WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Clinical trials found that 68 to 77 percent of men taking 10 mg Cialis were able to have penetrative sex with their partner. Of those taking 20 mg Cialis, 76 to 85 percent were able to have penetrative sex.
Tips to Get the Best Results from Cialis
Cialis can cause both high blood pressure and low blood pressure. So if you already have either of these conditions, Cialis may make it worse. If you have a history of blood pressure problems, tell your doctor before you take Cialis. During your treatment, they may have you monitor your blood pressure more often to make sure it doesn’t become too high or too low. Cialis may increase your risk of stroke, especially if you have a history of stroke.
How ED meds work: A refresher
In studies done after Cialis was approved, some people with a history of heart problems had strokes during Cialis treatment. If you have a history of stroke, be sure to talk with your doctor before taking Cialis. They’ll be able to determine whether the medication is safe for you. If you have a history of liver problems, such as hepatitis or liver failure, your body may not break down Cialis quickly enough. This means that the drug can build up in your system, which may increase your risk of side effects from the medication.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
If you have liver problems, be sure to talk with your doctor before taking Cialis. They may have you start with a low dose. If you have kidney problems, such as chronic kidney disease, your body may not be able to get rid of Cialis as quickly as it should. This means that the medication may build up in your body, which can cause serious side effects. If you have kidney problems, tell your doctor before you take Cialis. But not all research agrees — a smaller daily dose may be just as effective as the as-needed Cialis treatment. A systematic review and meta-analysis examined six randomized controlled trials involving more than 1,500 people and compared an as-needed tadalafil treatment to a once-a-day dose. The results showed that both treatments were about equally effective. While Cialis works similarly to Viagra®, Cialis lasts longer in your body. In fact, Cialis is known as the “weekend pill” for its long half-life. Because you can pop one pill and have sex whenever you like over the next 36 hours (give or take a few hours), it offers more spontaneity.
| Product | Dosage | Quantity + Bonus | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cialis Generic | 10mg | 270 + 10 Pills | 308.71€ 294.01€ | |
| Cialis Generic | 60mg | 120 + 8 Pills | 240.18€ 228.74€ | |
| Cialis Generic | 60mg | 10 Pills | 41.22€ 39.26€ | |
| Cialis Super Active | 20mg | 120 + 16 Pills | 382.15€ 363.95€ | |
| Cialis Generic | 5mg | 120 + 6 Pills | 132.92€ 126.59€ | |
| Cialis Generic | 2.5mg | 10 Pills | 28.51€ 27.15€ | |
| Cialis Super Active | 20mg | 20 + 4 Pills | 92.35€ 87.95€ | |
| Cialis Generic | 60mg | 20 Pills | 65.61€ 62.49€ | |
| Cialis Professional | 20mg | 30 Pills | 104.57€ 99.59€ | |
| Cialis Generic | 40mg | 270 + 10 Pills | 382.19€ 363.99€ | |
| Cialis Professional | 40mg | 270 + 6 Pills | 898.37€ 855.59€ |
In comparison, avanafil only lasts up to six hours, and Viagra only lasts up to four hours. Clinical trials show that Cialis is effective for various severities and types of ED, including difficult-to-treat ED.
8.5 Geriatric Use
The lower doses of 2.5 mg and 5 mg are the daily doses of Cialis. For ED — which is when you struggle to get or keep an erection — Cialis works by dilating the blood vessels in the penis, which leads to a firmer erection. Cialis — 20 mg or otherwise — doesn’t just give you an erection, though. Some form of sexual stimulation is required to get hard. Cialis 20 mg may be a more effective treatment for ED than the 10 mg version. If you find Cialis 10 mg isn’t working, a 20 mg tablet might do the trick. You don’t need to take it every day.
- Cialis 10mg is one of several available dosing options.
- Cialis 20mg is the highest commercially available single pill.
- Both work by increasing blood flow to the penis during arousal.
- 10mg daily can be discreetly integrated into a daily vitamin routine.
- 20mg on-demand requires more foresight and planning.
- Side effects are generally mild to moderate and transient.
