Cialis
Generic Name:
Tadalafil
Brand Names:
Cialis, Adcirca
Cialis Description:
Cialis, marketed by Eli Lilly & Co., is a phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor used to treat erectile dysfunction in men. Cialis tablets can be taken on an as-needed basis or as a once daily treatment.
Adcirca, another medication containing the active ingredient tadalafil, is approved as a once-daily treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
Cialis Uses:
Cialis is most often used to treat erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction is a condition in which the penis does not harden or expand when a male is aroused in a sexual manner. Erectile dysfunction also occurs when a male cannot maintain an erection.
Cialis helps increase blood flow to the penis, helping males with erectile dysfunction achieve and keep an erection that is satisfactory for sexual activity. Once a man has completed sexual activity, blood flow to his penis decreases and the erection should subside.
Tadalafil can also be used in higher doses in both men and women to treat the symptoms of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a serious disease of the small arteries in the lungs involving a narrowing of the blood vessels. Tadalafil increases the blood supply to the lungs and reduces the workload on the heart.
Cialis Interactions:
Using Cialis with the following medicines may increase the risk of certain side effects and should be done only with extreme caution, especially when using organic nitrates, alpha blockers, antihypertensives, or inhibitors of CYP3A4.
Discuss dosage with your doctor if you are currently taking any of the following medications:
- Alfuzosin
- Atazanavir
- Bunazosin
- Clarithromycin
- Doxazosin
- Erythrityl tetranitrate
- Erythromycin
- Indinavir
- Isosorbide dinitrate
- Isosorbide mononitrate
- Itraconazole
- Ketoconazole
- Moxisylyte
- Nefazodone
- Nelfinavir
- Nitroglycerin
- Pentaerythritol tetranitrate
- Phenoxybenzamine
- Phentolamine
- Prazosin
- Rifampin
- Ritonavir
- Saquinavir
- Tamsulosin
- Telithromycin
- Terazosin
- Tipranavir
- Trimazosin
- Urapidil
Cialis Dosage Information:
Typical Dosage Recommendation:
Cialis is available in 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg tablets and is taken on an as-needed basis or daily.
When Cialis is taken as needed, the recommended starting dose is 10 mg, taken prior to anticipated sexual activity and no more than once daily. The dose may be adjusted to 20 mg or 5 mg, based on individual response to the drug. Cialis can be effective for a 36-hour period after each dose.
When Cialis is taken daily, the recommended starting dose is 2.5 mg, taken at approximately the same time every day, without regard to timing of sexual activity. Dosage may be increased to 5 mg taken once daily, based on individual response to the drug.
Adcirca, taken for treatment of PAH, is prescribed as a 40 mg, once-daily dose.
Missing a Dose:
Because Cialis is often administered on an ‘as needed’ basis, there are no complications with missing a dose. If you are using Cialis daily or for blood pressure problems, consult your doctor if you have missed a dose.
Overdosing:
Overdose is very unlikely with Cialis, and single doses of up to 500 mg have been given to healthy subjects with adverse events similar to those seen at lower doses.
Cialis FDA Approval:
November 21, 2003
Cialis Recall/Black Box Warning Information:
There are no recalls or Black Box warnings for Cialis.
Other Warnings:
Concurrent Use of Cialis
In July 2009, there were reported contraindications, hypersensitivity reactions, and warnings and precautions added for those using Cialis in combination with other PDE5 inhibitors or erectile dysfunction therapies.
Optic Stroke
In July 2005, the FDA issued an alert that some men using Cialis have reported suffering from optic stroke, a serious condition in which there is a sudden loss of eyesight due to blocked blood flow to the optic nerve.
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