Tadalafil is a treatment for erectile dysfunction. It’s a non-branded or generic version of Cialis. So it does the same job in the body, but the packaging and the look of the tablets is different. For this reason, it’s a little cheaper.
There are two versions of Tadalafil: daily and on-demand. Daily comes as a 2.5mg or 5mg dose, and you can take it every day so you’re always ‘covered.’ On-demand comes as a 10mg or 20mg, and the effects last for up to 36 hours after you take it.
How does Tadalafil work?
In short, Tadalafil increases blood flow to your penis by relaxing tight blood vessels. This helps blood to fill the muscle tissue in the penis so it can get erect more easily (and stay erect).
Erections happen because of a chemical process which occurs when you’re sexually aroused. The brain sends chemical messages to the blood vessels in the penis and lets them know it’s time to relax and dilate. This allows blood to fill two expandable muscles called the corpus cavernosum. When these are filled, you become erect.
Often with ED, a problem in the body or mind means that these floodgates don’t open — even if you’d really like them to. Tadalafil is in a class of medications known as PDE5 inhibitors. PDE5 is an enzyme that can cause blood vessels to become constricted and narrow.
Tadalafil limits the action of the PDE5 enzyme, and so allows for blood to flow into the penis in moments of arousal. (Key word being arousal here — you need to be turned on for ED drugs like Tadalafil to work.)
Tadalafil vs Cialis: What’s the difference?
The big difference is the price. But the manufacturer and packaging will also vary. Cialis is brand-name Tadalafil, and it’s always made by a company called Lilly. Tadalafil is generic Cialis, and is manufactured by a number of companies and labs (not just Lilly).
When a company brings a new drug to the market, they typically have the exclusive right to produce that drug for an amount of time. Lilly had this right with Cialis up until 2018, when the drug became available for other companies to make it as a generic.
Cialis and Tadalafil also look different, but they have exactly the same active ingredients, doses, side effects, contraindications (reasons certain people may not be able to take them) and uses.
Both drugs work in exactly the same way. But Tadalafil, being generic, is cheaper. This is almost always the case with generic medications.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
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How to take Tadalafil
If you’re taking the on-demand 10mg or 20mg dose of Tadalafil:
Take it 30-60 minutes before sex
Swallow your tablet whole, with water
Try not to take it after a big meal as this can slow down the time it takes to get to work
Never take more than one pill in any 24 hour period
Ideally you should wait 24 hours after you stop noticing the effects of Tadalafil before you take another pill.
Tadalafil can stay active in the body for up to 36 hours, so may be more preferable for that reason. A doctor will always want to prescribe the lowest dose that works because it’s generally safer. Most men taking the weekend option will start on 10mg. If that doesn’t help, a doctor may recommend the 20mg dose.
How to take Tadalafil Daily
If you’re taking 2.5mg or 5mg of Tadalafil:
Take one tablet at the same time each day
Swallow your tablet whole, with water.
Don’t take more than one tablet in any 24 hour period.
With the daily option, our doctors might start you off on the 2.5mg dose as a precaution to see how effective it is, and suggest 5mg if your response isn’t quite strong enough.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
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Tadalafil: FAQ
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
Which Tadalafil dosage is right for me?
Answer:
You’ve got four basic choices of Tadalafil dose: 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg or 20mg. That’s a lot of numbers, so let’s break it down.
If you’re looking for the Tadalafil ‘weekend’ pill that works for up to 36 hours, you’ll want to take either the 10mg or 20mg dose of Tadalafil. If you’re taking Tadalafil in this way, you’ll start on 10mg. You might be recommended the 20mg dose if the 10mg dose doesn’t work quite well enough.
Tadalafil 2.5mg and 5mg doses are for daily use. The starting dose is 5mg, but if this gives you mild side effects, you’ve got the option to move down to the 2.5mg dose.
Talk to us if you’re not sure which dose is right for you. We can help you settle on the right Tadalafil dose, and if you’re not sure the dose you’re taking is doing the job, you’ve got the option to switch.
What should I do if Tadalafil doesn’t work?
Answer:
There are things you can do to help Tadalafil work better. Limiting your alcohol intake, getting plenty of exercise and not taking it after a big meal can sometimes can help your response to the drug.
But it might also be that you need a higher dose of Tadalafil, or a different medication. At Treated, we make this easy. Just log in to your account and chat with one of our clinicians.
Do you need a prescription to buy Tadalafil?
Answer:
Tadalafil is a prescription-only medication in the US. A doctor or pharmacy prescriber will need to make sure it’s safe for you by asking you a few questions about your health before you use it. This is because in rare cases, ED drugs can cause serious and potentially harmful side effects in the body. Taking ED drugs that haven’t been recommended for you by a doctor or pharmacist can be unsafe.
You don't need a prescription to be able to get ED treatment with us, because we can create one for you. Talk to us to get recommendations and we’ll issue a prescription for the option that’s best for you.
How effective is Tadalafil?
Answer:
Tadalafil is known to work well for erectile dysfunction. In clinical trials for the drug, 81% of men saw that it improved their erections. Broken down into categories of severity:
86% of men with mild ED symptoms saw an improvement in erections;
83% of men with moderate erectile dysfunction found it improved erections;
and 72% of men with severe ED reported improvements.
In other words, regardless of the severity, Tadalafil can be highly effective. But if you take it and it doesn’t have the desired effect, let us know.
Tadalafil or Sildenafil: which is best?
Answer:
They’re two different drugs, so which one is better may come down to personal preference. Sildenafil is the generic version of Viagra and Tadalafil is generic Cialis.
The benefit of Tadalafil is that there’s both a daily and longer lasting on-demand version. There’s only one version of Sildenafil, which takes around 30-60 minutes to work and lasts for up to five hours.
Some men prefer Sildenafil as it is sometimes more affordable than Tadalafil.
Why should I buy Tadalafil online with Treated?
Answer:
We think you should have the power to choose. So talk to us if you’re looking for ED treatment. We’ll show you what’s safe, so you can select the option you think is best.
Once your plan is set up, you’ll get your chosen ED treatment delivered as often as you need it. And you can pause or skip deliveries any time you like.
We’ll also catch up with you regularly to see how it’s going. If there’s anything you want to ask or change about your treatment, we’re here to help.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
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