Tadalafil ((tah-DAL-a-fil) ) is a medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction in men. Erectile dysfunction is a condition where the penis does not harden and expand when a man is sexually excited, or when he cannot keep an erection. When a man is sexually stimulated, his body's normal response is to increase blood flow to his penis. This results in an erection. Tadalafil helps increase blood flow to the penis and may help men with erectile dysfunction get and keep an erection satisfactory for sexual activity. Once a man has completed sexual activity, blood flow to his penis decreases, and his erection goes away.
This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage forms:
Oral
Tablets (U.S.)
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For tadalafil, the following should be considered:
Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to tadalafil. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy—Tadalafil is for use in men only. Tadalafil has not been studied in pregnant women. Tadalafil has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in animals.
Breast-feeding—Tadalafil is for use in men only. It is not known whether tadalafil passes into human breast milk.
Children—Tadalafil is not for use in children.
Older adults—This medicine has been tested in a limited number of patients 65 years of age or older and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
Prior to taking , you should tell your healthcare provider if you have:
Heart disease (such as angina, congestive heart failure, or irregular heartbeats)
Liver disease or liver failure
A history of a heart attack, stroke, or life-threatening arrhythmia within the past six months
Retinitis pigmentosa, which is a rare eye problem
Low blood pressure (hypotension)
High blood pressure (hypertension)
A history of severe vision loss, including a condition called NAION
Stomach ulcers
Other bleeding problems
Sickle cell anemia
Multiple myeloma
Leukemia
A history of priapism, which is a painful erection lasting longer than six hours
Any condition that causes a penis deformation, such as angulation, Peyronie's disease, or cavernosal fibrosis
Any allergies.
Also, tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, antacids, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Who Should Not Take Cialis?
You should not take if:
You are allergic to any component of tadalafil. Your healthcare provider or pharmacist has a list of the inactive ingredients.
You are taking a nitrate. Nitrates are most commonly used to treat angina.
Overdose
There have been a limited number of cases in which people overdosed . In these cases, side effects were similar to those seen at lower doses. If you happen to overdose , seek medical attention immediately.
Strengths
There are several strengths available. These include:
Cialis 20 mg.
Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking tadalafil, it is especially important that your doctor and pharmacist know if you are taking any of the following:
Erectile dysfunction medicines—These medicines should not be used at the same time as tadalafil because the safety of using these medicines in combination has not been proven.
Nitrates (medicine used to treat chest pain [e.g., nitroglycerin])—These medicines should not be used at the same time as tadalafil because they can cause very low blood pressure and serious side effects.
Alcoholic beverages—Drinking alcohol can cause an increased chance of some side effects.
Alpha blockers, other than tamsulosin 0.4 mg taken once a day (medicine for high blood pressure)—These medicines should be used with caution when taken at the same time as tadalafil because they can cause very low blood pressure and serious side effects.
Erythromycin (e.g., Apo-erythro) or
Itraconazole (e.g., Sporanox) or
Ketoconazole (e.g., Nizoral) or
Grapefruit juice or
Ritonavir (e.g., Norvir) or
Saquinavir (e.g., Fortovase, Invirase)—These medicines or food may increase your chance of getting side effects.
Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of tadalafil. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
Age greater than 50 years or
Coronary artery disease or
Diabetes or
Hyperlipidemia (excess of lipids in the blood) or
Hypertension (high blood pressure) or
Low cup to disc ratio (“crowded disc”) or
Smoking—These conditions may increase risk for a serious eye problem called NAION.
Angina (reoccurring chest pain) or
Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) or
Hypotension (low blood pressure) or
Hypertension (high blood pressure) or
Stroke (recent history of) or
Heart attack (within the last 3 months) or
Heart failure (within the last 6 months) or
Retinal disorders (rare hereditary eye problem)—Tadalafil has not been studied in patients with these medical conditions and should not be used.
Kidney disease (severe)—Tadalafil should be used with caution in these patients and a lower dose may be needed.
Liver disease—Tadalafil should not be used in patients with serious liver disease; in patients with less serious liver disease, tadalafil should be used with caution and a lower dose may be needed.
Abnormal penis, including curved penis and birth defects of the penis—Chance of problems occurring may be increased and this medicine should be used with caution in these patients
Bleeding disorders or
Stomach ulcers—Chance of problems occurring may be increased; it is not known if the medicine is safe for use in these patients.
Heart disease, underlying—Chance of low blood pressure occurring is greater; tadalafil should be used carefully in these patients.
Heart blood flow problems—These conditions may cause you to be more sensitive to tadalafil.
Sickle-cell anemia (blood disorder) or
Bone marrow cancer or
Leukemia (blood related cancer)—Tadalafil should be used with caution in these patients as problems with prolonged erection of the penis may occur.
NAION (serious eye condition) in one or both eyes, previously—May increase your chance of getting NAION again.