Cialis is a PDE5 inhibitor designed to treat erectile dysfunction. Cialis is also occasionally used to treat benign prostatic hypertension. Cialis was invented in 2003 and has since been used approximately eight million times worldwide. Cialis has a biological half life of 17 hours, which is responsible for its nickname as “the weekend pill”. The unusually long half life is also what allows it to serve as a therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension. Cialis works by inhibiting the production of PDE5, which is responsible for recycling cGMP, an enzyme which regulates blood flow to the penis. Like most PDE5 inhibitors, Cialis has no effect without sexual stimulation. Cialis tablets can be eaten with food but should be swallowed whole, not broken apart or chewed.
Cialis’s active ingredient is tadalafil, a crystalline solid that does not dissolve in water. Tadalafil molecular formula is C22H19N3O4. Cialis tablets also contain a number of inactive ingredients: croscarmellose sodium, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hypromellose, iron oxide, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium lauryl sulfate, talc, titanium dioxide, and triacetin. Most of these are to accelerate tadalafil’s absorption, keep the tablets solid, etc. None of them are known to be dangerous.
Cialis comes in 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg doses. The tablets are yellow and almond shaped. Cialis is occasionally sold as Tadacip and is only available through a prescription. Cialis can be purchased online at sites such as Edonlinestores.net. They cost six to four dollars per pill, with discounts for buying in bulk. The normal dose is 5-20mg, taken 24 hours prior to sexual activity. Cialis taken immediately prior to sexual activity may not actually help you. Plan ahead.
Cialis has a number of common side effects, including warmth or redness in the face, neck, and chest, headaches, nausea, stomachs, stuffy noses, sneezing, sore throats, amnesia, muscle pain, back pain, low blood pressure, dizziness, blurry vision, loss of color vision, and priapism. These aren’t significant and can be safely ignored unless they persist after you stop taking Cialis.
More critical side effects include the stereotypical “four hour erection”, blindness, and deafness. As always, any signs of an allergy reaction (hives, rash, swelling) should be considered extremely serious. Stop taking Cialis and call a doctor immediately if you experience one of these side effects. Untreated issues can be life threatening. Other potentially deadly side effects include chest pain, pain that spreads through your body, sweating, feeling ill, irregular heartbeat, seizures, and fainting.
Cialis should not be taken in combination with nitrate drugs (Nitro Dur, Nitrolingual, Nitrostat, Transderm Nitro, etc), isosorbide dinitrate, isosorbide mononitrate, or illegal drugs such as amyl nitrate (commonly known by the slang name poppers). Taking Cialis in combination with any of these drugs can cause a sudden and lethal drop in blood pressure, to the point where you can die while the ambulance is on its way. People with heart conditions (particularly heart attacks), high or low blood pressure, liver disease, kidney disease (including people on dialysis), blood cell disorders (sickle cell anemia, etc), hemophilia, or ulcers should also avoid taking Cialis.
I am self employed. General Practitioner in Melbourne, VIC. My special interest: male reproductive system.