What does cialis treat

How is Cialis different from the currently approved products for erectile dysfunction ED? As with any drug product, there may be side effects.

The most commonly reported side effects in patients treated with Cialis during the testing of the product were:. Patients who get back pain and muscle aches usually get them 12 to 24 hours after taking Cialis and these usually go away by themselves within 48 hours.

A small number of patients taking Cialis also reported abnormal vision. What should I talk to my doctor about when considering if Cialis is right for me? FDA encourages anyone aware of a serious side effect, including consumers or patients, to make a MedWatch report. You can report an adverse event either online, by regular mail or by fax, using the contact information at the bottom of this page.

Index to Drug-Specific Information. What is Cialis used to treat? Another medication used to treat low sex drive in women is the pill flibanserin Addyi.

And before the FDA approves a medication, it must test the drug for safety and effectiveness. Clinical trials show that Cialis is a safe and effective drug to treat erectile dysfunction ED , benign prostatic hyperplasia BPH , or both.

However, for some people, Cialis may not be a safe option. This can include people with heart conditions such as an irregular heart rhythm and people who take other medications such as nitrates. And talk with your doctor if you have any concerns.

After ejaculation occurs, your sexual excitement usually decreases. However, Cialis can still work up to 36 hours after you take your dose. So the drug may help you get another erection. Cialis can stay in your system for more than 2 days after your dose. Yes, Cialis can be used to treat ED after prostate surgery.

A clinical trial was done in people with ED who had surgery to have their prostate removed. The people used either Cialis or a placebo treatment with no active drug as needed. If you have questions about using Cialis to treat ED after prostate surgery, talk with your doctor.

However, the medication does increase blood flow to the area. Cialis is approved to treat erectile dysfunction ED , symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia BPH , or both of these conditions. ED is a condition in which a man may be unable to get or maintain an erection.

An erection occurs when blood flows into the penis and remains there for a period of time. This happens because the blood vessels and muscles in the penis relax and open up, allowing more blood to flow into the area. Cyclic guanosine monophosphate GMP is a chemical in your body that relaxes the muscles in the penis and increases blood flow into the penis.

Cialis belongs to a group of medications called phosphodiesterase 5 PDE5 inhibitors. And when you have more cyclic GMP, the blood vessels and muscles in your penis relax.

This allows more blood to flow in and produce an erection. BPH may cause problems with urination such as the need to urinate frequently or having to urinate more often at night. Studies show that the medication may work as quickly as 30 minutes after you take your dose. However, in some people, the medication may take up to 6 hours until you notice it working. On average, it takes about 2 hours for Cialis to peak. This is how long it takes for you to have the highest level of medication in your body.

Both alcohol and Cialis can decrease your blood pressure. This may help prevent your blood pressure from becoming too low. Having five or more drinks five shots or glasses of wine or beer along with Cialis can increase the risk of side effects. In addition to decreased blood pressure, these side effects can include:. Other drugs are available that can treat your erectile dysfunction ED , symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia BPH , or both. Some medications may be a better fit for you than others.

They can tell you about other drugs that may work well for you. Note: Some of the drugs listed here are used off-label to treat these specific conditions. However, other combinations of drugs may be used for this purpose. Doses of up to mg of Cialis have been tested. Doses of up to mg have also been given to people once a day. Overdose symptoms were similar to the normal side effects people have had after taking Cialis. You can also call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at or use their online tool.

But if your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away. But if you have a prostate condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia BPH , your doctor may first prescribe a drug called finasteride Proscar.

Finasteride is a first-line treatment the first treatment used when medications are recommended for BPH. This is because the drug shrinks the prostate by blocking the growth of prostate cells. Finasteride can help also ease symptoms of BPH, such as having to urinate suddenly and more often. However, this medication can cause negative sexual side effects such as decreased libido sex drive and erectile dysfunction.

To help ease these side effects, your doctor may have you also take Cialis. When you get Cialis from the pharmacy, the pharmacist will add an expiration date to the label on the package or bottle. This date is typically 1 year from the date they dispensed the medication. The expiration date helps guarantee that the medication is effective during this time.

If you have unused medication that has gone past the expiration date, talk with your pharmacist about whether you might still be able to use it. How long a medication remains good can depend on many factors, including how and where you store the medication.

Store Cialis in a tightly sealed container away from light. And avoid keeping this medication in areas where it could get damp or wet, such as bathrooms. This helps prevent others, including children and pets, from taking the drug by accident.

