Tadalafil, sold under brands such as Cialis, is used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and pulmonary hypertension. It is an oral tablet. Onset usually occurs within half an hour and lasts up to 36 hours.
Common side effects include headache, muscle pain, skin flushing and nausea. Caution is recommended for people with cardiovascular disease. Rare but serious side effects include prolonged erections that can lead to penis damage, vision problems and hearing loss. Tadalafil is not recommended for people taking nitrovasodilators such as nitroglycerin because it can cause a severe drop in blood pressure. Tadalafil is a PDE5 inhibitor that increases blood flow to the penis. It also dilates blood vessels in the lungs, which reduces pressure in the pulmonary arteries.
Tadalafil was approved for medical use in the United States in 2003. It is available as a generic in the US and UK. In 2017, it was the 282nd most commonly prescribed drug in the United States, with more than 1 million prescriptions.
Tadalafil is used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and pulmonary hypertension
Tadalafil once daily has been approved by the FDA for ED and is sold in 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 mg specifications. Prices for 5mg and 2.5mg are often similar, so someone scores the drugs.
A meta-analysis found that tadalafil 5 mg once daily was an effective treatment for lower urinary tract symptoms associated with BPH and had a low incidence of adverse reactions. Tadalafil 10 mg is fDA-approved once-daily therapy for men for the treatment and prevention of symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), such as urgency, hesitation, weak urine flow, dripping, and urinary incontinence.
Tadalafil 40 mg is approved in the United States, Canada, and Japan as a once-daily treatment to improve exercise capacity in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
Due to vasoconstriction and remodeling, pulmonary vascular lumen is reduced in PAH, resulting in increased pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance. Tadalafil causes dilation of pulmonary arteries and inhibits remodeling, thereby reducing pulmonary artery pressure and resistance. Right heart failure is the main consequence of severe pulmonary hypertension.
