What is Cialis (Tadalafil)?

Cialis is a famous PDE5 inhibitor drug, manufactured by Eli Lilly and Company, that is well known for its ability to help men achieve and maintain erections by increasing blood flow to the penis (WebMD, 2024). The active ingredient in Cialis is Tadalafil (Drugs.com, 2024). Tadalafil can last for up to 36 hours, almost a day and a half (Medical News Today, 2024). In a nutshell, the popular treatment is a drug that can help a man have sex, even if they have had erectile dysfunction in the past.

Is there a generic version of Cialis?

Yes, the generic version of Cialis is tadalafil. Cialis lost its exclusive patent in the UK in November 2017 (Yahoo Finance, 2017) and is now available legally in the UK as generic tadalafil tablets. ‘Cialis’ is a brand name, ‘tadalafil’ is the medical name and active ingredient. While the branded version is typically more expensive than generic tadalafil, they are essentially the same medication. Generic tadalafil is available at much lower cost.

Cialis UK

UK Meds offers the generic form (tadalafil) and branded forms of Cialis (such as Cialis Daily and Cialis Together), along with other erectile dysfunction treatments such as Viagra tablets, Vitaros (alprostadil), Spedra (Avanafil) and Levitra (Vardenafil). If you need a prescription, the prescription service at UK Meds can help you.

Video: A Guide to Cialis

UK Meds have created a video guide to explain what Cialis is. Watch it below:

Google Web Story: A-Z Guide to Viagra

Take a look at UK Med's Google Web Story: A-Z Guide of Viagra. It features definitions of various erectile dysfunction (ED) medications including Viagra, Cialis, Tadalafil, Sildenafil, Viagra Connect & more Viagra-related terminology.

How effective is Cialis?

Cialis is a very effective and long-lasting treatment for erectile dysfunction. A study on Cialis found that over 80% of men taking it were able to achieve erections hard enough for sex (Skoumal et al, 2004).

Cialis Reviews

There are a large selection of Cialis reviews describing what people think about their experiences with the medication available at Drugs.com and Web MD.

It is important to note that people may have different experiences when they use Cialis (tadalafil). If someone states that their medication did not work as they had hoped, it does not mean that it will not work for you. If you believe that Cialis is the right medication for you then the best thing to do is to consult your doctor or healthcare professional, and judge the medication based on your own experiences if they recommend it as a treatment. The importance of a user product review should not be understated. Reading reviews and patient experiences can provide you with important advice and information that you may not have known, and can inform you on whether or not to start using Cialis (tadalafil). Before starting a medication you should always consult with your healthcare provider first to ensure that it is safe and suitable for your individual needs.

Is Cialis right for me?

After reading reviews and consulting with your doctor, GP or healthcare provider to check if this is the ED treatment that may be right for you, we can provide both branded and generic Cialis tablets for customers in the UK to buy.

This erectile dysfunction treatment comes in various strengths, one is 10mg Cialis tablets (typically used for patients who are starting out on the ED medication), and the other is 20mg Cialis tablets (which is what most doctors will escalate your prescription to if they feel you are healthy and the 10mg tablets aren't achieving the result you are looking for.

For more information on the prescription medication patients should refer to the Cialis (Tadalafil) patient information leaflet.

How do you take Cialis?

You should always take Cialis (tadalafil) and any other erectile dysfunction medications as instructed by your doctor or healthcare provider.

The typical starting dose for Cialis is one tablet with a glass of water at least 30 minutes before you plan to have sex (EMC, 2023). Make sure you’re aroused. Avoid drinking alcohol when taking Cialis as it may reduce your ability to get an erection and can make you feel dizzy when standing or moving. If you have taken Cialis more than 8 times without success, speak to your doctor about increasing your dose or exploring other ED treatment options.

How long does Cialis take to work?

A Cialis tablet typically takes 30 minutes to take effect along with sexual stimulation and it will be effective for 36 hours (Drugs.com, 2023).

How long should I take Cialis for?

You can continue to take Cialis as long as your doctor prescribes it. There are no research studies showing negative long-term effects of taking Cialis. You should only use Cialis on an ‘as needed’ basis before having sex.

What is the recommended dosage for Cialis (Tadalafil)?

