Half-Life: 18 hours
Lasting Effects: up to 36-48 hours
Recommended Male Dosage: 1 tablet every 2-3 days or as needed
Recommended Female Dosage: N/A
What is Cialis?
Tadalafil is one of the most common and popular erectile dysfunction (ED) medications on the market. Erectile dysfunction is extremely common in men, and it is estimated that over 3 million men in Canada over the age of 40 suffer from it. Cialis can be used to treat such sexual function problems (impotence or ED) by increasing blood flow to the penis, which, in turn, helps keep an erection. It can also be used to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), by relaxing the smooth muscle in the prostate and bladder. It belongs to a class of drugs known as PED5 inhibitors, which means it will not produce an erection on its own; Sexual stimulation must still be obtained in order to produce an erection. Cialis has the ability to maintain erections where blood flow was the issue in producing the erection; however, if the issue lies in a hormone imbalance, Cialis will not remedy the ED issue and an alternate treatment should be considered.
Cialis is similar to Viagra, another popular ED medication, differing mainly by the drug’s active life. Cialis has the ability to produce erections for up to 36-48 hours from one single dose, whereas, Viagra lasts only 4-6 hours. Cialis carries a long active half-life of approximately 18 hours, which has resulted in the nickname “The Weekend Pill”. It allows users to be spontaneous in their sexual activities without having to worry about taking a pill 30 mins prior. Both ED medications can be extremely beneficial and choosing which one to use will depend on each person’s individual needs.
What is the recommended dosage?
This medication is taken by mouth, with or without food. There are 2 ways that Cialis is commonly prescribed to treat ED. The first is to take it as needed, usually at least 30 mins prior to sexual activity. Effects can last up to 36 hours when taken in this way. The second is to take tadalafil once daily, which means the effects will be ongoing and sexual activity can be attempted at any time between doses. The dosage is based on each individual’s medical condition, and any questions or concerns should be directed to a physician. In our opinion, a beneficial dosage for most men would be to take 1 tablet every 2-3 days or as needed. This medication should not be taken more than once daily.