components | Tablet Shape | Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tadalafil | 10 mg | Lactose, Crospovidone | Round | Yellow |
| Tadalafil | 10 mg | Corn starch, Sodium Starch Glycolate | Round | Yellow |
| Tadalafil | 10 mg | Silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate | Round | Yellow |
| Tadalafil | 10 mg | Cellulose, gelatin | Round | Yellow |
The most common potential side effects when using tadalafil are headache, stomach discomfort or pain, indigestion, burping, acid reflux, back pain, myalgia (pain in limbs and extremities), flushing, hypertension (or uncommonly hypotension), and stuffy/runny nose. [7] Also common are dizziness, peripheral edema, fatigue, and urinary or respiratory tract infection; both diarrhea and constipation have been reported. [7] Diarrhea was reported more frequently in patients 65 or older than in younger subjects. [4] These side effects reflect the ability of PDE5 inhibition to cause vasodilation (causing blood vessels to widen) and usually resolve after a few hours.
Your local pharmacy should be able to share their price with you ahead of sending in your prescription. Unless prescribed by a doctor, online ED medications are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They may contain ineffective or harmful ingredients. If you have health insurance, keep in mind that most insurance companies will not cover the cost of your prescription. But if you have certain medical conditions, your insurance plan may pay for the drug with prior authorization.
The exact price you pay for any drug will depend on your insurance plan, if you have one, and your pharmacy. If you’re on a tighter budget, it’s also worth considering generic versions of Viagra and Cialis. They can be just as effective at treating ED and are available at a fraction of the cost. If your insurance company covers brand-name ED medications, they’re very likely to cover generics, too, which will bring down the price even further. If your insurance plan doesn’t cover ED medication or you don’t have insurance, you can still get FDA-approved medication through a reputable source — but the price will be higher.
Online ED treatment companies, like Roman, Hims, and RexMD, all offer ED medication (brand name and generic) even without insurance. Because these medications require a doctor’s prescription, you’ll need to meet with a doctor first. Most of these online providers allow you to meet with a licensed doctor in your state virtually. These prices can vary based on your state, subscription package discounts, and whether you have the prescription mailed to you or filled through a pharmacy. Here’s a quick look at what you can generally expect to pay* through these services: *Note that prices are accurate at the time of publish. In May 2005, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that tadalafil (along with other PDE5 inhibitors) was associated with vision impairment related to NAION (non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy).
| Parameter | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Absorption | Peak plasma concentrations in 2 hours | Food slightly delays absorption |
| Half-life | Approx. 17.5 hours | Allows once daily dosing |
| Metabolism | Liver (CYP3A4 enzyme) | No dose adjustment needed in mild impairment |
| Excretion | Feces (61%), Urine (36%) | -- |
[16] Most, but not all, of these patients, had underlying anatomic or vascular risk factors for the development of NAION, unrelated to PDE5 inhibitor use.
Our Medical Standards and Insights team has carefully researched and vetted over 11,000 products and services. We evaluate services for consistency with standards of care and best practices, and we look into each brand’s reputation before sharing products and services on Healthline. To choose the services on this page, we considered all the ED treatment services that passed our vetting process. Then, we scored each service to narrow down our list even further. Each drug comes with the risk of drug interactions.
Since PDE5 inhibitors work on the body in similar ways, Viagra and Cialis lead to similar interactions. nitrates, such as isosorbide mononitrate (Monoket) and nitroglycerin (Nitrostat) certain blood pressure drugs, such as calcium channel blockers alpha-blockers, which can treat high blood pressure or an enlarged prostate certain pulmonary hypertension drugs, such as riociguat (Adempas) protease inhibitors, a class of HIV medications antifungal drugs, such as ketoconazole and itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox) Avoid drinking alcohol excessively while on any PDE5 inhibitor. Do not combine them with different ED drugs. Cialis may also be less effective if used alongside antiseizure medications such as carbamazepine (Tegretol) and phenobarbital. For specifics on which medications are safe for you to use, it’s best to consult your doctor or pharmacist.
In some cases, using these medications may mean you need to completely avoid PDE5 inhibitors. In other cases, your doctor or a healthcare professional may adjust your medication dosage, which can help lower the possibility of drug interactions while using PDE5 inhibitors. It’s normal to lose your erection sometimes. Several factors can cause short-term erection issues, from anxiety and stress to just simply not being aroused or interested in a sexual encounter. But if you’re having difficulties getting an erection or maintaining an erection throughout sex several times a week for longer than 4 weeks, it may be worth talking with a doctor to see whether you may be experiencing ED. [7] The FDA concluded that they were not able to draw a cause and effect relationship, only an association; the label of all three PDE5 inhibitors was changed to alert clinicians to that fact.
A 2019 meta-analysis found that tadalafil exposure was not associated with NAION.
While ED can be more common as someone ages, it can affect males at almost any age. Talk with your doctor about what you have been experiencing. Ask them about what treatments they recommend. Sometimes, just making lifestyle adaptations, like to your nutrition, work routine, or home life, can improve ED symptoms. If your doctor believes you could benefit from ED medication, they can discuss your treatment options and prescribe the best ED medication for you.
Also, your doctor can check in with you if you start to experience any side effects from using Viagra or a similar ED medication. Although Cialis and Viagra are both PDE5 inhibitors that boost nitric oxide in your body to help with ED, they’re different medications. Cialis comes in a lower dose than Viagra and can be taken daily. Also, the effects of Cialis last longer than the effects of Viagra. It depends on the individual and the level of arousal.
It’s recommended that you take Cialis oral jelly apcalis 30 minutes before engaging in sexual activity, but it may take as long as 2 hours to take effect. Cialis also requires sexual stimulation in order to work, so arousal also factors into this equation. Both medications are meant to help you maintain an erection long enough to have sex. However, medications like Viagra aren’t approved to treat premature ejaculation. It’s unnecessary to take Viagra and Cialis together. In October 2007, the FDA announced that the labeling for all PDE5 inhibitors, including tadalafil, requires a more prominent warning of the potential risk of sudden hearing loss as the result of post-marketing reports of deafness associated with use of PDE5 inhibitors.