Typically, the starting dose should be 10mg but your doctor may decide to recommend a stronger dosage if they feel that 10mg may be too weak for your individual requirements.

Other branded forms of Cialis are also dosed in a similar way.

Cialis Dosage

Cialis Daily Dosage

Cialis Together Dosage

There are 4 dosages of Cialis: 2 daily doses and 2 taken before sex. Daily doses may be better if you have sex more than twice a week.

Cialis 2.5mg:

• The lower-strength daily dose.
• Try this if 5mg worked but gave you mild side effects.

Cialis 5mg:

• The standard daily dose.
• Recommended if you’ve not tried Cialis Daily before.

Cialis 10mg:

• The standard dose taken before sex.
• Recommended if you’ve not tried Cialis before.

Cialis 20mg:

• The higher-strength dose taken before sex.
• Try this if 10mg doesn’t work and you don’t get serious side effects.

Always check with a doctor before changing the dose of any medication.

What side effects can Cialis have?

Common side effects of Cialis can include:

• Headaches
• Indigestion
• Stuffy nose
• Muscle pains
• Back pain

These side effects should go away soon after taking a dose of Cialis tablet (tadalafil tablet). If you are concerned about any Cialis side effects, consult with your doctor as soon as possible.

Serious Side Effects of Cialis

Whilst they are less likely to be experienced, more serious tadalafil side effects can include (Healthline, 2023):

• Chest pain
• A faster heart rate
• Hearing loss / ringing in your ears
• Heart attack
• A prolonged erection
• High blood pressure
• Low blood pressure
• Severe allergic reactions

How long do Cialis side effects last for?

Cialis side effects usually go away after a few hours, but back pain and muscle aches may take up to 2 days to improve. If you experience any side effects while taking Cialis tablets, speak to your doctor as soon as possible.

For further information on the side effects of Cialis, please refer to the patient information leaflet that is supplied with the medication and consult with your doctor at the first sign of any side effects.

How can you avoid Cialis (tadalafil) side effects?

There are some simple actions you can take to reduce the chances of experiencing side effects of Cialis which include staying well hydrated, avoiding spicy food and rich foods, keep yourself cool with a fan and take antiacids if you need them (NHS, 2022). Your doctor will be able to advise you on the appropriate steps to take before starting treatment with the medication.

Can grapefruit increase the risk of side effects with Cialis?

Yes, grapefruit can increase the risk of side effects with Cialis, Cialis Daily or Cialis Together. Avoid grapefruit or grapefruit juice while taking this medicine and for a few days after stopping it.

What is Cialis Daily?

Cialis Daily

Cialis Daily is another form of Cialis that provides a low tadalafil daily dose to the patient. As a regular form of Cialis treatment it helps to ensure that the level of tadalafil in the body is sufficient to help increase blood flow to the penis and facilitate spontaneous erections to help sex. As is the case with Cialis too, Cialis Daily will not treat the underlying physical causes of your erectile dysfunction and will not directly increase your sex drive in any way.

Can alcohol interact with Cialis?

Yes, drinking alcohol at the same time as taking Cialis can lead to orthostatic hypotension, lowering your blood pressure and leading to side effects such as fainting, dizziness and headaches (Healthline, 2016). Your doctor may recommend that you limit alcohol consumption whilst taking Cialis (Medical News Today, 2022).

Can I become psychologically dependent on Cialis?

No, there is no evidence that you can develop dependence or tolerance to Cialis when used correctly at the recommended dose.

Is Cialis physically addictive?

No, Cialis is not physically addictive. Unlike some medicines, such as opioids, you won't experience physical addiction or withdrawal effects if you suddenly stop taking Cialis. There is no evidence that ED medicines are physically addictive.

What precautions does Cialis come with?

Your doctor will be able to advise you on any precautions to consider prior to starting ED treatment with Cialis. According to the NHS (2022), some medicines interact negatively with tadalafil including riociguat for pulmonary hypertension and nitrates for chest pain; some herbal remedies and supplements, and recreational poppers can interact with tadalafil dangerously too.

Is Cialis stronger than Viagra?

