Cialis: Rules of Administration and Potential Side Effects
Though Cialis (Tadalafil) does not merit the title of a groundbreaker in the sphere of ED remedies due to Viagra’s all-time unbeaten popularity, it is still a much sought-after pharmaceutical product bringing the Eli Lilly Company, USA, over whopping $2 billion in revenue annually. Infusing ED sufferers with a hope that they would perform as in their glory days, Cialis is among the best 100 selling medicines in the world. Impressive statistics, isn’t it?
Meant to address erectile dysfunction (and some other ailments like enlarged prostate and pulmonary arterial hypertension) in men over 18, Cialis refers to the same drug family as the other hyped ED oral solutions (Viagra, Levitra, and so forth) – they all are selective PDE5 inhibitors. However, Cialis is a bit different from its competitors – they usually last up to 6 hours while Cialis preserves its action up to 36 hours. Maybe that is why Cialis is so popular and demanded. Nevertheless, Cialis is not the safest drug in the world (are there any?). Here is what you should know before turning to Cialis to manage your erectile frustration.
How Much Does It Take Cialis To Work And How Long Its Effects Last?
Cialis is known to start working earlier compared to its rivals. Its onset of effect is obtained in mere 20-30 minutes after taking while other ED drugs are prescribed to be used 1 hour prior to an anticipated intimacy. Cialis’s effect lasts from 24 up to 36 hours owing to which Cialis is also called a “weekend peel” as a man can take one dose of Cialis at Friday’s night and enjoy its benefits throughout Sunday. The long-lasting action of Tadalafil eliminates any guesswork about when to take the drug – because sex is often a very spontaneous event.
Two Ways to Take Cialis
There are two approaches to consume Cialis: on an as-needed routine or on a daily routine with a lower strength. The as-needed regimen involves taking Cialis in the strength of 10 mg (on the market, the drug is dispensed at the doses of 5 mg and 20 mg) which is not very convenient.
The daily intake requires 2.5 mg of Cialis. A daily therapy with Tadalafil tends to be more efficacious at fixing impotence during a course of treatment. If you choose a daily routine with Cialis to improve your ED, it is better to take the medicine at the same time every day. Should a 2.5.mg dosage fail to work, your doctor may recommend you to switch to a 5 mg daily dose.
Mixing Cialis with Food and Alcohol
Unlike its direct competitors, Cialis has no strict gastronomic restrictions – you can take it both with or without food. However, there is still one product which can seriously interact with Tadalafil (the key ingredient of Cialis) – it is grapefruit juice. The matter is that a blend of grapefruit juice with Cialis results in an increased concentration of Tadalafil in the blood – a phenomenon which actually is not very desired as it may sound, because a higher blood level of Cialis is fraught with a higher risk of bad effects.
Since Cialis is known for its vasodilatory properties (it can make blood vessels expand), the combination with alcohol is not recommended as well because it can cause an abrupt drop in blood pressure and its unpleasant symptoms including dizziness, rapid heartbeat, a migraine, etc, especially when you get up from a sitting or lying position.
How to Take Cialis Safely?
Prior applying to Cialis to improve your ED, make sure to let your doctor know about all other medications/supplements/vitamins/herbs you currently use. Any PDE5 inhibitor including Cialis or its generic versions must not be used by men taking nitroglycerin, riociguat or other drugs containing nitrates for the heart or chest pain management because such a mix can result in serious, if not to say, life-threatening side effects like a heart failure or a critical drop in pressure. There are also some other medicines that can interact with Tadalafil including other PDE5 inhibitors and lifestyle drugs, antibiotics, antifungal agents, antiviral solutions, anti-seizure drugs.
Always follow your doctor’s instructions to enjoy all benefits of Cialis and avoid any associated complications. Before taking Cialis, be sure you do not have any of the following conditions:
- A severely impaired kidney or liver function
- Bleeding or blood cell disorders
- Chest pain
- Heart or blood pressure problems
- Inherited eye diseases
- Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease
Cialis Dosage
The As-Needed regimen with Cialis
The standard dose of Cialis for the as-needed basis is 10 mg taken 20-30 minutes before an intercourse not oftener than once in a day, but better every 36 hours owing to a longer half-life of Cialis. The doctor may advise to lower this dose to 5 mg or enhance up to 20 mg depending on a patient’s tolerability and response to the drug.
The Daily Regimen with Cialis
The initial daily dose of Cialis, in this case, is 2.5 mg used at the same time each day, but this dosage may be stepped up to 5 mg every day depending on individual tolerance and response to the drug.
Cialis in Specific Populations
Geriatric Patients (65 and older): no differences in efficacy or safety can be observed, which means dose adjustments are not necessary based on age alone.
People with mild to moderate hepatic impairment: no exposure to Tadalafil can be observed with a dose of 10 mg. It is not known whether higher doses of Cialis are safe in people with liver conditions. Patients with a severely impaired liver function should refrain from using Cialis to treat ED.
People with renal impairment should ask their doctor to adjust the right dose of Cialis for them because it will vary depending on the creatinine clearance. Notably, subjects with renal disorders are not recommended taking Cialis on the daily basis, but only on as-needed.
Side Effects of Cialis
Like any other drug, Cialis along with beneficial effects can trigger some unpleasant reactions. The most common of them include:
- Cardiovascular system: increased heartbeat, flushing, blood pressure swings, chest pain;
- Gastrointestinal system: stomach upset, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, constipation, dry mouth, rectal bleeding, acid or sour stomach;
- Musculoskeletal system: pain in different parts of a body and extremities, musculoskeletal stiffness, joints swelling;
- Nervous system: migraines, lightheartedness, sudden tiredness, sleep disorder, tremor, seizures (in people with pre-existing conditions);
- Respiratory system: shortness of breath, infections of the upper and lower respiratory tracts, rhinitis, cough, nasal blockage;
- Urogenital system: bloody urine, infections of the urinary tract, penile bleeding, prolonged and painful erections, spontaneous erections;
- Other: skin reactions (redness, itching, sweating, scaling, cracks), abnormal vision, loss of hearing, conjunctivitis, eyelids swelling, Quincke’s disease, inadequate liver function tests, reduced sensitivity to touch, voice changes.
Read also: Cialis Professional: Advanced ED Treatment with Advanced Medication