In the UK, more than 25% of younger men self-reported that they had experienced erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction (ED), or impotence, occurs when you are either unable to get an erection or keep an erection during sex.

ED can be caused by conditions such as diabetes, anxiety, depression, high cholesterol, hormone problems or high blood pressure. Lifestyle factors such as stress, drinking too much alcohol or tiredness may cause ED or impotence on occasion.

While there is no cure for ED, there are effective treatments, such as Cialis, available to help improve erectile dysfunction. Cialis is an ED treatment from Lilly that is well-known for its ability to last up to 36 hours in the body.

Read on to learn what Cialis is, how to use it and its potential side effects, including highlighting UK Cialis reviews.

Cialis tablets overview: what is Cialis and how do you use it?

Active ingredients

The active ingredient in Cialis is Tadalafil. The FDA first approved it for use in treating ED in 2003, and it was approved for use in Europe in late 2002.

How do Cialis tablets work?

An erection is caused when the soft tissue of the penis is filled with blood. This occurs when the blood vessels in the penis widen and rapidly increase blood flow. At the same time, the blood vessels in the penis that remove excess blood are decreased to ensure that the blood stays in the penis.

When sexually stimulated, nitric oxide (NO) is released, causing an enzyme called guanylate cyclase to make cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). The cGMP is mainly responsible for increasing and decreasing the size of the blood vessels in the penis.

When cGMP is destroyed by PDE5 enzymes, the blood vessels in the penis return to normal size, ending the erection, and the blood flows out of the penis.

The active ingredient in Cialis, Tadalafil, belongs to a class of drugs called phosphodiester type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. These drugs prevent PDE5 enzymes from working too fast, and cGMP stays for longer. The persistence of cGMP leads to more blood entering and staying in the penis, resulting in an erection or longer-lasting erection.

How long does it take for Cialis to work?

It normally takes 30 to 60 minutes for Cialis to begin working, and it can last in the bloodstream for up to 36 hours. It is important to remember that you need to be sexually aroused for Cialis to be effective.

If you try Cialis on multiple occasions and find that it is not helping you achieve or maintain an erection, talk to your GP or pharmacist about increasing the dose or exploring the underlying causes of your ED.

How much Cialis can be prescribed on the NHS

On the NHS, Cialis, the branded version of Tadalafil, is not available for the treatment of erectile dysfunction or pulmonary hypertension except in special circumstances (you can buy Tadalafil tablets from Digital Drug Store). However, the generic version of tadalafil can be prescribed for the treatment of ED.

Special circumstances in which men are eligible for treatment with Cialis for ED on the NHS include:

• Parkinson’s disease
• Diabetes
• Prostatectomy
• Multiple sclerosis
• Kidney failure treated by dialysis or transplant
• Severe pelvic injury
• Radical pelvic surgery

NHS treatment guidelines suggest that one treatment a week is appropriate for treating ED. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist to see if you are eligible for an NHS prescription for Cialis.

Dosage and usage recommendations

When taking any medication, it is important to take it exactly as prescribed by your GP or pharmacist.

Cialis is available as 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg, or 20mg tablets. The typical dose for Cialis is 10mg, taken when you need it. You may be prescribed a higher dose (20mg) or lower doses (2.5mg or 5mg) depending on how effective 10mg is for you and how well you tolerate the drug.

As the effects of Cialis last more than 24 hours, it is not recommended to take 20mg or 10mg tablets every day. For Cialis to work, you need to be sexually aroused.

Cialis can be swallowed whole with some water or juice. It is important not to use grapefruit juice as it can increase the concentration of the drug in your body, which may cause side effects.

When taking Cialis for ED or impotence, take your prescribed dose (1 tablet) at least 30 minutes before you plan on having sex. In some cases, it may take up to 2 hours before the medicine kicks in.

If you miss a dose of Cialis, do not take two doses at the same time to make up for the forgotten one.

How do you feel after taking Cialis?

After taking Cialis tablets, it begins working within 30 to 60 minutes, provided you’re sexually aroused. Cialis can last from 24 to 36 hours in the body. In some cases, it can last up to 72 hours.

There is no guarantee that Cialis will be effective every time you use it. Certain factors can affect how long Cialis lasts in your body and how well it works, including:

• The dose
• Diet and lifestyle (smoking, unmanaged stress, heavy drinking, etc.)
• The kind of dose (daily or as needed)
• Liver and kidney function
• Overall health condition
• Other medications you are taking
• Age

Take Cialis exactly as prescribed by your pharmacist or GP. Do not take extra doses or change when you are prescribed to take it.

Side effects: is there a downside to taking Cialis?

There are known side effects of Cialis. Like with most medications, not everyone may experience them. If you find that side effects persist or are severe, contact your GP or pharmacist.

The most common side effects of Cialis may include:

1. Indigestion or heartburn
2. Headache
3. Muscle aches
4. Back pain
5. Facial flushing
6. Stuffy or runny nose
7. Pain in the limbs
8. Other flu-like symptoms

Severe side effects when taking Cialis are uncommon; however, if they occur, they include:

• An erection lasting more than 4 hours (priapism)
• Sudden loss or decrease of hearing or vision
• Low blood pressure
• Heart attack, or symptoms of a heart attack
• Stroke
• An allergic reaction

Severe side effects are uncommon and only happen in less than 1 in 1,000 people who take Cialis. If you experience any severe side effects when taking Cialis, stop taking this ED medication immediately and seek emergency medical attention or call 999.

Interactions with other medications

Cialis can interact negatively with other medications, such as prescription drugs used to treat high blood pressure, heart (cardiovascular) conditions, fungal infections and other medical conditions.

Do not take Cialis if you are taking:

• Medicines called Nitrates typically used to treat chest pain, such as glyceryl trinitrate (GTN)
• Medications used to treat pulmonary hypertension, such as ricociguat
• Medicines called alpha-blockers are often used for prostate problems
• Blood pressure medications
• Some medications used to treat HIV
• Some antifungal medications
• Antibiotics such as erythromycin, clarithromycin or telithromycin
• Other medications, such as PDE5 inhibitors and other ED medications (Viagra, Sildenafil, Spedra, Vardenafil)

Before taking Cialis, tell your pharmacist or GP about any prescription medications, supplements, over-the-counter (OTC) medications or herbal remedies that you are taking.

Cialis is not the best option to treat ED in some people. To ensure that this is the best medication for you, tell your GP or pharmacist if you:

• Have sickle cell anaemia or any abnormality of the red blood cells
• Have leukaemia
• Have a kidney or liver condition
• Are taking medications called nitrates
• Have low blood pressure or uncontrolled high blood pressure
• Have recently had a heart attack or stroke
• Have any serious heart or liver conditions
• Have curved penis (Peyronie’s disease)
• Have an allergic reaction to tadalafil or other medications

You should exercise caution when mixing Cialis and alcohol, as this combination may cause side effects. Both Cialis and alcohol can cause low blood pressure, causing symptoms such as lightheadedness and dizziness. It is advised to avoid mixing alcohol and Cialis or talk to your healthcare provider about how much alcohol is safe to drink.