What Is Tadalafil? The Ultimate Guide: Uses, Side Effects, And More

Written by the UPGUYS Editorial Team

Published on May 17, 2022

Approximately 54.1% of men ages 15 to 24 in Canada were sexually active in the past 12 months. The percentage increased within that age group, with over 70% of men ages 20 to 24 identifying as sexually active. 

Among those, many have difficulty maintaining an erection and having pleasurable sexual intercourse. Some may have even begun research and come across tadalafil and may be wondering what tadalafil is for.

You can stop your Google searches because we have the ultimate guide for you. In our tadalafil 101 article, we will talk about tadalafil and what it is used for, dosages, effectiveness, and much more.

We will even break down how you can find the cheapest costs in Canada. Keep reading on for more information!

In this article, we talk about the following:

• What is tadalafil?
• What is tadalafil used for?
• Tadalafil for erectile dysfunction
• Tadalafil side effects
• What is the recommended tadalafil dosage?
• How much does tadalafil cost?
• How to store tadalafil
• Are Cialis and tadalafil the same?
• Are tadalafil and vardenafil the same?
• Is there another tadalafil alternative for erectile dysfunction?
• Tadalafil for men with erectile dysfunction

What Is Tadalafil?

Tadalafil is a generic prescription medication also known as Cialis, the brand-name version. Tadalafil has been on the market for over a decade and is a common phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor. Although the medical name may seem long, PDE5 inhibitors are commonly prescribed to help blood vessel dilation. 

What Is Tadalafil Used For?

What is tadalafil taken for? Like other PDE5 inhibitors, many men use this drug when it becomes difficult to get or maintain an erection. You must have a physician's script or prescription before ordering. 

How does tadalafil work?

It might seem surprising to you that tadalafil was once studied in the management of hypertension. How it works in penile blood vessels and tissues was largely accidental. 

Researchers found that phosphodiesterase-5, an enzyme, is located in smooth muscle cell walls of blood vessels. When this enzyme is present, cGMP degrades quickly. While cGMP may mean nothing to you, it promotes blood vessel relaxation and dilation when it becomes activated by proteins. 

Read more: Tadalafil & Alcohol

Taking too much tadalafil or combining it with similar medications are two primary causes of priapism.

PDE5 inhibitors help block the PDE5 enzyme, increasing the availability of cGMP in your blood vessels. The pulmonary arteries and penile arteries show the most effect from this mechanism of action, and blood flow increases. 

Now that you can answer the question "what is tadalafil used for," you are likely wondering if all PDE5 inhibitors work similarly. We will break down other competitors later, but they all have similar mechanisms of action. 

Where other drugs differ is in their PDE isozyme selectivity. 

Tadalafil for Erectile Dysfunction 

Many studies have been conducted to measure the impacts of tadalafil. A meta-analysis study looked at daily tadalafil prescription use at 5 mg dosages. The researchers conducted their review with 6-month trials or longer. 

The meta-analysis included approximately 1,600 patients and six randomized control studies. Against a placebo, medical experts found that 5 mg tadalafil dosages had good efficacy at six months or longer with fewer side effects than other medications and better outcomes. 

Tadalafil Side Effects

Like other prescription medications and PDE5 inhibitors such as Viagra, tadalafil has similar risks and side effects. Stop taking this drug if you notice an allergic reaction, and talk to your doctor immediately. 

Allergic reactions can present as hives, itching, redness, and more. One of the most common tadalafil side effects is headaches. Other common side effects you may notice include:

• Muscle pain
• Congestion
• Indigestion
• Facial flushing
• Heartburn
• Nausea or upset stomach

Most symptoms should disappear after a few days to a couple of weeks after starting a new drug. If they don't, you may need to talk to your doctor about discontinuing tadalafil and trying a different PDE5 inhibitor or medication. 

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You should not split your tablet or take more than the recommended dosage.

One of the more severe side effects is priapism. This is a painful and long-lasting erection (usually greater than four hours) that requires immediate medical attention. If you don't seek medical care, you risk penile amputation and permanent erectile dysfunction. 

Approximately 25% of priapism cases are from improper PDE5 inhibitor medication use. How does this happen?

1. PDE5 inhibitors block the breakdown of cGMP
2. cGMP and nitric oxide help promote blood flow to penile tissues
3. Defective regulation in nitric oxide prolongs erection past normal sexual stimulation

Taking too much tadalafil or combining it with similar medications are two primary causes of priapism. 

