DRUG OVERVIEW
Cialis is the market name of Tadalafil, which is a FDA approved drug for treatment of erectile dysfunction problem. Tadalafil is a PDE5 inhibitor which in layman’s language “helps increase blood flow to the penis by relaxing the smooth muscle cells in the walls of the blood vessels of the penis.” Thanks to this attribute of Tadalafil, we get Cialis. It is may be useful to note that of all the other available drugs in the same class (such as Sildenafil and Vardenafil), Tadalafil is the only option which can be prescribed as a daily usage drug.
Apart from Cialis which is manufactured in the US by Lilly ICOS, LLC (a joint venture of Eli Lilly and Company with the ICOS Corporation), generic Tadalafil is also made and sold by Cipla (an Indian pharmaceutical company) under the brand name of Tadacip, which is a cheaper alternative to Cialis.
HOW TO USE
Cialis is available in form of tablets of varying weights such as 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg doses. The recommended daily dosage is just 5 mg for safe use and minimal side effects. All you have to do is to ingest your Tadalafil pill and wait for the effect to kick in, which is usually within an hour. Note that the drug works only on a physiological level to fix erectile dysfunction and therefore, will not serve to increase your sex drive. Also presence of other drugs in the blood may shorten Tadalafil half-life and reducing the desired drug efficiency.
SIDE EFFECTS
Like any medicinal drug, Tadalafil comes with varying forms of side effects. The most common side effects are; flushing usually around your upper chest and on the face, headaches, stomach pain, ingestion, heartburns, muscle aches and runny nose. All this are attributed to the vasodilation effect of PDE5 inhibitor in the blood vessels and may vary between individuals. They usually disappear after a while (usually within a day or two). The extensiveness of these side effects is usually directly proportional to the amount of Tadalafil taken.
Other uncommon side effects of Tadalafil include; burning/dry/itching eyes leading to eye problems, trouble with sleeping, burning in the throat, cold sweats, blurred vision and unusual tiredness. Due to reports of deafness resulting from use of PDE5 inhibitors, the FDA has also advised on warning users of potential of sudden hearing loss.
The most crucial advice on the Tadalafil side effects is to only use it under prescription conditions and stick to the prescribed dosage; remember that increasing the Tadalafil intake amount will likely cause the seriousness of the emanating side effects to increase. Also in case of prolonged side effects, you should seek medical attention immediately.
CONCLUSION
All in all Cialis is an efficient solution to erectile dysfunction problems; providing a relatively safe alternative medication under moderate usage. Its ability to be a daily drug is also a plus. However, the need for medical prescription before using the drug cannot be over emphasized as it may mean the difference between safe results and adverse undesirable side effects.
I am self employed. General Practitioner in Melbourne, VIC. My special interest: male reproductive system.