It also helps keep the drug from harming the environment. This article provides several useful tips on medication disposal. You can also ask your pharmacist for information on how to dispose of your medication. Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. Other interactions can increase the number of side effects or make them more severe. Below is a list of medications that can interact with Cialis.

Before taking Cialis, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist. This type of drug may be used for chest pain. Taking nitrates along with Cialis can cause a serious decrease in your blood pressure.

Both Cialis and medications called alpha-blockers can cause a decrease in blood pressure. So taking these medications together can cause blood pressure to drop further. And if you have erectile dysfunction ED and are taking an alpha-blocker, your doctor will likely lower your dose of Cialis.

Before taking Cialis, tell your doctor about any medications that you use, including alpha-blockers. Cialis may reduce your blood pressure. They may give you a lower dose of Cialis or monitor you more often.

This means that you may not get the full dose of Cialis, so it may not work as well to treat your ED or symptoms of BPH. Talk with them about how far apart to take the doses of each drug if you need to use both medications. Cialis is broken down in your body by an enzyme in your liver called CYP3A4. An enzyme is a protein that aids chemical changes in your body.

Certain drugs can inhibit block this enzyme from working. So if the enzyme is unable to break down Cialis, the level of Cialis in your body may get too high. This can be dangerous and may increase your risk of side effects from Cialis. In some cases, your doctor may recommend a lower dose of Cialis or a different medication to treat your ED, symptoms of BPH, or both.

Tadalafil pronounced as tah da' la fil. Why is this medication prescribed? How should this medicine be used? Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow? What special dietary instructions should I follow? What should I do if I forget a dose? What side effects can this medication cause?

What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication? Brand names. Tadalafil comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It may be taken with or without food. Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient. Other uses for this medicine. What special precautions should I follow? Before taking tadalafil, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to tadalafil, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in tadalafil tablets.

Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients. Nitrates come as tablets, sublingual under the tongue tablets, sprays, patches, pastes, and ointments.

Ask your doctor if you are not sure whether any of your medications contain nitrates. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take tadalafil if you are taking nitrates. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take tadalafil if you are taking street drugs containing nitrates. You should only be treated with one of these products at a time. Be sure to mention any of the following: alpha blockers such as alfuzosin Uroxatral , doxazosin Cardura , dutasteride Avodart, in Jalyn , prazosin Minipress , silodosin Rapaflo , tamsulosin Flomax, in Jalyn , and terazosin; amiodarone Cordarone, Pacerone ; certain antifungals such as fluconazole Diflucan , griseofulvin Grifulvin, Gris-PEG , itraconazole Onmel, Sporanox , ketoconazole Extina, Ketozole, Nizoral, Xolegel , and voriconazole Vfend ; aprepitant Emend ; bosentan Tracleer ; carbamazepine Carbatrol, Epitol, Tegretol, Teril, others ; clarithromycin Biaxin, in Prevpac ; diltiazem Cardizem, Cartia,Tiazac, others ; efavirenz Sustiva, in Atripla ; erythromycin E.

Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. John's wort. Your doctor might increase the dose to 5 mg based on how you react to the medication. Take one tablet as prescribed at the same time each day. Many people who take Cialis prefer this dosing because it provides flexibility for timing of sexual activity. For the as-needed dose, plan to take Cialis at least 30 minutes before sexual activity, but bear in mind it may take as long as 2 hours to take effect.

Also, Cialis requires sexual stimulation to be effective, so arousal is an important part of the equation. There are many considerations that affect how long it takes Cialis to take effect for ED. This includes factors such as:. Cialis can last from 24 to 36 hours. In some cases, it can last as long as 72 hours. This is one of the reasons Cialis has high patient satisfaction ratings in surveys compared to other PDE5 inhibitors: It allows more spontaneous sexual activity.

For as-needed dosing, take Cialis at least 30 minutes or more before sexual activity. If your prescription involves taking Cialis daily, take it at the same time each day. This maintains steady levels of Cialis in your body. Smoking, heavy drinking, unmanaged stress, and an unhealthy diet can affect ED as well as how Cialis works, potentially leading to more side effects. A healthy diet, increasing physical activity, and quitting smoking are important for wellness, physical health, and can affect the severity of ED.

Strategies to reduce stress and support your relationship with your partner can also improve sexual performance and well-being. Working with a psychiatrist, therapist, or sex therapist can help you navigate strategies for the mental and emotional side of intimacy. Other ways to improve your sexual performance include managing stress, working through relationship concerns, and treating performance anxiety. Avoid high fat foods or heavy meals before taking Cialis and before sexual activity.

High fat foods can affect how well Cialis works. It may also take longer to work.