- Serious cardiovascular events are rare but possible with both.
- A follow-up appointment is needed to assess treatment success.
Depending on your preference and lifestyle, you may not want to take Cialis day in and day out.
- The 10mg dose is a balance between continuous effect and side effects.
- The 20mg dose is a balance between high efficacy and side effects.
- Neither dose should be used by someone for whom sex is inadvisable.
- Both are packaged in blisters or bottles with specific lot numbers.
- Expiry dates should be checked before using any tablet.
- Traveling with Cialis requires keeping it in original packaging.
- Psychological counseling may complement drug therapy at any dose.
- Regular medical reviews ensure the chosen dose remains appropriate.
In fact, the 20 mg dose of Cialis should only be taken as needed. Side effects of Cialis are usually mild and should go away on their own — although they may be worse with higher doses.
- For mild to moderate ED, 10mg on-demand is often sufficient.
- For more severe ED, 20mg on-demand may be necessary.
- 10mg daily dosing minimizes planning around medication timing.
- 20mg is not recommended for use with other PDE5 inhibitors.
- Both 10mg and 20mg can be part of a comprehensive ED treatment plan.
- Underlying causes of ED should be investigated regardless of dose.
- The 20mg dose may be cost-prohibitive for frequent use.
- Adherence to prescribed dose is critical for safety and efficacy.
For example, in clinical trials, 11 percent of people taking tadalafil 10 mg got a headache, whereas 15 percent of those taking tadalafil 20 mg got a headache. Some side effects have the same likelihood in both doses, such as flushing and limb pain.
| Metric | Cialis 10mg | Cialis 20mg | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effectiveness Rate | ~70% | ~80% | Slight increase with higher dose |
| Onset Time | 30-60 min | 30-60 min | Similar for both doses |
| Satisfaction Levels | Moderate | High | Higher with 20mg in many cases |
| Repeat Prescriptions | 60% | 75% | More patients prefer higher dose |
If the side effects of Cialis 20 mg are too much, a healthcare provider may reduce your dose.
8.7 Renal Insufficiency
They may have you start with a low dose of the medication. If you have any history of vision loss, talk with your doctor before taking Cialis. This vision loss may include having vision conditions such as non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Taking Cialis when you have vision loss may increase your risk of vision side effects. Your doctor may recommend a different medication than Cialis.
Cons of Cialis
If you have retinitis pigmentosa (a genetic eye condition that may cause vision loss), you should not take Cialis. It’s possible that Cialis may increase your risk of bleeding. So if you have a history of stomach ulcers, taking Cialis may increase your risk of developing bleeding ulcers. (Stomach ulcers are sores in the lining of your stomach or intestine, and they may bleed.) Talk with your doctor before taking Cialis if you have a history of stomach ulcers. Cialis may increase your risk of bleeding.
Take as directed
If you have a history of bleeding problems, such as hemophilia, taking Cialis may further increase your risk for bleeding. Talk with your doctor before taking Cialis if you have a history of bleeding problems. If you have a deformed penis or a history of Peyronie’s disease (a curved penis), tell your doctor before taking Cialis. You may be at an increased risk for developing a long-lasting erection if you take the drug. Blood may become trapped in the penis and lead to an erection lasting longer than 4 hours, which can be dangerous and cause lasting damage. If this is a particularly annoying side effect of other ED medications, switching to Cialis may be the answer. A 2017 systematic review and meta-analysis compared sildenafil (the generic of Viagra) and tadalafil. It found that tadalafil caused lower rates of flushing. Muscle aches and back pain were more common in tadalafil than sildenafil, though. Overall, tadalafil and sildenafil had similar efficacy and safety, but men and their partners preferred tadalafil.
- Cialis 10 mg offers a lower-cost option for some users.
- Cialis 20 mg provides a more potent effect for challenging ED.
- Always follow medical advice for choosing between doses.
- The medication enhances blood flow to the penis.
- Timing of the dose is flexible, but 30 minutes pre-activity is typical.
- Avoid grapefruit or grapefruit juice when taking Cialis.
