Cialis

Brand Names

Adcirca, Cialis

What is Cialis

Cialis (tadalafil) is a prescription medicine that used in the treatment of such sexual problems as obtaining or maintaining an erection. It can also be used to treat an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)). Cialis is produced by Eli Lilly and Company.

Side effects of Cialis

If you have noticed any of these serious side effects inform your doctor as soon as possible:

• sudden loss of vision (see below for more information)
• blurred vision
• changes in color vision (seeing a blue tinge on objects or having difficulty telling the difference between blue and green)
• sudden decrease or loss of hearing (see below for more information)
• ringing in ears
• erection that lasts longer than 4 hours
• dizziness
• chest pain
• hives
• rash
• blistering or peeling of skin

Less serious side effects may include the following:

• headache
• indigestion or heartburn
• nausea
• diarrhea
• flushing
• pain in the stomach, back, muscles, arm or legs
• cough

In some cases, people have a sudden loss of some or all of their vision after taking Cialis or other medicines that are similar to it. In some people the vision loss was permanent. There is no evidence that this permanent vision loss was caused by cialis. You should inform your doctor at once if you have a sudden loss of vision while you are taking this medicine. It is not recommended to take any more doses of cialis or similar medications such as sildenafil (Revatio, Viagra) or vardenafil (Levitra) until you talk to your doctor.

Some people have a sudden reduce or loss of hearing after taking cialis or other medications that are similar to it. The hearing loss usually affects only one ear and may not get better. Doctors do not know if the hearing loss was caused by cialis. You should inform your doctor at once if you have a sudden loss of hearing, sometimes with ringing in the ears or dizziness, while you are taking cialis. You should not take any more doses of cialis or similar medications such as sildenafil (Revatio, Viagra) or vardenafil (Levitra) until you talk to your doctor.

Indication

Cialis belongs to a class of drugs called phosphodiesterase inhibitors that also includes sildenafil (Viagra) and vardenafil (Levitra). Cialis is used to treat impotence (a total inability to achieve erection). It can also be used in the treatment of the symptoms of an enlarged prostate.

Precautions

Before taking Cialis, you should inform your doctor if you have:

• Heart disease such as angina, congestive heart failure or irregular heartbeats
• Kidney disease or kidney failure
• Liver disease or liver failure
• A history of a heart attack, stroke or life-threatening arrhythmia within the past 3 months
• Retinitis pigmentosa which is a rare eye problem
• A history of severe vision loss including a condition called NAION
• Stomach ulcers
• Other bleeding problems
• Low blood pressure (hypotension)
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Sickle cell anemia
• Multiple myeloma
• Leukemia
• A history of priapism which is a painful erection lasting longer than 6 hours
• Any condition that causes a penis deformation such as angulation, Peyronie's disease or cavernosal fibrosis
• Any allergies

It is also very important to inform your doctor about all the medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, antacids, vitamins and herbal supplements.

Dosage forms

Dose of Cialis for Erectile dysfunction

For the treatment of erectile dysfunction, you should start with Cialis 10 mg, taken one hour before sexual intercourse. However, you may take Cialis anywhere from 1-36 hours before sexual intercourse. Your doctor may increase or decrease your dose, it depends on how well it works and whether you have any side effects. The maximum dose should not be more than 20 mg.

Cialis can also be used every single day, whether you plan sexual intercourse or not. The recommended starting dose is Cialis 2.5 mg once daily, taken at the same time each day. Your doctor may increase the Cialis dose to 5 mg every day if necessary. Lower doses may be taken by men with kidney or liver problems.

Dose of Cialis for an Enlarged prostate

For people suffering from an enlarged prostate, the recommended starting dose is Cialis 5 mg daily. People with kidney or liver problems should take lower doses.