Tadalafil is a medication you’ve probably never heard of — until you find yourself in the position to need it. To be fair, most people are more acquainted with its brand-name offering, Cialis®.
Believe it or not, millions of men the world over have turned to Cialis for help with numerous health conditions.
Maybe you’re looking up tadalafil facts or need guidance for managing erectile dysfunction (ED). We’ll cover all the basics here, but know the instructions and safety protocols for using it are going to be the same as with Cialis.
Below, we’ll summarize how this medication can be used, what it does and what schedule to follow to use it safely. (Hint: It changes situationally). We’ll also go over potential health risks and what could happen if tadalafil isn’t used correctly — or under the care of a healthcare professional.
Tadalafil belongs to a category of prescription medications known as phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors.
The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) approved this medication in 2003. However, PDE5 inhibitors have been commercially available since 1998, following the introduction of sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra®).
PDE5 inhibitors block the PDE5 enzyme, which results in relaxed, smooth muscle in the blood vessels. This improves blood flow throughout the body, including to the penis.
Though tadalafil is probably best known as a treatment for erectile dysfunction, it can also help with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and a type of high blood pressure (hypertension) in the lungs’ blood vessels.
Since PDE5 inhibitors help relax the smooth muscle cells in the arteries that supply the penis, they can encourage more blood to flow to the erectile tissues. This makes erections possible for guys who experience difficulty getting or maintaining an erection.
Cialis and its generic version, tadalafil, work similarly to other popular medications for erectile dysfunction (ED), including Viagra®. However, tadalafil offers a unique feature — it can be used as needed before sex or daily for more spontaneous sexual encounters.
Symptoms of ED include:
Having difficulty getting an erection
Being unable to maintain an erection long enough for satisfying sex
Getting erections that aren’t as hard as you want them to be
Secondary symptoms of ED may include low self-confidence, anxiety, relationship problems, and loss of libido.
If you can’t decide whether to use Cialis or tadalafil, here’s what you should know — the medications work exactly the same. The only difference between Cialis vs. tadalafil for ED is that tadalafil costs less.
BPH is a complicated term for an enlarged prostate — a condition common among aging men. Untreated benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms could lead to bladder or kidney problems down the road.
Symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia include:
Feeling like your bladder is always full
Weak flow of urine
Straining while peeing
Difficulty emptying your bladder
Urgent urination
Research indicates that tadalafil can improve the quality of life and symptoms of BPH for men with erectile dysfunction.
Tadalafil tablets prescribed for pulmonary hypertension (PAH) are sold under the brand name Adcirca®. PAH is a type of high blood pressure in the lungs that can damage the lungs and heart over time.
While both Cialis and Adcirca use the same active ingredient, tadalafil, Adcirca’s dosage is much higher.
Symptoms of PAH include:
Shortness of breath, even at rest
Dizziness and fainting
Chest pain
Fatigue
Swelling
Lightheadedness
Cough
Tadalafil dosage and dosing frequency depend on how and why you use the medication.
As we mentioned before, for erectile dysfunction, you can take a dose of tadalafil once daily or as needed before sex. When the medication is in your system, it can help you achieve an erection after being exposed to some form of sexual stimulation (whether it’s foreplay with a partner, porn, or even tantalizing thoughts).
Tadalafil is effective for up to 36 hours and stays in the body longer than other ED medications. That’s why it’s often called the “weekend pill.” For someone with a regular or frequent sex life, taking a once-daily dose allows for more spontaneity. You don’t have to time your dose right before the sexual encounter because the medication is already built up in your system.
On the other hand, as-needed tadalafil can be much more affordable simply because you’re buying fewer pills. Even if your dosage is increased or decreased from the 10 milligrams (mg) starting dose, you’ll still pay less over time with as-needed use.
When taken once daily, tadalafil is prescribed at a dose of 2.5 mg or 5 mg.
For the treatment of BPH, daily tadalafil is taken in 5 mg dosages.
For pulmonary arterial hypertension, the dose of tadalafil is 40 mg daily.
Tadalafil should be taken as prescribed by your healthcare provider, usually at the same time each day — unless, of course, it’s being used as needed for erectile dysfunction.
If your sexual activity or prostate health is in question, tadalafil could be an essential solution to the management of those problems.
But even though this medication is considered safe and well-tolerated for long-term use, it’s crucial to know about the potential drug interactions and side effects.
With every prescription drug, there’s a risk of side effects.
Common side effects of tadalafil include:
Headache
Indigestion
Back pain
Nasal congestion (stuffy nose)
Limb pain (in the arms or legs)
Flushing
Muscle pain
Serious side effects require medical attention. These include hearing loss, sudden loss of vision, and prolonged erection (priapism).
Allergic reactions are rare, but they can happen with any medication. Additionally, tadalafil sometimes reacts poorly when combined with alcohol, certain supplements, nitrites, nitrates (like nitroglycerin or amyl nitrate, also known as Poppers), alpha-blockers, and antihypertensives.
Other tadalafil interactions may occur with:
Erythromycin
Ketoconazole
Vardenafil
Clarithromycin
Doxazosin
Itraconazole
Ritonavir
Rifampin
Riociguat
Tamsulosin
Isosorbide mononitrate
Isosorbide dinitrate
Your healthcare provider also needs to know if you’re being treated for or have conditions like:
Heart disease and heart problems like angina
Liver disease
Kidney disease
Sickle cell anemia
Leukemia
Myeloma
Peyronie’s disease (deformed penis shape)
Ulcers
Retinitis pigmentosa (eye disease affecting the retina)
Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease
If you’re taking tadalafil, you should avoid drinking grapefruit juice, as it can affect the metabolism of the medication and lead to a higher risk of side effects.
Whether you’re on your way to pick up a tadalafil prescription or doing some Google searches ahead of your urology appointment, you can rest easy. Like other PDE5 inhibitors, tadalafil is safe when taken as prescribed, ED is common, and this treatment path is effective for many men.
Here are the key takeaways from what we’ve discussed:
Tadalafil is a PDE5 inhibitor with many uses. It’s commonly prescribed for ED, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Tadalafil can be prescribed at varying doses depending on your needs. When taken once daily for erectile dysfunction, tadalafil is prescribed at a dose of 2.5 mg or 5 mg. For the treatment of BPH, daily tadalafil is taken in 5 mg dosages. For pulmonary arterial hypertension, the dose of tadalafil is 40 mg daily.
Tadalafil is one of many options for erectile dysfunction medications. Other options include sildenafil (and brand-name Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra®), and avanafil (Stendra®). These medications can even be taken in discreet forms, like Hims chewable hard mints.
Get medical advice from a healthcare provider today to find out if tadalafil is right for you. And read more on how long tadalafil lasts, tadalafil dosage, and potential side effects.
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