So, you got over your embarrassment or perhaps it is your desperation to save the relationship that has finally pushed you to seek help from your doctor about your impotence, which is also known as erectile dysfunction. You are not alone. While the risk of developing erectile dysfunction increases the older you get, approximately 50% of men between the ages of 40 and 70 years are estimated to have experienced it.
Why do I have Erectile Dysfunction?
People with erectile dysfunction may often have other emotional or physical health problems. Sometimes these health problems may even have contributed to the development of erectile dysfunction. For example, you may have diabetes, neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis or stroke, conditions of the heart affecting blood flow such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure, or even emotional conditions such as anxiety and depression.
Certain medications used to treat these, and other health conditions may affect blood flow through your body and contribute to causing or worsening erectile dysfunction. This includes drugs used to treat heart conditions, mental health conditions, cancer chemotherapy or certain hormones. However, it is not just prescribed drugs that can cause erectile dysfunction. Abuse of other substances such as alcohol or drugs like cocaine and amphetamines can result in erectile dysfunction.
What do I need to know about taking Cialis?
As discussed above, many men with erectile dysfunction have other health problems as well. They will, therefore, more likely be taking medications to manage those conditions. You must tell your doctor all the medicines that you are taking so that together you can make an informed decision about how best to manage your erectile dysfunction.
The active ingredient in Cialis is tadalafil. But what are the differences? Tadalafil is one of several similar drugs called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors that are used to treat erectile dysfunction like Viagra. It is probably not an overstatement to say that the development of these drugs has changed the lives of many men and undoubtedly helped save relationships from falling apart.
You should be aware that apart from erectile dysfunction, Cialis can also be used to treat the signs and symptoms of a non-cancerous enlarged prostate, referred to medically as benign prostatic hyperplasia. The dose of Cialis used for this condition differs from that used to treat erectile dysfunction. It is, therefore, important that you follow the instructions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist, and take the correct dose for erectile dysfunction.
Taking the correct dose is also important, so you can avoid or reduce the likelihood of experiencing side effects of Cialis. When taken as prescribed, most men will have few, if any, problems while taking Cialis.
Before we look at what dose of Cialis you should take, you need to know that people with certain conditions problems should not take Cialis at all. Some of these conditions are described below.
- Cialis/Tadalafil has not been studied in people with the rare genetic eye disease, retinitis pigmentosa and should not take the drug.
- Women and males under the age of 18 years should not take Cialis. It has been studied only in men over the age of 18 years.
- You should not take Cialis if you have a known allergy to the drug or any of the ingredients in the tablet.
If you have certain other conditions, then you may still be able to take Cialis, but need to take extra care when using it. For example:
- Cialis may cause priapism, which is a painful, prolonged erection and considered a medical emergency. It is more likely to happen if you have problems that affect your blood cells, e.g. sickle cell anaemia, multiple myeloma, and leukaemia; or if you have a curved or deformed penis or Peyronie’s disease.
- If you have heart disease, sexual activity may worsen your condition. Therefore, you should not take Cialis if your doctor has advised against sexual activity.
- Liver problems, kidney disease or dialysis may prevent your body from getting rid of Cialis properly resulting in the drug remaining in your body longer and potentially increasing your risk of experiencing side effects.
- Cialis may cause or worsen bleeding disorders or peptic ulcers.
In these circumstances, your doctor may decide to start you on a lower dose of Cialis, reduce the number of times you can take it or not prescribe it at all. They may also keep a closer eye on you while are taking the drug.
If you have a prescription for Cialis, then your doctor will have assessed you and decided there is no reason you cannot try Cialis for your erectile dysfunction.
Cialis & Tadalafil (As Needed)
£16.98 – £260.00
Cialis works in a similar way to Viagra and is quicker acting and lasts longer. It can be taken when needed, 30 minutes before intercourse.
Description
About Cialis
At least one in ten men has trouble getting an erection at some time. Cialis helps men to get and maintain an erection when sexually stimulated and/or excited. The medicine relaxes the blood vessels in the penis which results in more blood flowing to the penis. It reduces the action of the natural chemical in your body that makes erections go away.
How to take it?
You should take Cialis at least 30 minutes before intercourse. Cialis remains effective for 36 hours, meaning it will be easier to keep and maintain an erection when you are sexually excited. It doesn’t matter if you take this medicine with or without food; food has no impact on its effectiveness.
