The Ultimate Guide to Tadalafil
What Is Tadalafil?
Tadalafil, popularly known as Cialis®, is a drug commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction.
Chemically, tadalafil is a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5 inhibitor). It acts as a vasodilator, by relaxing the smooth muscles of the penis, and it increases blood flow. As a result, it helps its users achieve stronger, longer-lasting erections.
In addition to increasing erection strength and duration, tadalafil has been used to treat other medical conditions, such as pulmonary arterial hypertension and benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Erectile dysfunction is a major problem around the world, with estimates suggesting that it affects around 1 in 5 men worldwide.
“Although erectile dysfunction is a benign disorder, it can affect physical and psychosocial health and may have a significant impact on the quality of life of patients and their partners,” wrote scientists.
Evidence suggests that tadalafil not only improves outcomes in men with erectile dysfunction, but that it also helps men gain greater confidence and psychological well-being when it comes to their sexual health.
Furthermore, tadalafil has been demonstrated to offer benefits beyond sexual. Read on to learn more.
Why Do You Need To Know About Tadalafil
Tadalafil is one of the most popular and well-researched drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction. It has been prescribed for the treatment of erectile dysfunction since 2003.
A quick search of “erectile dysfunction” and “tadalafil” or “Cialis®” on academic search engines yields hundreds of results. This means that this drug has been studied by hundreds of scientists over the last few decades.
“Tadalafil . . . is effective from 30 minutes after administration and its efficacy is maintained for up to 36 hours,” wrote scientists. “It is administered [when needed] with doses of 10 mg and 20 mg. More recently, it is also given [on demand] in a lower dose to allow spontaneous, rather than scheduled, sexual activities.”
A team of researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published concerning the use of tadalafil in erectile dysfunction. They filtered through hundreds of studies in order to get a broad sense of how well tadalafil performs in helping men with erectile dysfunction.
Their conclusion? “Tadalafil . . . has been shown to exhibit comparable efficacy, safety and satisfaction for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, and tadalafil dramatically improved the psychological outcomes.”
Hence, if you are a man struggling with erectile dysfunction, tadalafil is one of the safest and most effective drugs you can get on the market, subject to approval by a licensed physician.
Don’t have erectile dysfunction? Men able to attain healthy erections can benefit from tadalafil as well. With the right dosage sexual performance can be optimized for most men.
Source: Pexels / Vitaliy Izonin
Benefits of Tadalafil
The main benefit of tadalafil regarding erectile dysfunction is that it has been extensively studied and proven to be generally safe and effective
Scientists who studied the efficacy of tadalafil reported that just 4 weeks on this medication achieved a total effectiveness rate of 85.9% among men. In addition, men who were on tadalafil also reported experiencing greater enjoyment in their sex life and having more frequent sexual intercourse.
In addition, studies have demonstrated that serum testosterone levels rose in men who received daily tadalafil at 20 mg for 9 months.
Another key benefit of tadalafil is that it not only increases sexual pleasure for the patient, but also for his partner. Studies have demonstrated that partners of men treated with tadalafil are more likely to report feelings of sexual satisfaction.
Also, men who have been prescribed tadalafil for sexual dysfunction reported positive changes in their self-esteem and confidence.
“It is clear from numerous high-quality studies that tadalafil as a daily dose is highly efficacious in the management of erectile dysfunction from a variety of causes,” concluded scientists. “It is also clear that daily dose of tadalafil will have a beneficial effect on the sexual relationship between partners.”
The benefits of tadalafil and improved blood flow go beyond sexual health.
A study treating men with 5 mg tadalafil daily found not only improvements in erections (as captured by IIEF score), but significant improvements in cognitive metrics: attention, abstraction, memory, orientation, and language.
A second study, also using 5 mg tadalafil, observed cognitive improvements in mental processing speed and attention. This study also observed a reduction in peripheral proinflammatory interleukins.
Improvements in lean mass content in non-obese men has also been observed with daily use of 5 mg tadalafil. The researchers believe that reduced estradiol, improved endothelial function, and enhanced insulation secretion are responsible.
Side Effects of Tadalafil
Tadalafil is generally well-tolerated by patients who are prescribed the medication.
“Our study reveals daily administration of tadalafil 5mg is efficacious and well tolerated in the treatment of erectile dysfunction patients over 12 weeks who took tadalafil 5mg once-daily,” wrote a team of scientists.
However, like all medications, some patients taking tadalafil may experience unwanted side effects.
Scientists reported that the most common side effects of tadalafil when taken daily at a dose between 2.5 mg and 20 mg are:
- Headache (1%-14%)
- Dizziness (1%-4%)
- Back pain (2%-11%)
- Dyspepsia (1%-11%)
- Facial flushing (7%-8%)
- Myalgia (1%-5%)
- Nasal congestion (6%-7%)
“Side effects from daily dose tadalafil in clinical trials have generally been mild, with 54%–80% of reported events mild in nature and with no more than a third of events moderate in severity,” wrote scientists
If you are taking tadalafil and experience any of these side effects, speak to a qualified physician as soon as you can.
Tadalafil vs Sildenafil
Tadalafil, otherwise known as Cialis®, is often compared to sildenafil, otherwise known as Viagra®. Both drugs are often prescribed to treat erectile dysfunction.
Tadalafil and sildenafil are both phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5 inhibitors). This means that they both work by relaxing the smooth muscles of the penis and increasing blood flow to it. This allows you to get stronger erections that last longer.
