About
Cialis
This is a summary of the most important
information about Cialis. For details, talk to your
healthcare professional.
Usage
Cialis is a prescription medicine
taken by mouth for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED)
in men. ED is a condition where the penis does not harden and
expand when a man is sexually excited, or when he cannot keep
an erection. Cialis may help a man with ED get and keep an
erection when he is sexually excited. Cialis must be used only
under a doctor’s care.
Cialis does
not:
-
cure
ED
-
increase a
man’s sexual desire
-
protect a
man or his partner from sexually transmitted
diseases, including HIV. Speak to your healthcare
professional about ways to guard against sexually
transmitted diseases.
-
serve as a
male form of birth
control
Cialis is only for men with ED. Cialis is not
for women or children. Cialis must be used only under a
healthcare professional’s care.
Precautions
Do not take Cialis if
you:
-
take any
medicines called
“nitrates”
-
use
recreational drugs called “poppers” like amyl
nitrate and butyl
nitrate
-
have been
told by your healthcare professional to not have
sexual activity because of health
problems
Side
Effects
The following are the major possible risks
and side effects of Cialis therapy. This list is not
complete.
Cialis can cause your blood
pressure to drop suddenly to an unsafe level if it is taken
with certain other medicines such as nitrates and
alpha-blockers, and recreational drugs that contain nitrates
called “poppers.” A sudden drop in your blood pressure could
cause you to become dizzy, faint, or have a heart attack or
stroke.
Tell all your healthcare
professionals that you take Cialis. If you need emergency
medical care for a heart problem, it will be important for your
healthcare professionals to know when you last took
Cialis.
Cialis may uncommonly
cause:
-
an erection
that won’t go away
(priapism)
-
vision
changes, such as seeing a blue tinge to objects
or having difficulty telling the difference
between the colors blue and
green
Some common side effects with Cialis
include:
-
headache
-
indigestion
-
back
pain
-
muscle
aches
-
flushing
-
stuffy or
runny nose
Consultation
Tell your healthcare professional
if you:
-
have or had
heart problems
-
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 ever
had severe vision loss
-
have
retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic (runs in
families) eye disease
-
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
-
take
medicines called “alpha blockers” (alpha blockers
are sometimes prescribed for prostate problems or
high blood pressure)
Drug Interaction
Cialis and certain other
medicines can interact with each other. Tell your healthcare
professional about all the medicines you take including
prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and
herbal supplements. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of
them with you to show your healthcare
professional.
FDA ALERT
[07/2005]: A
small number of men have lost eyesight in one eye some time
after taking Cialis, Viagra, or Levitra. This type of vision
loss is called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy
(NAION). NAION causes a sudden loss of eyesight because blood
flow is blocked to the optic nerve.
We do not know at this time if
Cialis, Viagra or Levitra causes NAION. NAION also happens in
men who do not take these medicines. People who have a higher
chance for NAION include those who:
FDA has approved new labels for Cialis,
Viagra, and Levitra to include information on possible eyesight
loss (NAION).
Stop using Cialis, Viagra, or
Levitra if you have a loss in your eyesight. Get medical help
right away.
This information reflects FDA’s current
analysis of data available to FDA concerning this
drug.
Reference for
Tadalafil (Cialis)Article
U.S. Food and Drug
Administration
Health
Related Websites
The National Cancer
Institute
The National Eye
Institute
The National Heart, Lung,
and Blood Institute
National Institute on
Aging
National Institute of
Allergy and Infectious Diseases
National Institute of
Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
National Institute of
Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Institute on Drug
Abuse
National Institute of Mental
Health
National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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