Cetaphil is NOT a medication for erectile dysfunction
There appears to be a fundamental misunderstanding in this question—Cetaphil is a skincare product (moisturizer/cleanser), not a treatment for erectile dysfunction. You may be confusing this with medications like tadalafil (Cialis) or sildenafil (Viagra), which are PDE5 inhibitors used to treat ED.
If You Meant Tadalafil (Cialis)
Tadalafil can be taken either daily OR as-needed before intercourse, depending on your preference for sexual spontaneity and frequency of sexual activity. 1
As-Needed Dosing (Before Intercourse)
- Take tadalafil 10-20 mg approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour before anticipated sexual activity 1
- Remains effective for up to 36 hours, allowing spontaneous sexual activity without precise timing 1
- Choose this option if you prefer scheduled sexual activity or have less frequent intercourse 1
- Important: Tadalafil does NOT show dose-dependent improvement between 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg—choose between 10 mg and 20 mg based primarily on tolerability rather than expecting dramatically better efficacy at higher doses 1
Daily Dosing
- Take tadalafil 2.5-5 mg once daily at the same time each day, regardless of when you plan sexual activity 1
- Eliminates the need to time medication with sexual activity entirely 1
- Choose this option if you value sexual spontaneity and don't want to plan ahead, or if you have coexisting benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)—tadalafil 5 mg daily is FDA-approved to treat both ED and BPH simultaneously 1
- Provides an alternative for couples who prefer spontaneous rather than scheduled sexual activity 1
Critical Safety Requirements Before Taking ANY ED Medication
Absolute Contraindications
- You MUST NOT take tadalafil or any PDE5 inhibitor if you use nitrates in any form (nitroglycerin, isosorbide)—this combination can cause potentially fatal hypotension 1
- Your physician must explicitly ask about all forms of nitrate use before prescribing 1
Cardiovascular Screening Required
- Before starting treatment, verify you can walk 1 mile in 20 minutes or climb 2 flights of stairs without symptoms—if you cannot perform this level of activity, you need cardiology referral before receiving ED medication 1
- Most ED patients fall into the low-risk category and can safely receive PDE5 inhibitors, including those with controlled hypertension, mild stable angina, successful coronary revascularization, uncomplicated past MI, and mild valvular disease 1
Ensuring Treatment Success
Requirements for Medication to Work
- Sexual stimulation is necessary for tadalafil to be effective—the medication will not work without arousal 1
- Avoid taking with large or fatty meals, which can reduce efficacy 1
- Limit alcohol consumption—heavy alcohol use impairs erectile function independent of medication 1
Defining an Adequate Trial Before Declaring Failure
- Complete at least 5 separate attempts at the maximum tolerated dose with proper technique before concluding the medication is ineffective 1
- Many apparent failures are due to incorrect use—lack of sexual stimulation, improper timing, or taking medication with large meals—rather than true medication inefficacy 1
- Before switching therapies, address hormonal abnormalities, food or drug interactions, timing and frequency of dosing, adequacy of sexual stimulation, heavy alcohol use, and relationship issues 1
When to Consider Testosterone Testing
- If tadalafil works but response is suboptimal, check testosterone levels—combining tadalafil with testosterone therapy may be more effective than tadalafil alone in men with testosterone deficiency 1
- Men with diabetes or post-prostatectomy have more severe ED at baseline and may respond less robustly to PDE5 inhibitors 1