From the Guidelines
Tadalafil can cause several side effects, including headache, indigestion, back pain, muscle aches, flushing, and stuffy or runny nose, as reported in the most recent and highest quality study 1.
Common Side Effects
- Headache
- Indigestion
- Back pain
- Muscle aches
- Flushing
- Stuffy or runny nose These side effects typically occur within a few hours of taking the medication and usually resolve on their own.
Serious Side Effects
More serious but less common side effects include:
- Prolonged erection (priapism) lasting more than 4 hours, which requires immediate medical attention to prevent permanent damage
- Sudden vision loss
- Hearing decrease or loss
- A drop in blood pressure, especially when combined with nitrates or alpha-blockers The standard dose ranges from 2.5mg to 20mg depending on the condition being treated, with effects lasting up to 36 hours, as recommended by the American Urological Association guideline 1.
Special Considerations
Patients should take tadalafil as prescribed, typically 30 minutes to 2 hours before sexual activity for erectile dysfunction, or daily for conditions like benign prostatic hyperplasia. The most frequently reported adverse events in men using PDE5 inhibitors, including tadalafil, are dyspepsia, headache, flushing, back pain, nasal congestion, myalgia, visual disturbance, and dizziness, with average rates similar across medications 1. It is essential to inform patients about the benefits and risks of tadalafil and to titrate the dose to provide optimal efficacy, as recommended by the guideline 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The most common side effects with tadalafil tablets are: headache, indigestion, back pain, muscle aches, flushing, and stuffy or runny nose. Uncommon side effects include: An erection that won’t go away (priapism). 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 tadalafil tablets) reported a sudden decrease or loss of vision in one or both eyes. Sudden loss or decrease in hearing, sometimes with ringing in the ears and dizziness, has been rarely reported in people taking PDE5 inhibitors, including tadalafil tablets
The side effects of Tadalafil (Cialis) include:
- Common side effects:
- Headache
- Indigestion
- Back pain
- Muscle aches
- Flushing
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Uncommon side effects:
- Priapism (an erection that won’t go away)
- Color vision changes
- Sudden decrease or loss of vision
- Sudden loss or decrease in hearing 2
From the Research
Side Effects of Tadalafil (Cialis)
The side effects of Tadalafil (Cialis) have been studied in various clinical trials. Some of the common side effects reported include:
- Headache 3, 4, 5, 6
- Dyspepsia 4, 5, 6
- Back pain 4, 5
- Dizziness 3, 4
- Facial flushing 3
- Nasal congestion 5
- Myalgia 5
Less Common Side Effects
Some less common side effects reported in clinical trials include:
- Ejaculatory dysfunction 7
- Orgasmic dysfunction 7
- Decreased libido (not reported in the provided studies)
Drug Interactions
Tadalafil can interact with other medications, such as:
Special Considerations
It is essential to note that the incidence of cardiovascular adverse events was not significantly different in tadalafil or placebo recipients 6. However, patients with certain medical conditions, such as heart disease or hypertension, should be cautious when taking tadalafil.