What Is the Recommended Tadalafil Dosage?

Tadalafil contains the active ingredient: tadalafil. This may sound confusing, but many generic drug names are the brand drug's active ingredient. There are other inactive ingredients, including:

• Croscarmellose sodium
• Hydroxypropyl cellulose
• Hypromellose
• Iron oxide
• Lactose monohydrate
• And more

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It comes in a tablet form, with four different strengths available. Tadalafil differs slightly from other PDE5 inhibitors since it is known more prominently as a long-acting drug. For prescriptions that require tadalafil taken once daily, you may receive a 2.5 mg or 5 mg prescription. 

As needed, tadalafil prescriptions range from:

• 5 mg
• 10 mg
• 20 mg

You should not split your tablet or take more than the recommended dosage. Do not combine tadalafil with other PDE5 inhibitors, and talk to your doctor about other medications you are taking that may be contraindicated, such as nitrates. 

How Much Does Tadalafil Cost?

Canada ranked third on per capita spending on prescription drugs, including insurance coverage versus out-of-pocket costs. It is significantly cheaper to purchase medications in Canada than in the United States. 

Switching to a generic version, such as tadalafil, can lower prices. Another way you can save money on costly medications is through an online pharmacy. At UPGUYS, we make the process even easier: 

1. Connect to one of our practitioners for a free consultation.
2. Get a PDE5 inhibitor prescription from our medication list.
3. Have your medication delivered in a couple of days at your selected address.

Prices will slightly vary between different medications, depending on the pharmacy you get them and the dosage that is prescribed for you.

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How To Store Tadalafil

Most medications require you to store them at room temperature and out of direct sunlight. Your kitchen medicine cabinet is a great spot since it stays cooler and in a dark environment. 

You should also store tadalafil so it won't get wet or exposed to humidity. If you don't have a medicine cabinet, consider storing it in a storage box, shelf, or closet. Always keep your tadalafil away from vulnerable individuals, such as children. 

Are Cialis and Tadalafil the Same?

Yes - Cialis and tadalafil are the same drugs. The only difference is Cialis is the brand-name version. It will likely cost more per tablet shopping through local or online pharmacies. 

Some of the biggest differences between brand and generic drugs are their inactive ingredients. Most government regulation industries are only concerned with similar dosages, strengths, mechanisms of action, and active ingredients. However, inactive ingredients can cause allergic reactions. 

Examples of inactive ingredient differences include:

• Colour dyes
• Xantham gum
• Lactose

Check the ingredient list first and notify your physician if you have a known allergy. Never take more than your recommended dosage and seek immediate medical attention for any allergic symptoms.

Are Tadalafil and Vardenafil the Same?

Is there an alternative to tadalafil for erectile dysfunction? In short - yes! 

Vardenafil is another PDE5 inhibitor medication. The primary difference is both medications contain different active ingredients. Tadalafil is the active ingredient in Cialis and vardenafil is the active ingredient in Levitra. 

Tadalafil is also designed for long-term usage, whereas vardenafil is mainly used as needed. Most side effects between them are similar, and dosages range fairly equally. Tadalafil is also known to remain in your system for longer. 

When researching tadalafil and erectile dysfunction, you'll find that tadalafil remains in your system for up to 36 hours! Vardenafil and other medications are shorter-acting. 

Is There Another Tadalafil Alternative for Erectile Dysfunction?

Arguably, the most popular PDE5 inhibitor on the market is Viagra. It contains the active ingredient sildenafil and also requires a prescription. 

Viagra starts working between 30 minutes and two hours, which may be slightly faster than daily tadalafil. It also has a shorter half-life. Viagra stays in your system for up to five hours, although you should still avoid taking more than one pill daily. 

It contains similar side effects and risks. However, some men respond differently to other medication types. If you haven't noticed results with tadalafil, it is worth talking to your doctor about using sildenafil or vardenafil next!

Tadalafil for Men With Erectile Dysfunction

Have you wondered what the drug tadalafil is used for? In short, tadalafil helps with improving blood flow and dilating arteries leading to the penis. It may relieve some symptoms associated with difficulties getting or maintaining an erection. 

It should only be used as prescribed, and it may not work for everyone. Yet, some of the medical research we mentioned shows promising results that PDE5 inhibitors can help with blood flow. 

What are you waiting for? Don't keep you or your partner waiting. Visit our website today to shop our line of products or talk to a practitioner!