- Cialis’s effect duration makes it convenient for spontaneous activity.
- Regular use can improve confidence and quality of life.
- Dosing adjustments should be made gradually and safely.
- Safety is paramount—report side effects to your doctor immediately.
You can learn more about the two ED treatments in our Cialis vs. Viagra guide. As with any medication, Cialis comes with possible side effects. The most common Cialis side effects include: Clinical trials show that most side effects are dose-dependent, meaning you’re more likely to get them with higher doses — and remember, Cialis 20 mg is the highest dose of the drug. Allergic reactions to Cialis aren’t common but they’re possible. Swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat Swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat There’s also a risk of priapism or prolonged erections — we’re talking for several hours here. It may sound great if you’re suffering from ED, but prolonged erections can be painful and cause irreversible damage to the penis. If your erection lasts more than four hours, seek medical advice. You may be more likely to get prolonged, painful erections from Cialis if you have: Anatomic deformations in the penis (like Peyronie’s disease) Anatomic deformations in the penis (like Peyronie’s disease) There’s also a small risk of vision loss. If you notice any vision loss in one or both eyes, stop taking Cialis and seek medical help. This could be a sign of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), which is caused by a lack of blood flow to the optic nerve. Another serious side effect includes a sudden decrease in hearing or hearing loss.
5.6 Alpha blockers and Antihypertensives
Your doctor will probably have you take a low dose of Cialis or use the medication with caution. History of erections lasting longer than 4 hours. If you have a history of prolonged erections or priapism, you may be at an increased risk for developing them while taking Cialis. A prolonged erection is one that lasts more than 4 hours. And priapism is a painful erection that lasts more than 6 hours.
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice
Both conditions are considered emergencies and need to be treated right away to prevent long-term damage. So if you’ve had prolonged erections or priapism in the past, tell your doctor before you take Cialis. They may have you carefully monitor your condition after taking Cialis. Blood cell problems can include sickle cell anemia and blood cancers such as multiple myeloma or leukemia. If you have a blood cell problem, tell your doctor before taking Cialis.
What is tadalafil (generic Cialis®)
You may be at an increased risk for developing a long lasting erection when taking the drug. Erections lasting longer than 4 hours can be dangerous and may cause permanent damage. Your doctor may recommend a low dose of Cialis if you have blood cell problems. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Cialis or any of its cialis tadalafil 20mg ingredients, you should not take Cialis. Ask your doctor what other medications are better options for you. Again, get medical advice as soon as you notice this. There are also a few drug interactions you should know about. You shouldn’t take Cialis 20 mg (or any dose of the drug) at all if you’re taking nitrates.
Drug Label Information
It’s not known if Cialis is safe to take during pregnancy. For more information, please see the “Cialis and pregnancy” section above. It’s not known if Cialis is safe to take while breastfeeding. For more information, please see the “Cialis and breastfeeding” section above. Note: For more information about the potential negative effects of Cialis, see the “Cialis side effects” section above.
Alternatives for erectile dysfunction (ED)
You might have seen Cialis® — the popular erectile dysfunction (ED) medication — available in doses ranging from 2.5 mg to 20 mg. Cialis 20 mg is an effective erectile dysfunction treatment, but so are the lower doses of the drug. Below, we’ll cover what Cialis 20 mg is used for, the benefits and side effects of this dose of Cialis, and how it compares to other strengths. Cialis is a brand name for tadalafil, a widely prescribed ED medication. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or an enlarged prostate Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or an enlarged prostate Other forms of tadalafil are used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, a type of high blood pressure in the lungs, but Cialis is not prescribed for this condition.
Use in Specific Populations
Cialis doses include 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg. You can take Cialis on an as-needed basis and pop a pill before sex, or you can take a daily dose of Cialis so you’re always ready for action. If you’re taking it as needed, you’ll likely be prescribed 5 mg, 10 mg, or 20 mg. The 10 mg strength is the typical starting dose, and it can be adjusted up or down depending on efficacy and side effects. But you won’t be taking 20 mg of Cialis daily.