Cialis stands apart from the competition because of its extended half-life and its availability in two different formulations. A less-expensive generic alternative became available in late 2018.
With more than $2.3 billion in sales, Cialis was the top-selling erectile dysfunction drug worldwide in 2017. However, its 2017 sales were off slightly from 2016 and can be expected to trend further downward in the wake of the introduction of generic Cialis, marketed simply as tadalafil, in the fall of 2018.
Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in November 2003, Eli Lilly & Company’s entry in the ED drug field was the third such medication to win approval by the drug regulatory agency. Viagra was first in 1998, and Levitra beat Cialis to market by a matter of only a few months.
Although Cialis, Viagra, and Levitra all belong to a family of drugs known as PDE5 inhibitors, each has its own unique chemical compound. For that reason, one of these drugs might work better for a specific individual than the others. It might also cause fewer, if any, side effects, so it’s best to give them all a try before making a final decision on which drug is best suited for you.
However, for men who are considering giving Cialis or its generic equivalent a try, here are a few things they ought to know about these medications, how they work, how they differ from their competitors, and what side effects they have been known to cause. Your prescribing doctor, already familiar with other medical conditions and the drugs that you are taking, can offer further information specific to your individual needs.
What Sets Cialis Apart?
Unlike its competitors, which also include Staxyn and Stendra, introduced after 2003, Cialis is marketed in two distinct formulations. When first introduced, it was offered solely as an on-demand drug, just like Viagra and Levitra. That is to say that the drug is to be taken 15 to 60 minutes before sexual activity. But even in the beginning, Cialis had a significant advantage over its competitors in that its effects were said to last up to 36 hours, compared with four to six hours for Viagra and Levitra.
In 2011, the FDA approved a formulation of Cialis for daily use. For those men who want to be prepared whenever the need arises, 2.5- or 5-milligram daily doses of Cialis can be taken to ensure they’re always ready for romance. As its name implies, this lower-strength dose of the drug must be taken every day to produce the advertised results.
How Long to Produce Results?
Cialis for use as needed is available in both 10- and 20-milligram tablets. The recommended starting dose is 10 milligrams, which produces the desired results in most men. If the 10-milligram dose fails to help you get and keep an erection strong enough for intercourse, you’ll have to take the 20-milligram pill in the future. Regardless of the strength of the pill, you can expect results within 30 minutes after taking Cialis for use as needed.
Cialis for daily use, as previously explained, must be taken daily to produce 24/7 readiness for sexual activity. It is sold in tablets of 2.5 and 5 milligrams each. The recommended starting dose is 2.5 milligrams, which can be increased to 5 milligrams if the former fails to produce the desired results. Because this is a lower-strength daily medication, it may take up to seven days before you find that you’re able to get and keep an erection whenever the need arises.
How Long Are They Effective?
The effects of Cialis for use as needed may last up to 36 hours, by far the longest duration of effectiveness of all the ED drugs on the market. For those taking the daily formulation of Cialis, it may take up to a week before the full effects of the drug kick in. However, once that happens, you should be able to get an erection whenever necessary, provided of course that you continue to take the drug daily.
How Often Can I Take Cialis as Needed?
Because Cialis for use as needed can be effective for up to 36 hours, you should never take more than one of these tablets in a 36-hour period. And under no circumstances should you attempt to take both Cialis for daily use and Cialis for use as needed concurrently. If you’re currently taking one formulation and would like to switch to the other, consult with your doctor before making the switch.
How Does Cialis Work?
Like the other oral ED drugs on the market today, Cialis is designed to overcome the symptoms of erectile dysfunction caused by insufficient blood flow to the penis, which accounts for roughly 80 percent of all ED. If your erection problems are psychological in nature, these drugs are unlikely to significantly address your symptoms.
As previously noted, Cialis and related medications belong to a family of drugs known as PDE5 inhibitors, so called because they temporarily deactivate an enzyme known as phosphodiesterase-5. The PDE5 enzyme’s (bad guy) primary task is to break down a substance known as cyclic guanonsine monophosate, or cGMP (good guy). The role of cGMP is critical in the erection process, because it relaxes the smooth muscles lining the arteries that supply the penis. As these arteries relax, blood flow into the penis increases sharply, creating an erection. In men whose vascular systems are already compromised, the PDE5 enzyme degrades cGMP more quickly than it can be replaced, thus making it difficult, if not impossible, to get and keep an erection strong enough for sexual activity.
What About Side Effects?
The side effects of the various PDE5 inhibitors, including Cialis, are similar to one another because all these drugs are similar in chemical composition. The most common side effects of Cialis are usually mild and may disappear altogether as you continue to use the drug. These adverse effects include back pain, flushing, headache, indigestion, muscle ache, and runny or stuffy nose. Although rare, the drug can have more serious side effects, including a sudden decrease or loss of hearing or vision and an erection that lasts for four hours or more. Should you experience such serious side effects, seek medical attention immediately.
Possible Drug Interactions?
If you are already taking nitrate-based drugs for the relief of angina’s chest pains or to control your blood pressure, do not take Cialis. Both nitrates and Cialis lower central blood pressure, and taking the two together can cause a potentially life-threatening drop in blood pressure. Other drugs that may interact adversely with Cialis include antiviral drugs prescribed for the control of HIV, certain anti-hypertensive medications, some oral antifungal drugs, alpha-blockers prescribed for prostate problems, some antibiotics, and certain antidepressants.
If what you’ve learned here about Cialis convinces you that it’s something you’d like to try or if you’re interested in learning about some of Cialis’s competitors, pay a visit to eDrugstore’s Erection Problems page.
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