Tadalafil

1. About tadalafil

Tadalafil is a medicine used to treat erection problems (erectile dysfunction) and symptoms of an enlarged prostate (benign prostate enlargement).

It's also sometimes used to treat pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the blood vessels that supply the lungs).

Tadalafil is available on prescription only.

It comes as tablets that you swallow with water. It can be taken with or without food.

2. Key facts

It usually takes 30 to 60 minutes for tadalafil to work for erectile dysfunction. You can take it once a day, at least 30 minutes before you want to have sex.
Taking tadalafil on its own is not enough to cause an erection. You need to be sexually aroused for it to work.
Many men do not have any side effects from tadalafil, while some have mild side effects. These may include headaches, back pain, muscle aches, pain in your arms and legs, facial flushes, stuffy nose, and indigestion.
Do not take tadalafil if you also take medicines called nitrates (often prescribed for chest pain). This combination can cause dangerously low blood pressure.
Tadalafil is sometimes called the brand names Cialis (for erectile dysfunction and benign prostatic enlargement) or Adcirca (for pulmonary hypertension).

3. Who can and cannot take tadalafil

Tadalafil can only be taken by adults aged 18 and over.

Tadalafil is not suitable for some people.

Do not take tadalafil if you:

have had an allergic reaction to tadalafil or any other medicines in the past
are taking medicines called nitrates for chest pain
have a serious heart and liver problem
have recently had a stroke or a heart attack
have low blood pressure or uncontrolled high blood pressure
have ever lost your vision due to reduced blood flow to the eye

Check with a doctor before taking tadalafil if you:

have sickle cell anaemia (an abnormality of red blood cells), leukaemia (cancer of blood cells) or multiple myeloma (cancer of bone marrow)
have Peyronie's disease (curved penis) or a similar problem with your penis
have liver or kidneys problems
have a heart problem – a doctor will advise you whether your heart can take the additional strain of having sex

4. Where to get tadalafil

Tadalafil is only available with a prescription.

On the NHS

You can get tadalafil on the NHS if you have erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic enlargement or pulmonary hypertension.

The branded versions of tadalafil, such as Cialis, are not available on the NHS, except in special circumstances.

Private prescription

You can also get tadalafil on a private prescription from a doctor. This means you'll need to pay the full cost of the medicine.

5. How and when to take it

It's important to take this medicine as advised by a doctor or pharmacist.

Tadalafil tablets come in 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg and 20mg strengths.

Swallow your tablets whole, with a drink of water. The tablets can be taken with or without food.

How much will I take for erectile dysfunction?

Tadalafil tablets for erectile dysfunction come in different strengths ranging from 2.5mg to 20mg.

You take tadalafil once a day, at least 30 minutes before you want to have sex.

The usual dose is 10mg. Your doctor may increase or decrease your dose, depending on how well it works and how often you take it.

The effects may last longer than 24 hours, so you're not recommended to take tadalafil every day.

For tadalafil to work properly, you'll need to be sexually excited.

How much will I take for benign prostate enlargement?

Tadalafil tablets for an enlarged prostate come as 2.5mg or 5mg. The usual dose is 5mg, taken once a day.

You can take your tablet in the morning or evening, but it's best to take it at the same time each day.

A doctor might give you a low dose of 2.5mg if you are having any problems, such as side effects.

If you are being treated for both benign prostatic enlargement and erectile dysfunction, the dose is 5mg.

How much will I take for pulmonary hypertension?

Tadalafil tablets for pulmonary hypertension come in 20mg strength.

The usual dose is 40mg – two 20mg tablets, taken once a day. These tablets are large, so take the tablets one after the other.

If you have kidney or liver problems a doctor might decrease the starting dose to 10mg or 20mg.

What if I forget to take it?

If you have:

benign prostatic enlargement – take it as soon as you remember and then continue as usual
pulmonary hypertension – take it within 8 hours if you can. If you remember after 8 hours, skip the missed dose and take the next dose as usual

Never take 2 doses at the same time. Never take an extra dose to make up for a forgotten one.

If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you.

You could also ask a pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.

What if I take too much?

Taking too much tadalafil by accident can cause unpleasant side effects, including:

headache
dizziness
indigestion
stuffy nose
problems with your vision (such as blurred vision)

Side effects will usually go away when you stop taking the tablets. Talk to a doctor if you have taken too much tadalafil and you're worried about these side effects.

6. Side effects

Like all medicines, tadalafil can cause side effects in some people. Many people have no side effects or only mild ones.

Common side effects

Common side effects happen in more than 1 in 100 people. The side effects may increase with an increasing dose.

If you get these side effects, keep taking the medicine, but tell a doctor or pharmacist if they bother you or do not go away:

headaches
feeling sick (nausea)
red or flushed face
indigestion
stuffy nose
muscle aches

Serious side effects

Serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1,000 people.

Stop taking tadalafil and call a doctor straight away if you get:

chest pains – if this happens during or after sex, get into a semi-sitting position and try to relax (remember do not use nitrates for chest pain while taking tadalafil)
prolonged and sometimes painful erections – if you have an erection that lasts for more than 4 hours, contact a doctor immediately
a sudden problem with your eyesight or hearing
a serious skin reaction – symptoms may include red raised patches on your skin or red spots (hives), a swollen face and swelling around the eyes
seizures or fits

Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E now if:

you get a skin rash that may include itchy, red, swollen, blistered or peeling skin
you're wheezing
you get tightness in the chest or throat
you have trouble breathing or talking
your mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat start swelling

You could be having a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.

