Type: Phosphodiesterase inhibitor
Active ingredient: Tadalafil
Common use: Cialis is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor chiefly used to treat erectile dysfunction. In combination with sexual stimulation, Cialis helps the person to achieve and maintain an erection.
Developed by: Cialis was developed by Icos Corporation. The company was bought by Eli Lilly and Company who brought the drug to the market and marketed it worldwide. Eli Lilly and Company is almost 150 years old and has a stock market valuation of 130 billion dollars. The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and you can buy stock in the company using any stock broker such as TD Ameritrade or eTrade.
How to use: Unless otherwise ordered by your doctor, Cialis is taken orally with a glass of water. Cialis can be taken with or without food.
The recommended dose is 10 mg taken before sexual intercourse. It can take up to 30 minutes for the effect to show.
If 10 mg is not enough to get the desired effect, your doctor can prescribe 20 mg Cialis instead, unless underlying health issues / medications make that too risky.
If you expect to take Cialis two times a week or more, your doctor may prescribed a daily dose of 5 mg Cialis a day instead of 10 mg or 20 mg prior to sexual intercourse. Your 5 mg of Cialis should be taken at approximately the same time every day.
How to store: Store Cialis at room temperature in a tightly-closed container, and keep away from heat, light and moisture.
Warnings:
- Cialis is not intended for use in women or children.
- Cialis will not protect against sexually transmitted diseases.
- Do not use Cialis if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. Examples of symptoms of an allergic reaction are swelling, itching, rash, dizziness and trouble breathing.
- Always tell your doctor about all your underlying medical conditions and medical treatments.Before you take any other medicine while also using Cialis, check with your doctor or a pharmacist. This is recommended for both prescription medicine and over-the-counter medicine.
- Examples of medical conditions that it is especially important to inform your doctor about if you wish to use Cialis are heart problems, kidney problems, stomach ulcers, history of prolonged erections, history of painful erections, bleeding problems, blood cell problems (e.g. sickle cell anemia, myeloma or leukemia), eye diseases (especially those affecting the retina, e.g. retinitis pigmentosa), allergies and uncontrolled high blood pressure.
- Cialis is not recommended if you have a history of angina or chest pain, stroke, heart attack, low blood pressure, or severe liver problems.
- Do not use Cialis if you have been told by your health care provider to refrain from sexual activity.
- Very serious side-effects can occur if Cialis is combined with nitroglycerin, isosorbide, nitroprusside or other nitrate-based medications. Possible side-effects include a severe decrease in blood pressure, which in turn can lead to fainting, stroke or heart attack.
The recreational drugs commonly known as “poppers” are nitrates (usually isoamyl nitrite, isopentyl nitrite, cyclohexyl nitrite, isobutyl nitrite and/or isopropyl nitrite). Combining them with Cialis can therefore lead to a severe decrease in blood pressure, which in turn can lead to fainting, stroke or heart attack.
- Do not use Cialis if you are taking a certain alpha-blocker medicines, such as alfuzosin, doxazosin, prazosin, or terazosin. Talk to your doctor to find out if the alpha-blocker you are using can be safely combined with Cialis.
- If Cialis is combined with any other medicine to treat erectile dysfunction, additional monitoring of your dose may be needed.
- Additional monitoring of your dose or condition may be needed if you are taking certain antifungal medications, such as itraconazole or ketoconazole.
- Additional monitoring of your dose or condition may be needed if you are taking certain macrolide antibiotics, such as clarithromycin or erythromycin.
- Additional monitoring of your dose or condition may be needed if you are taking certain medicine for high blood pressure.
- Additional monitoring of your dose or condition may be needed if you are taking certain HIV protease inhibitors, such as ritonavir or indinavir.
- Cialis can cause dizziness or vision changes. Do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that can be dangerous until you know how you react to Cialis.
- To minimize dizziness or lightheadedness, to not rise rapidly from a lying or seated position.
- Alcohol can increase the risk of side-effects such as dizziness, lightheadedness and headeache.
- Do not increase the Cialis dose without first checking with your doctor.
- Sexual activity can put extra strain on your heart. Caution is warranted for those with heart problems. If you have heart problems and experience dizziness, chest pain, nausea or fainting, you should stop having sex and contact your doctor right away.
- Caution is advised for elderly persons, since they may be more sensitive to the side-effects of Cialis.
- Seek medical attention if the erection is painful and/or lasts for more than 4 hours.
Examples of reported side effects:
- Headache
- Flushing
- Stomach upset
- Nausea
- Heartburn
- Stuffy nose
- Runny nose
- Back pain
- Muscle pain
- Vision changes
- Trouble telling the difference between blue and green
- Seeing a blue tinge to objects
- Erection lasting more than 4 hours
- Painful erection