This medicine will only work when you’re sexually excited. You won’t get an erection just by taking Cialis.
What dose should I take?
The recommended starting dose for Cialis is 10mg tablets. If this dose is not effective you can try 20mg tablets. A maximum of one tablet should be taken in 24 hours, however it’s not recommended to take either the 10mg or 20mg tablet every day.
For patients who anticipate sexual activity at least twice weekly, the 5mg “daily” Cialis dose is more appropriate.
Patient Information Leaflet
Always read the patient information leaflet before commencing treatment. The Patient Information leaflets can be found here for 10mg and 20mg dosages.
What dose of Cialis is right for me?
During the development of Cialis, several different doses were tested to find the doses that give the best response with the lowest possibility of causing side effects.
Your doctor has assessed you and decided you may take Cialis. They will recommend a dose based on your individual health circumstances, as we have discussed above.
Cialis can be taken with or without food.
For anticipated occasional sexual activity
To get the best effect, you should take Cialis at least 30 minutes before sexual activity. If you engage in sexual activity only occasionally, in general, the recommended starting dose of Cialis is 10 mg. If you find that 10 mg is not effective, then you can try a 20-mg dose. However, you must discuss and agree on this with your doctor beforehand. You should not take more than one dose per day.
For frequent use (i.e. twice a week or more)
If you think you will engage in sexual activity at least twice a week, then your doctor may agree for you to take Cialis daily, i.e. once a day rather than just occasionally before sexual activity. In this case, the recommended dose of Cialis is lower, 5 mg taken once a day at approximately the same time each day. Depending on how well you tolerate the drug, the dose may be lowered to 2.5 mg once a day. Your doctor will review this every so often to ensure that a daily dose is still appropriate for you.
For people with certain conditions
Based on available information, the dose of Cialis does not need to be adjusted in older men (>65 years) or those with diabetes.
However, if you have the following conditions, the dose of Cialis may need to be adjusted.
Kidney disease
In people with severe kidney impairment, the maximum recommended dose of Cialis is 10 mg and the option of once-a-day dosing is not recommended. If the kidney impairment is mild or moderate, Cialis doses do not need to be adjusted.
Liver disease
The recommended dose of Cialis in people with liver disease is 10 mg taken before anticipated sexual activity. This also the maximum recommended dose. Because there is only limited clinical information available about how safe Cialis is to use in people with severe liver impairment, your doctor will assess your individual benefit vs risk for taking Cialis, if they do decide to prescribe the drug.
Once-daily dosing has not been studied in patients with hepatic impairment; therefore, your doctor will carry out a careful individual benefit/risk assessment, if they decide to prescribe it.
What should I be aware of once I start taking Cialis?
You may experience some side effects once you start taking Cialis. Some of the most common side effects that have been reported include a headache, upset stomach, back pain, muscle aches, flushing, 
congestion (stuffy or a runny nose) and diarrhoea. Most have been described as mild or moderate and will settle down within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they continue for longer or become worse, then you should discuss this with your doctor or pharmacist.
Some serious side effects have been reported, though they are rare. If you experience any of the following side effects, you should call your doctor immediately or dial 999: an erection that won’t go away, disturbance of your vision or loss of hearing.
There are some things to avoid while you are taking Cialis. It may seem obvious, but does bear saying anyway – do not take other drugs or treatments (including herbal products) that treat erectile dysfunction while you are taking Cialis. Also, avoid drinking too much alcohol (5 glasses of wine or 5 shots of whiskey) as you are more likely to experience headaches, dizziness, increased heart rate or low blood pressure.
Now you are well informed you can take your prescription of Cialis and confidently begin the journey to manage your erectile dysfunction and rediscover the joy of a healthy sex life, as many others have before you.
References
- What Is Impotence? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/erectile-dysfunction/common-causes-impotence#overview1. Accessed 10 November 2017.
- Eli Lilly and Company Limited. Cialis (Tadalafil). Summary of Product Characteristics. April 2017. http://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/11363/SPC/Cialis+2.5mg,+5mg,+10mg+&+20mg+film-coated+tablets. Accessed 10 November 2017.
- Cialis (Tadalafil). https://www.cialis.com/. Accessed 10 November 2017.
Assured Pharmacy is not liable for the currency or accuracy of the information contained in this blog post. For specific information about your personal medical condition, please contact our doctors or pharmacists for advice on [email protected].
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