Cialis (Generic)

Generic Cialis (tadalafil) is prescribed to treat sexual function problems in men, including erectile dysfunction (ED) and impotence. Cialis increases blood flow to the penis, helping a man get or maintain an erection during sexual activity. Tadalafil is the active ingredient in Generic Cialis. Women and children should not take Cialis.

Cialis Prescription

Generic Cialis requires a prescription. All generic medications sold through Blink Health Pharmacy are FDA-approved.

How Cialis works

Cialis is in a class of medications called phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors that work by increasing blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation to help men get and maintain an erection. Cialis does not cure ED or increase sexual desire. It does not prevent pregnancy or protect against sexually transmitted diseases.

Cialis can be taken once daily, and you can attempt sex any time between doses. It can also be taken as needed, approximately 30 minutes before sexual activity or as directed by your doctor. Do not take more or less than what your doctor prescribes.

Cialis vs Tadalafil

Cialis is the brand version of generic tadalafil. Both contain the same active ingredient and are medically equivalent to treat erectile dysfunction. Generic tadalafil is cheaper than the brand Cialis. Both Cialis and tadalafil tablets are yellow and almond-shaped.

Common side effects of Cialis

• Heartburn or indigestion

• Headache

• Nausea or diarrhea

• Stomach, back, arm, or leg pain

• Light sensitivity or vision changes (especially blue/green colors)

• Flushing or warmth

Serious side effects:

• Sudden decrease or loss of vision

• Blurred vision

• Sudden decrease or loss of hearing

• Ringing in your ears

• Dizziness

• Chest pain

• Shortness of breath

• Priapism, painful erection lasting 4 or more hours

• Rash or hives

• Swelling in the lips, face, throat, tongue, eyes, hands, feet, or legs

• Difficulty swallowing

• Blisters or peeling skin

Cialis dosage information

Generic Cialis tablets come in:

• 2.5 mg

• 5 mg

• 10 mg

• 20 mg

Your dose depends on whether you take Cialis daily, or as needed, for sexual activity. Your doctor may start you at a lower dose and increase it as appropriate after monitoring for side effects and efficacy.

Cialis background

Eli Lily was the original manufacturer for Cialis for the treatment of heart disease and during clinical trials it was noticed that it also helped treat erectile dysfunction. Cialis was first approved by the FDA to take as needed for ED in 2003, then approved for daily use in 2008. In 2011 it was also approved to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Cialis alternatives

• Generic Viagra (sildenafil)

• Vardenafil (Generic Levitra, Staxyn)

• Avanafil (Generic Stendra)

Related

ED Treatment and Prescription

Viagra or Cialis?

When selecting between Viagra and Cialis, a major difference that factors in the patient's lifestyle is how long each drug takes to work and how long the effects last. Read more.

What Causes ED?

There’s a big difference between having a low sex drive (or low libido) which means you’ve got a decreased interest in sexual activity, and erectile dysfunction (ED).  Read more.

How to ED Pills Work?

You’ll need one hour for Viagra and about two hours for Cialis to each reach their maximum benefits. Read more.

How Long Will I Have to Take My ED Medication?

Depending on your health history, your lifestyle habits may determine how long you need an ED prescription. Read more.

How to use Cialis

Before you start taking generic Cialis (and every time you get a refill), read the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist. If you have any questions, ask your licensed medical professional.

Take generic Cialis by mouth, either with or without food, as directed by your licensed medical professional. Do not take this medication more than one time per day.

The dosage of generic Cialis prescribed to you is based on your response to treatment, medical condition, and other medications you may be taking. Tell your clinician and pharmacist about all prescription, nonprescription, and herbal products and drugs you use.

To treat symptoms of BPH, take this medication as directed by your licensed medical professional, usually once per day. If you are also taking finasteride (generic Propecia) to treat symptoms of BPH, ask your licensed medical professional about how long you should continue taking this medication.

There are two ways that generic Cialis may be prescribed to treat erectile dysfunction. Your licensed medical professional will determine which is best for each patient. Follow their directions exactly, since your dosage will depend on how you take it. The first way is to take it as needed, usually at least 30 minutes before sexual activity. Generic Cialis's effect on sexual ability can last up to 36 hours. The second way generic Cialis can treat erectile dysfunction is to take it regularly, once a day, every day. If you take it this way, you can attempt sexual activity at any time between your doses.

