Erectile dysfunction (ED) is difficulty getting or keeping an erection. It affects about 30 million people in the United States¹, and nearly 40% of men experience some form of ED by age 40.² And yet, many men struggle to seek treatment. Below-the-belt issues, like problems in the bedroom, stand as one of the most rarely discussed topics among men with their doctors. We get it. It's not the easiest thing to talk about. But research shows that pressing pause on your sex life because you can't get or maintain an erection can lead to stress, self-confidence issues, and relationship problems. We're here to help. We're making it easier than ever to get ED medications discreetly, from the comfort of home. Now, you're just a few steps away from more confident sexual health.

Cialis is one of the most commonly prescribed medications to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). It belongs to a class of drugs known as PDE5 inhibitors, which block the PDE5 enzyme. This enzyme regulates blood flow in different parts of your body, including important erectile tissues. When PDE5 is active, these tissues constrict and reduce blood flow in your penis. Cialis relaxes these blood vessels, which helps you build and maintain an erection.

The information packet that comes with your prescription will have in-depth instructions on how to take Cialis for erectile dysfunction. There are two different ways to take Cialis for ED, either on an as-needed basis or daily. Generally, to use Cialis on an as-needed basis, take one Cialis tablet before you expect to have sexual activity. You may be able to have sexual activity at 30 minutes after taking Cialis and up to 36 hours after taking it. To take Cialis on a daily basis, take the prescribed amount every day at about the same time of day. You may attempt sexual activity at any time between doses. You can take Cialis with or without food. Do not take Cialis more than once in a 24-hour period.

When prescribed for erectile dysfunction, Cialis is available in four dosages: 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg. There are two different ways to take Cialis for ED, either on an as needed basis or daily. If you have no related health conditions and want to start using Cialis to treat erectile dysfunction, the recommended or typical as needed dosage is 10 mg taken 30 minutes before sexual activity. Your dosage will change if you take Cialis daily. A typical dosage for daily use is 2.5 mg. Your clinician will ultimately determine whether you qualify for your prescription and dosage, if applicable.

Do not take Cialis if you:
• take any medicines called “nitrates”.
• use recreational drugs called “poppers” like amyl nitrite and butyl nitrite.
• take any medicines called guanylate cyclase stimulators, such as riociguat.
• are allergic to Cialis or Adcirca, or any of its ingredients.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
• rash
• hives
• swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat
• difficulty breathing or swallowing

Call your healthcare provider or get help right away if you have any of the symptoms of an allergic reaction listed above.

Cialis can cause your blood pressure to drop suddenly to an unsafe level if it is taken with certain other medicines. You could get dizzy, faint, or have a heart attack or stroke. Never take Cialis with any nitrate or guanylate cyclase stimulator medicines.

Discuss your health with your healthcare provider to ensure that you are healthy enough for sex. If you experience chest pain, dizziness, or nausea during sex, seek immediate medical help.

Cialis can cause serious side effects. Rarely reported side effects include:
• an erection that won't go away (priapism). If you get an erection that lasts more than 4 hours, get medical help right away. Priapism must be treated as soon as possible or lasting damage can happen to your penis, including the inability to have erections.
• color vision changes, such as seeing a blue tinge (shade) to objects or having difficulty telling the difference between the colors blue and green.
• in rare instances, men taking PDE5 inhibitors (oral erectile dysfunction medicines, including Cialis) reported a sudden decrease or loss of vision in one or both eyes. It is uncertain whether PDE5 inhibitors directly cause the vision loss. If you experience sudden decrease or loss of vision, stop taking PDE5 inhibitors, including Cialis, and call a healthcare provider right away.
• sudden loss or decrease in hearing, sometimes with ringing in the ears and dizziness, has been rarely reported in people taking PDE5 inhibitors, including Cialis. It is not possible to determine whether these events are related directly to the PDE5 inhibitors, to other diseases or medications, to other factors, or to a combination of factors. If you experience these symptoms, stop taking Cialis and contact a healthcare provider right away.

These are not all the possible side effects of Cialis. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Before taking Cialis, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical problems, including if you:
• have heart problems such as angina, heart failure, irregular heartbeats, or have had a heart attack. Ask your healthcare provider if it is safe for you to have sexual activity. You should not take Cialis if your healthcare provider has told you not to have sexual activity because of your health problems.
• have pulmonary hypertension
• have low blood pressure or have high blood pressure that is not controlled
• have had a stroke
• have liver problems
• have kidney problems or require dialysis
• have retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic (runs in families) eye disease
• have ever had severe vision loss, including a condition called NAION
• have stomach ulcers
• have a bleeding problem
• have a deformed penis shape or Peyronie's disease
• have had an erection that lasted more than 4 hours
• have blood cell problems such as sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or leukemia

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Cialis and other medicines may affect each other. Always check with your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any medicines. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take any of the following:
• medicines called nitrates
• medicines called guanylate cyclase stimulators, such as riociguat (Adempas), used to treat pulmonary hypertension
• medicines called alpha blockers. These include Hytrin (terazosin HCl), Flomax (tamsulosin HCl), Cardura (doxazosin mesylate), Minipress (prazosin HCl), Uroxatral (alfuzosin HCl), Jalyn (dutasteride and tamsulosin HCl) or Rapaflo (silodosin). Alpha-blockers are sometimes prescribed for prostate problems or high blood pressure. If CIALIS is taken with certain alpha blockers, your blood pressure could suddenly drop. You could get dizzy or faint.
• other medicines to treat high blood pressure (hypertension)
• medicines called HIV protease inhibitors, such as ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra)
• some types of oral antifungals such as ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox)
• some types of antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), telithromycin (Ketek), erythromycin (several brand names exist. Please consult your healthcare provider to determine if you are taking this medicine).
• other medicines or treatments for ED
• Cialis is also marketed as Adcirca for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Do not take both Cialis and Adcirca. Do not take sildenafil citrate (Revatio) with Cialis.

After taking a single tablet, some of the active ingredients of Cialis remains in your body for more than 2 days. The active ingredients can remain longer if you have problems with your kidneys or liver, or you are taking certain other medications.

Cialis does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.

The most common side effects with Cialis are: headache, indigestion, back pain, muscle aches, flushing, and stuffy or runny nose. These side effects usually go away after a few hours. Men who get back pain and muscle aches usually get it 12 to 24 hours after taking Cialis. Back pain and muscle aches usually go away within 2 days.

INDICATION
ED is a condition where the penis does not fill with enough blood to harden and expand when a man is sexually excited, or when he cannot keep an erection. A man who has trouble getting or keeping an erection should see his healthcare provider for help if the condition bothers him. Cialis helps increase blood flow to the penis and may help men with ED get and keep an erection satisfactory for sexual activity. Once a man has completed sexual activity, blood flow to his penis decreases, and his erection goes away. Some form of sexual stimulation is needed for an erection to happen with Cialis.

For a full list of side effects, interactions, and contraindications, please visit medlineplus.gov.

Prescription medications are not currently available in the following states: Alabama, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and West Virginia. This list is subject to change.