Cialis is a prescription medicine taken by mouth for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. ED is a condition where the penis does not harden and expand when a man is sexually excited, or when he cannot keep an erection. Cialis may help a man with ED get and keep an erection when he is sexually excited.
Prescribed by U.S. doctors and dispensed by U.S. pharmacists.
What important information should you know about Cialis?
Cialis can cause your blood pressure to drop suddenly to an unsafe level if it
is taken with certain other medicines. You could get dizzy, faint, or have a heart
attack or stroke.
Do not take Cialis if you:
• take any medicines called “nitrates.”
• use recreational drugs called “poppers” like amyl nitrate and butyl nitrate.
• take medicines called alpha blockers, other than Flomax® (tamsulosin HCl) 0.4
mg daily.
(See “Who should not take Cialis?”)
Tell all your healthcare providers that you take Cialis. If you need emergency
medical care for a heart problem, it will be important for your healthcare provider
to know when you last took Cialis.
After taking a single tablet, some of the active ingredient of Cialis remains
in your body for more than 2 days. The active ingredient can remain longer if
you have problems with your kidneys or liver, or you are taking certain other
medications (see “Can other medications affect Cialis?”).
What is Cialis?
Cialis is a prescription medicine taken by mouth for the treatment of erectile
dysfunction (ED) in men.
ED is a condition where the penis does not harden and expand when a man is sexually
excited, or when he cannot keep an erection. A man who has trouble getting or
keeping an erection should see his doctor for help if the condition bothers him.
Cialis may help a man with ED get and keep an erection when he is sexually excited.
Cialis does not:
• cure ED
• increase a man’s sexual desire
• protect a man or his partner from sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.
Speak to your doctor about ways to guard against sexually transmitted diseases.
• serve as a male form of birth control
Cialis is only for men with ED. Cialis is not for women or children. Cialis must
be used
only under a doctor’s care.
How does Cialis work?
When a man is sexually stimulated, his body’s normal physical response is to increase
blood flow to his penis. This results in an erection. Cialis helps increase blood
flow to the penis and may help men with ED 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.
Who can take Cialis?
Talk to your doctor to decide if Cialis is right for you.
Cialis has been shown to be effective in men over the age of 18 years who have
erectile dysfunction, including men with diabetes or who have undergone prostatectomy.
Who should not take Cialis?
Do not take Cialis if you:
• take any medicines called “nitrates” (See “What important information should
you know about Cialis?”). Nitrates are commonly used to treat angina. Angina is
a symptom of heart disease and can cause pain in your chest, jaw, or down your
arm. Medicines called nitrates include nitroglycerin that is found in tablets,
sprays, ointments, pastes, or patches. Nitrates can also be found in other medicines
such as isosorbide dinitrate or isosorbide mononitrate. Some recreational drugs
called “poppers” also contain nitrates, such as amyl nitrate and butyl nitrate.
Do not use Cialis if you are using these drugs. Ask your doctor or pharmacist
if you are not sure if any of your medicines are nitrates.
• take medicines called “alpha blockers”, other than Flomax® 0.4 mg daily. Alpha
blockers are sometimes prescribed for prostate problems or high blood pressure.
If Cialis is taken with alpha blockers other than Flomax® 0.4 mg daily, your blood
pressure could suddenly drop to an unsafe level. You could get dizzy and faint.
• you have been told by your healthcare provider to not have sexual activity because
of health problems. Sexual activity can put an extra strain on your heart, especially
if your heart is already weak from a heart attack or heart disease.
• are allergic to Cialis or any of its ingredients. The active ingredient in Cialis
is called tadalafil. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients.
What should you discuss with your doctor before taking Cialis?
Before taking Cialis, tell your doctor about all your medical problems, including
if you:
• have heart problems such as angina, heart failure, irregular heartbeats, or
have had a heart attack. Ask your doctor if it is safe for you to have sexual
activity.
