Is Cialis Over the Counter?

You’re with your partner, the lights are low and you’ve pressed play on your “Sexy Time” playlist. There’s just one thing missing: an erection. 

This is where Cialis® comes in. 

Cialis, the brand name for tadalafil, is FDA-approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED).

One dose of Cialis can prevent ED for a whopping 36 hours — which earned it the nickname the “weekend pill.” Cialis dwarfs Viagra® in comparison, which lasts four hours, max.

That all sounds great, but now for the big question: Can you get Cialis without a doctor’s prescription? The answer: Nope.

Whomp, whomp.

Don’t let that put you off, though. Read on to find out how to get Cialis (it’s easier than you may think), how old you have to be to get it and why you should be wary of over-the-counter (OTC) ED pills.

Can You Buy Cialis Over the Counter?

No, you can’t buy Cialis without a doctor prescription. Though it doesn’t necessarily have to be from a doctor (MD) — some other medical professionals can prescribe medication, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

Cialis is a serious prescription drug. It’s a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor — or PDE5 inhibitor for short.

Among other things, it works as a vasodilator. That means Cialis can open up your blood vessels and increase blood flow to your penis.

It’s not a magic pill, though. You still need sexual stimulation to get and maintain an erection when tadalafil is in your system.

Why Isn’t Cialis Over-the-Counter?

There were talks of Cialis making the jump from a prescription medication to an over-the-counter one. But on-demand Cialis hasn’t yet come to fruition, even if you can get it from an online doctor and online pharmacy.

So you may not be able to get Cialis over the counter just yet, but you can get a prescription relatively easily — if the drug is suitable for you. 

The same goes for tadalafil, the generic version of Cialis. Learn more about tadalafil uses and the ideal tadalafil dosage in our guides.

How to Get a Cialis Prescription 

Whether you want as-needed Cialis or daily Cialis, you’ll need a prescription. Here’s how to get one.

Visit Your Primary Care Provider 

Your primary care provider can be your first point of contact for any and all health issues — including ED.

We know it can be embarrassing to talk about your sex life — especially when it’s not going well — but erectile dysfunction is common. It affects about 30 million men in the United States alone. So don’t be afraid to reach out and get treatment. 

Tell your telehealth or healthcare provider if you’re experiencing symptoms of ED. These include:

• Sometimes having trouble getting an erection 

• Always having trouble getting an erection

• Having trouble keeping an erection long enough for sexual intercourse  

Remember, you’re highly unlikely to be the first person to bring up erectile problems with your provider — they’ve seen and heard it all.

That said, we know speaking about ED with a doctor you’ve had for years — perhaps one you’re on friendly terms with — can feel very uncomfortable. If that’s the case, you can get primary care online.

Meet With a Urologist 

Another way to get a Cialis prescription is to skip your general doctor and go straight to a specialist — a urologist, that is.

A urologist is a physician specializing in diseases of the urinary tract — think kidneys and bladder. They also treat problems with male reproductive organs, including the penis, testes, scrotum, and prostate. And yes, that includes ED. 

You might feel more comfortable discussing your sexual activity — or lack thereof — with a healthcare provider you’ve never met before. In some cases, a urologist can more effectively prescribe treatment options.

Look for an erectile dysfunction doctor or ED clinic in your area to get a Cialis prescription through an in-person visit.

Have an Online Medical Consultation 

While your local pharmacy may be a short drive away, Cialis prescriptions are available with an online medical consultation too.

You can connect with one of our licensed healthcare providers from home (or anywhere you have internet access). After answering a few questions about your symptoms, they might write you a Cialis prescription, which you can get with discreet delivery to your door. 

Simple.

Start an online consultation to get Cialis from Hims. We also offer generic tadalafil and other ED treatments, such as Viagra® (sildenafil) and our chewable hard mints.

Generic Cialis is the cheaper option. Check out our tadalafil cost guide for a pricing breakdown.

Can You Be Too Young for a Cialis Prescription? 

ED doesn’t discriminate based on age — you can experience ED in your 30s — or even your 20s.

Yes, it’s true you’re more likely to get ED if you’re older. But it can be caused by health conditions men of all ages experience, such as:

• Type 2 diabetes

• Hypertension (high blood pressure) 

• Injury to the penis, spinal cord, prostate, bladder, or pelvis   

• Anxiety and depression 

• Certain medications, like antidepressants and blood pressure meds 

Unhealthy lifestyle habits might also make ED worse, including: 

• Smoking 

• Drinking 

• Doing illegal drugs

• Being overweight

• Not being physically active

So no matter your age, erectile dysfunction can happen. 

Luckily, Cialis can be used by men over 18. And research shows tadalafil is an effective treatment for ED at any age. Phew.

The Risks of Buying Over-the-Counter “Cialis” 

Maybe you’ve seen an over-the-counter Cialis substitute, and you’re tempted to give it a go. The reality of these so-called substitutes is that they aren’t FDA-approved, and they come with risks.

Some research suggests that certain supplements like L-arginine can help ED, but most herbal remedies don’t have much evidence behind their claims.  

So if you take an herbal supplement that promises to help you get hard, you may find it doesn’t work as well as prescription medication — or, more likely, it won’t work at all.

You’re not just wasting your time and money, though. Some over-the-counter ED drugs come with serious health risks, like priapism (a painful erection lasting four or more hours).

Besides the active ingredients, OTC substitutes for treating ED may contain hidden substances not listed on the product labels. This poses a risk of serious side effects or drug interactions with other medications you’re taking, such as nitrates.

The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) keeps a database of tainted sexual enhancement products you can access online — but the agency says this is only a small fraction of them.

Our advice? Skip the herbal substitutes and go for the real thing. Talk to a healthcare professional and get a prescription for Cialis or another FDA-approved ED treatment.

Getting a Prescription for Cialis 

If you have trouble getting and maintaining erections, you want to be in the best condition you can the next time intimacy is on the table. Cialis can help.

Lasting up to 36 hours, Cialis dwarfs Viagra in comparison, which lasts roughly four hours. The active ingredient, tadalafil, can even help manage benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

In either case, you’ll need a prescription from a licensed medical provider. 

Here’s what you need to know about getting a Cialis prescription: 

• You can’t get Cialis without a doctor prescription. Speak to your primary care provider, see a urologist, or consult a licensed provider online to get Cialis or any other prescription ED pills.

• You can get Cialis with an online medical consultation. You don’t need to leave home to get a prescription. Connect virtually with a medical professional and get Cialis online.

• OTC Cialis substitutes come with health risks. They may contain hidden active ingredients or simply not work. 

If you’re considering Cialis, you can learn about how Cialis works and the common side effects of Cialis in our guides.

And remember, if the drug isn’t suitable for you, other erectile dysfunction treatments are out there. Learn how ED medications work to brush up on your options.