These are not all the side effects of tadalafil. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.

You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme.

7. Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Women with pulmonary hypertension may be treated with tadalafil.

If you have pulmonary hypertension, tadalafil is not recommended in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:

trying to get pregnant
pregnant
breastfeeding

8. Caution with other medicines

Some medicines do not mix well with tadalafil.

Tell a doctor if you're taking these medicines before you start tadalafil:

nitrates for chest pain
riociguat for pulmonary hypertension

Mixing tadalafil with herbal remedies and supplements

Some complementary therapies may have ingredients that could interfere with tadalafil and cause side effects.

Important

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.

9. Common questions

How does tadalafil work?

Tadalafil belongs to a group of medicines called phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors.

If you have erectile dysfunction, it works by temporarily increasing blood flow to the penis when you get sexually excited.

It helps reduce symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland, such as difficulty peeing or needing to pee urgently, by relaxing the muscles in the prostate and bladder.

It helps pulmonary hypertension by relaxing blood vessels in the chest. This increases blood supply to the lungs and reduces the workload of the heart.

How well does it work for erection problems?

Tadalafil works well for erectile dysfunction.

In general, more than 6 in 10 men say they have harder erections after taking it.

If tadalafil does not work for you, it may be because:

you have not waited long enough after taking it before trying to have sex
you have waited too long after taking it to have sex
the dose is not high enough
you're not sexually aroused enough

How long does it take to work?

How long will it work for?

Can I take it as often as I want?

How does it compare with other medicines that improve erections?

Other medicines are usually taken on demand, 30 to 60 minutes before sexual activity.

On average, the alternatives to tadalafil work for up to 4 hours. If you take tadalafil, it can be effective for up to 36 hours.

If tadalafil does not work, there are other tablets you could try that work in a similar way, such as:

sildenafil (Viagra)
avanafil (Spedra)
vardenafil (Levitra)

Only sildenafil (Viagra) is available without prescription.

You can take tadalafil and vardenafil with or without food.

However, you should take sildenafil and avanafil on an empty stomach for fastest effects. Eating a meal that is high in fat may delay the effect of vardenafil.

You could also try a medicine called alprostadil (only available with a prescription). This is a manmade hormone that helps to stimulate blood flow to the penis.

Alprostadil comes as:

an injection directly into your penis
a small pellet placed inside your urethra (the tube that carries pee from your bladder to the tip of your penis)

If you cannot get erections because of a hormonal problem, a doctor may refer you to an endocrinologist (a doctor who specialises in the treatment of hormonal problems). They may recommend hormone injections to bring your hormone levels back to normal.

Are there other treatments that can help erections?

Are there any other medicines for an enlarged prostate?

Are there any other medicines for pulmonary hypertension?

If tadalafil does not work, a doctor might recommend sildenafil, which works in a similar way.

Other medicines used to treat pulmonary hypertension are:

endothelin receptor antagonists – such as bosentan, ambrisentan and macitentan
soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators – such as riociguat
prostaglandins – such as epoprostenol, iloprost and treprostinil
calcium channel blockers – nifedipine, diltiazem, nicardipine and amlodipine

Is there a herbal alternative to tadalafil?

Can women use tadalafil?

Will it affect my fertility?

Will it affect my contraception?

Can I drink alcohol with it?

Will recreational drugs affect it?

Taking poppers (amyl nitrite) with tadalafil can have a dangerous effect on your heart.

It can also be potentially dangerous to take tadalafil with:

stimulants like MDMA (ecstasy) or cocaine
hallucinogens like LSD
novel psychoactive substances (which used to be known as legal highs) like mephedrone

Tadalafil has not been properly tested with recreational drugs.

Talk to a doctor if you think you might use any recreational drugs with tadalafil.

Is there any food or drink I need to avoid?

Can I drive or ride a bike?

Can lifestyle changes improve erections?

Can lifestyle changes help symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland?

If you're taking tadalafil to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland, you might be able to help the symptoms by making some simple changes to your lifestyle:

drink fewer fizzy drinks and less alcohol, and cut down on caffeine (including tea, coffee and cola) and artificial sweeteners – these can irritate the bladder and make peeing more uncomfortable.
drink less in the evening – try to reduce the amount you drink in the evening and avoid drinking anything for 2 hours before you go to bed. This might help you avoid getting up in the night. Make sure you're still drinking enough fluid earlier in the day.
empty your bladder – remember to go to the toilet before long journeys if you know you will not be able to reach a toilet easily.
try "double voiding" – this means waiting a few moments after you have finished peeing before trying to go again. It can help you empty your bladder properly. But take care not to strain or push.
check your medicines – check with a doctor whether any medicines you take, such as antidepressants or decongestants, may be making your symptoms worse.
eat more fibre – eating more fruit, vegetables and wholegrains helps you avoid constipation, which can put pressure on the bladder and make symptoms of an enlarged prostate worse.