• have low blood pressure or have high blood pressure that is not controlled
• have had a stroke
• have liver problems
• have kidney problems or require dialysis
• have retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic (runs in families) eye disease
• have stomach ulcers
• have a bleeding problem
• have a deformed penis shape or Peyronie’s disease
• have had an erection that lasted more than 4 hours
• have blood cell problems such as sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or leukemia
Can other medications affect Cialis?
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription
medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Cialis and other medicines may affect
each other. Always check with your doctor before starting or stopping any medicines.
Especially tell your doctor if you take any of the following:
• medicines called nitrates (See “What important information should you know about
Cialis?”)
• medicines called alpha blockers. These include Hytrin® (terazosin HCl), Flomax®
(tamsulosin HCl), Cardura® (doxazosin mesylate), Minipress® (prazosin HCl) or
Uroxatral® (alfuzosin HCl).
• ritonavir (Norvir®) or indinavir (Crixivan®)
• ketoconazole or itraconazole (such as Nizoral® or Sporanox®)
• erythromycin
• other medicines or treatments for ED
How should you take Cialis?
Take Cialis exactly as your doctor prescribes. Cialis comes in different doses
(5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg). For most men, the recommended starting dose is 10 mg.
Cialis should be taken no more than once a day. Some men can only take a low dose
of Cialis because of medical conditions or medicines they take. Your doctor will
prescribe the dose that is right for you.
• If you have kidney problems, your doctor may start you on a lower dose of Cialis.
• If you have kidney or liver problems or you are taking certain medications,
your doctor may limit your highest dose of Cialis to 10 mg and may also limit
you to one tablet in 48 hours (2 days) or one tablet in 72 hours (3 days).
Take one Cialis tablet before sexual activity. In some patients, the ability to
have sexual activity was improved at 30 minutes after taking Cialis when compared
to a sugar pill. The ability to have sexual activity was improved up to 36 hours
after taking Cialis when compared to a sugar pill. You and your doctor should
consider this in deciding when you should take Cialis prior to sexual activity.
Some form of sexual stimulation is needed for an erection to
happen with Cialis. Cialis may be taken with or without meals.
Do not change your dose of Cialis without talking to your doctor. Your doctor
may lower your dose or raise your dose, depending on how your body reacts to Cialis.
Do not drink alcohol to excess when taking Cialis (for example, 5 glasses of wine
or 5 shots of whiskey). When taken in excess, alcohol can increase your chances
of getting a headache or getting dizzy, increasing your heart rate, or lowering
your blood pressure.
If you take too much Cialis, call your doctor or emergency room right away.
What are the possible side effects of Cialis?
The most common side effects with Cialis are headache, indigestion, back pain,
muscle aches, flushing, and stuffy or runny nose. These side effects usually go
away after a few hours. Patients who get back pain and muscle aches usually get
it 12 to 24 hours after taking Cialis. Back pain and muscle aches usually go away
by themselves within 48 hours. Call your doctor if you get a side effect that
bothers you or one that will not go away.
Cialis may uncommonly cause:
• an erection that won’t go away (priapism). If you get an erection that lasts
more than 4 hours, get medical help right away. Priapism must be treated as soon
as possible or lasting damage can happen to your penis including the inability
to have erections.
• vision changes, such as seeing a blue tinge to objects or having difficulty
telling the difference between the colors blue and green.
These are not all the side effects of Cialis. For more information, ask your doctor
or pharmacist.
How should Cialis be stored?
• Store Cialis at room temperature between 59° and 86°F (15° and 30°C).
• Keep Cialis and all medicines out of the reach of children.
General Information about Cialis:
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for conditions other than those described in
patient information leaflets. Do not use Cialis for a condition for which it was
not prescribed. Do not give Cialis to other people, even if they have the same
symptoms that you have. It may harm them.
This leaflet summarizes the most important information about Cialis. If you would
like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your doctor
or pharmacist for information about Cialis that is written for health professionals.