Sildenafil was introduced in 1998, while tadalafil was introduced in 2003. This means that sildenafil was the first medication of its kind before the introduction of tadalafil.
Tadalafil has an onset of 20 minutes, while sildenafil has an onset of 30 minutes. Tadalafil can last for a maximum duration of 72 hours, while sildenafil has a maximum duration of 12 hours. The mean half-life of tadalafil is 17.5 hours, while the mean half-life of sildenafil is around 4 hours.
While sildenafil is effective for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, around 20% to 50% of patients discontinue using it, some switching to tadalafil instead.
Interestingly, a study found that 79% of female partners preferred their male partners to use tadalafil compared to sildenafil, “citing a more relaxed approach to sexual intimacy and greater flexibility with respect to timing of intercourse.”
“We found that the majority of the patients and their partners preferred tadalafil over sildenafil,” wrote scientists. “The different pharmacokinetic profiles of tadalafil and sildenafil profiles grant patients more freedom to perform sexual intercourse with less need to plan ahead.”
In summary, the main differences between these two drugs are their onset time, half-life, and maximum duration. They remain very similar chemically and are both prescribed by physicians to treat erectile dysfunction.
Dosages of Cialis®
Tadalafil, otherwise known as Cialis®, is prescribed at different doses for different medical problems.
For erectile dysfunction, tadalafil tablets are available in doses of 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg.
“The recommended dose for erectile dysfunction is 10 mg as a single dose as needed approximately one hour before sexual activity,” wrote scientists. “The dose can be increased or decreased based upon effect and tolerance, with a recommended maximum frequency of once daily and maximum dosage of 20 mg.”
Tadalafil can also be prescribed as a daily medication, usually at a dose of 2.5 mg or 5 mg. Scientists who study the data on this reported that “men treated with tadalafil had significant changes in erectile function, confidence, self-esteem, overall relationship, and partner’s satisfaction.” The aforementioned studies demonstrating improvements in cognitive function and lean mass on tadalafil used daily 5 mg doses.
The best way to decide which dose of tadalafil you should be on is to speak to a licensed physician who specializes in urology and men’s health. This is the safest way to ensure that you are getting the right drug at the right dose.
Maximus offers telemedicine services in which you can book a doctor’s consultation that is conducted online. If prescribed, your drugs can be mailed straight to your doorstep.
Source: Pexels / Mateus Souza
Tadalafil and Bremelanotide
Tadalafil (also known as Cialis©) and bremelanotide (also known as PT-141) are both drugs used to treat male sexual dysfunction. However, they achieve this in different ways.
Tadalafil works by enhancing blood flow to the penis. This allows you to maintain a strong erection when you’re ready for sexual intercourse. Think about this way: tadalafil makes sure that the plumbing surrounding your penis is clear. That way, when you are sexually aroused, blood flow to the penis is no longer impeded, allowing you to hold and maintain an erection.
Bremelanotide works in a slightly different way. It acts on the central nervous system to stimulate greater sexual desire and boosts your sexual performance. That way, your senses are heightened during sexual intercourse. The end result is the same: stronger erections for longer, and a more satisfying experience of sex.
Although these medications work differently, they can also be used together for their synergistic properties. That way, you are enhancing your sexual desire and performance simultaneously, allowing you to enjoy sex in a wonderful new way.
References
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- Tadalafil. In: LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; August 2, 2017.
- Washington SL 3rd, Shindel AW. A once-daily dose of tadalafil for erectile dysfunction: compliance and efficacy. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2010;4:159-171. Published 2010 Sep 7. doi:10.2147/dddt.s9067
- Lichtblau M, Harzheim D, Ehlken N, et al. Safety and long-term efficacy of transition from sildenafil to tadalafil due to side effects in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Lung. 2015;193(1):105-112. doi:10.1007/s00408-014-9657-7
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- Zhao LM, Jiang H, Hong K, Liu DF, Ma LL, Zhu JC. Benefits of tadalafil to ED patients. Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2011;17(1):89-92.
- Choi JB, Cho KJ, Kim JC, Kim CH, Chung YA, Jeong HS, Shim YS, Koh JS. The Effect of Daily Low Dose Tadalafil on Cerebral Perfusion and Cognition in Patients with Erectile Dysfunction and Mild Cognitive Impairment. Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2019 Aug 31;17(3):432-437. doi: 10.9758/cpn.2019.17.3.432. PMID: 31352710; PMCID: PMC6705107.
- Urios A, Ordoño F, García-García R, Mangas-Losada A, Leone P, José Gallego J, Cabrera-Pastor A, Megías J, Fermin Ordoño J, Felipo V, Montoliu C. Tadalafil Treatment Improves Inflammation, Cognitive Function, And Mismatch Negativity Of Patients With Low Urinary Tract Symptoms And Erectile Dysfunction. Sci Rep. 2019 Nov 19;9(1):17119. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-53136-y. PMID: 31745217; PMCID: PMC6863868.
- Aversa A, Fittipaldi S, Francomano D, Bimonte VM, Greco EA, Crescioli C, Di Luigi L, Lenzi A, Migliaccio S. Tadalafil improves lean mass and endothelial function in nonobese men with mild ED/LUTS: in vivo and in vitro characterization. Endocrine. 2017 Jun;56(3):639-648. doi: 10.1007/s12020-016-1208-y. Epub 2017 Jan 30. PMID: 28133708.
- Prasetyo DT, Raharja PAR, Mantiri BJ, et al. Tadalafil Once a Day for Men with Erectile Dysfunction: Is It Superior than On-Demand Administration?. Acta Med Indones. 2019;51(3):275-281.