The active ingredients in the ED medication Cialis and Viagra are different. The active ingredient in Cialis is tadalafil whereas the active ingredient in Viagra is sildenafil. Whilst Cialis (tadalafil) doesn't help people to achieve harder erections than if they were to take Viagra (sildenafil), Cialis has a longer mechanism of action (Medical News Today, 2023).

How does Cialis (tadalafil) work?

Erectile Dysfunction

Tadalafil, the active ingredient in Cialis, is a PDE5 inhibitor drug that increases blood flow to the penis. For erectile dysfunction patients, it temporarily increases blood flow to the penis and enables a firmer, longer-lasting erection once you are sexually excited (NHS, 2022).

Enlarged Prostate

Tadalafil can help patients with an enlarged prostate gland by relaxing the muscles in the prostate and bladder, to reduce symptoms such as an urgent need to pee and difficulty when peeing.

Pulmonary Hypertension

Tadalafil can also help to relax blood vessels in the chest, reducing the workload of the heart and increasing blood supply to the lungs, making it a potential treatment for pulmonary hypertension.

Speak to your doctor if you think tadalafil could be a suitable treatment for your individual requirements.

Why is Cialis called the weekend pill?

Cialis is sometimes called the weekend pill because it's effects can last for up to 36 hours (Drugs.com, 2023). Therefore if you take it on a Friday evening it can help you to achieve and maintain an erection for most of the weekend, when you are sexually excited.

Can Cialis treat premature ejaculation?

No, scientific studies have shown that while taking a 5mg daily dose of tadalafil, the active ingredient in Cialis, is safe it doesn't provide a statistically significant improvement in patients suffering from premature ejaculation (Faddan et al, 2022).

Where can I buy Cialis online?

Buy Tadalafil

If you are shopping online for Cialis (Tadalafil), we sell both generic and branded versions of the erectile dysfunction tablets at UK Meds. If you have a prescription for either, we can fill it online. If you do not currently have a Cialis prescription, our online consultation with a doctor can assist you in obtaining a Cialis Tadalafil prescription, if your consultation is approved.

Can I buy Cialis in London?

Cialis London

Yes. You can buy Cialis online in London at UK Meds. If you're a Londoner based in the English capital city and you require the erectile dysfunction medication, you can purchase it online with a valid prescription. If you require a prescription, simply complete our quick online consultation. Once it has been reviewed by a GMC registered doctor you can buy Cialis online in London, from the comfort of your own home, provided that your prescription has been approved. You should always consult your doctor or healthcare professionals prior to starting treatment with any medication to ensure that it is safe and suitable for your individual needs.

For a detailed analysis you can read our dedicated guide called 'Cialis London: A Guide To Buying Cialis In The UK's Capital'.

Can you get Cialis (Tadalafil) on subscription?

Yes, you can order Cialis on a subscription from UK Meds. By getting your medication on a subscription you can rest assured that you will get it when you need it, whilst also saving money. It’s a win-win!

Is it legal to buy Cialis (Tadalafil) online?

Yes, it is legal to purchase Cialis (Tadalafil) online when shopping online with UK Meds. All of the medication we provide is 100% genuine and is dispensed by registered UK pharmacies. For prescription-only medications, you will need to complete our free online consultation form to ensure that Cialis (Tadalafil) is right ED medicine for you.

Can you buy Cialis over the counter?

Cialis Together

Cialis Together is an over the counter version of branded tadalafil medication, Cialis. It helps adult men with erectile dysfunction, during sexual activity, to get and keep an erection that allows them to have satisfactory sex (EMC, 2023).

What alternative forms of ED treatments are available?

You can also find alternative forms of erectile dysfunction treatments to typical oral PDE5 inhibitor medications for sexual dysfunction at UK Meds. These include ED creams such as Alprostadil (Vitaros) penis cream. Other PDE5 inhibitor medications are available too, such as Viagra, Viagra Connect, Spedra (avanafil), Levitra (vardenafil), Cialis Together tablets and Cialis Daily

Your doctor, GP or healthcare provider will be able to advise you on the most suitable erectile dysfunction treatment for your individual needs.

• NHS - Tadalafil
• Medical News Today - Cialis
• WebMD - Cialis
• Mayo Clinic - Tadalafil
• European Medicines Agency - Cialis
• Drugs.com - Cialis
• British National Formulary (BNF) - Tadalafil

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