From the Guidelines
Cialis (tadalafil) is primarily used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in men by improving blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation, as recommended by the American Urological Association (AUA) guideline 1. The AUA guideline suggests that men with ED should be informed about the treatment option of an FDA-approved oral phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5i), including discussion of benefits and risks/burdens, unless contraindicated 1. Some key points to consider when prescribing Cialis for ED include:
- The dose should be titrated to provide optimal efficacy, as recommended by the AUA guideline 1
- Cialis is available in doses of 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg, with the 10mg dose typically recommended for as-needed use about 30 minutes before sexual activity
- The medication can remain effective for up to 36 hours, earning it the nickname "the weekend pill"
- Common side effects include headache, indigestion, back pain, muscle aches, flushing, and nasal congestion, with the most frequently reported adverse events in men using PDE5i being dyspepsia, headache, flushing, back pain, nasal congestion, myalgia, visual disturbance, and dizziness 1. It's also worth noting that Cialis is approved to treat symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a condition involving an enlarged prostate, and can be used for both ED and BPH simultaneously, as well as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) under the brand name Adcirca.
From the FDA Drug Label
Tadalafil tablets are a prescription medicine taken by mouth for the treatment of: men with erectile dysfunction (ED) men with symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) men with both ED and BPH
Cialis (tadalafil) is used for:
- Erectile Dysfunction (ED): to help men get and keep an erection satisfactory for sexual activity
- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland
- Both ED and BPH: to treat both conditions simultaneously
From the Research
Uses of Cialis
- Cialis, also known as tadalafil, is used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in adult males 3.
- It is also used to treat the signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in adult males, with or without ED 4, 5, 6, 7.
- Tadalafil 5 mg once daily has been approved for the treatment of men with BPH-associated lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) with or without comorbid ED 7.
Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction and BPH
- Tadalafil has been shown to be effective in treating both ED and BPH in men with both conditions 4, 6.
- It improves the International Index of Erectile Function-Erectile Function domain score and the total International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) in men with both ED and BPH 4, 6.
- Tadalafil 5 mg once daily has been shown to significantly improve the total IPSS, voiding and storage subscores, IPSS Quality of Life (QoL), and BPH Impact Index (BII) in men with BPH-associated LUTS 7.
Safety and Tolerability
- Tadalafil has been shown to be generally well tolerated in patients with BPH, including those with ED, with adverse events being of mild to moderate intensity 4, 6, 7.
- The safety profile of tadalafil is well established, and no new or unexpected adverse events have been recorded in studies of its use in men with BPH-associated LUTS 7.