If you are taking generic Cialis to treat both ED and BPH, take it as directed by your licensed medical professional, usually once a day. You can attempt sexual activity at any time between your doses.

If you are taking generic Cialisl once per day for BPH, or for ED, or for both, take it regularly to get the greatest benefit. A good way to remember to take it regularly is to take it at the same time every day.

Tell your clinician if your condition does not improve or if it gets worse.

Cialis Side Effects

It's important to be aware of possible side effects before you start taking a medication. Here are the listed side effects for this drug:

Headache, stomach upset, back pain, muscle pain, stuffy nose, flushing, or dizziness may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

To reduce the risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Sexual activity may put extra strain on your heart, especially if you have heart problems. If you have heart problems and experience any of these serious side effects while having sex, stop and get medical help right away: severe dizziness, fainting, chest/jaw/left arm pain, nausea.

Rarely, sudden decreased vision, including permanent blindness, in one or both eyes (NAION) may occur. If this serious problem occurs, stop taking tadalafil and get medical help right away. You have a slightly greater chance of developing NAION if you have heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, certain other eye problems ('crowded disk'), high blood pressure, if you are over 50, or if you smoke.

Rarely, a sudden decrease or loss of hearing, sometimes with ringing in the ears and dizziness, may occur. Stop taking tadalafil and get medical help right away if these effects occur.

In the rare event you have a painful or prolonged erection lasting 4 or more hours, stop using this drug and get medical help right away, or permanent problems could occur.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Cialis Warnings and Precautions

It's also important to be aware of precautions and warnings around taking this medication.

Before taking tadalafil, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: heart problems (such as heart attack or life-threatening irregular heartbeat in the past 6 months, chest pain/angina, heart failure), stroke in the past 6 months, kidney disease, liver disease, high or low blood pressure, a severe loss of body water (dehydration), penis conditions (such as angulation, fibrosis/scarring, Peyronie's disease), history of painful/prolonged erection (priapism), conditions that may increase the risk of priapism (such as sickle cell anemia, leukemia, multiple myeloma), eye problems (such as retinitis pigmentosa, sudden decreased vision, NAION), bleeding disorders, active stomach ulcers.

This drug may make you dizzy. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. Limit alcoholic beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana (cannabis).

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

This brand of the drug is not usually used in women. During pregnancy, tadalafil should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Cialis Pill Storage

Store Cialis at room temperature, away from moisture and light. Do not store this medication in the bathroom. Keep Cialis (and all medications) away from children and pets.

Do not flush Cialis or any medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. If your Cialis has expired or you no longer need it, be sure to discard it properly. Your pharmacist or local waste disposal company can give you instructions.

Cialis Drug Interactions

Drug interactions can alter how your medication works or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. It's a good idea to keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your clinician and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of generic Cialis or any medications without your clinician's approval.

A product that may interact with this drug is: riociguat.

Cialis can cause a serious drop in your blood pressure when used with nitrates, which can lead to fainting, dizziness, and, rarely, stroke or heart attack. Do not use Cialis with any of the following: recreational drugs called 'poppers' containing amyl or butyl nitrite or certain drugs used to treat chest pain/angina (nitrates such as nitroglycerin, isosorbide).

If you are also treating high blood pressure or BPH (enlarged prostate) by taking an alpha blocker medication (like doxazosin or tamsulosin), your blood pressure may get too low which can lead to dizziness or fainting. Your licensed medical professional may adjust your alpha blocker medication or start your treatment with a lower dose of generic Cialis to minimize your risk of low blood pressure.

Other medications can affect the removal of generic Cialis from your body, which can affect how it works. Examples include HIV protease inhibitors (such as fosamprenavir, ritonavir), macrolide antibiotics (such as clarithromycin, erythromycin), azole antifungals (such as itraconazole, ketoconazole), hepatitis C virus protease inhibitors (such as boceprevir, telaprevir), and rifampin, among others.

Do not take Cialis with any other product that contains tadalafil or other similar medications used to treat erectile dysfunction or pulmonary hypertension (like sildenafil or vardenafil).

Cialis Overdose

If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center immediately. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.

If you are taking this medication on a regular schedule and you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of your next dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the regular time. Do not double your dose to “catch up.”

May include selected content from the Licensed Solutions data, included with permission and copyrighted by FDB, inc., 2014. This copyrighted material has been downloaded and Licensed data is not for distribution in professional healthcare settings. This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking any drug or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.