Cialis is a prescription medication used to treat erectile dysfunction in adult men. It is popularly known as the ‘weekend pill’ because it can be effective for up to 36 hours, in helping you get an erection.

Cialis is known as a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor. This is a group of medications that work in a similar way, relaxing smooth muscle to increase blood flow to the penis, making erections easier to get and keep.

What is Cialis Daily?

Cialis Daily is a lower dose of Cialis you can take daily, which means you can be ready to get erections easier at any time. This means you don’t have to take it before sex, like with normal Cialis. Cialis Daily can be a good choice if you usually have sex at least twice a week.

Cialis daily is available in doses of 2.5mg and 5mg and you should start seeing its full effects within 5 days of taking it daily.

Cialis contains the active ingredient tadalafil, which is part of the medication group known as phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. It works by relaxing the blood vessels around the penis and increasing blood flow, making it easier to get and keep an erection.

How quickly does Cialis work?

Cialis starts to work as quickly as 30 minutes after taking it, but its full effects may take up to 2 hours to kick in. You need to be sexually aroused for Cialis to help you get an erection before sex.

If you need a medication that works faster than this, you could try Spedra (avanafil) which can start working in just 15 minutes. You could also try Cialis Daily which works continuously while you take it, meaning you don’t need to wait before attempting sex.

How long does Cialis last?

One Cialis tablet can work for up to 36 hours. During this period, you will be able to get an erection when you are sexually aroused. Cialis is the longest-lasting medication of its kind. Cialis Daily works continuously so it technically lasts longest, the effects only ending once you stop taking it every day.

How effective is Cialis?

Cialis is a very effective and long-lasting erectile dysfunction treatment. A study on Cialis’s efficacy and treatment satisfaction in men with ED, reported it helps patients achieve erections hard enough for sex in over 80% of patients taking it.

Always take Cialis as prescribed by your doctor. You should swallow your tablet whole with water, with or without food.

Take Cialis about 30 minutes before you plan to have sex and make sure you’re aroused for best results.

Avoid drinking alcohol when taking Cialis as it may reduce your ability to get an erection and make you feel dizzy when standing or moving.

If you have taken Cialis more than 8 times without results, speak to your doctor to discuss increasing your dose or to consider other ED treatment options.

When should I take Cialis?

Plan to take Cialis about 30 minutes before having sex for best results. Remember you need to be sexually aroused for Cialis to work well.

You can take Cialis any time of day, with or without food.

How often should I take Cialis?

Do not take Cialis more than once a day, as you may experience serious side effects.

Cialis is usually effective for up to 36 hours, during which time you should get an erection when you are sexually aroused.

If you have sex more often than twice a week, speak to your doctor about starting a lower dose option you can take daily, known as Cialis Daily.

How long should I take Cialis for?

You can continue to take Cialis as long as it is prescribed by your doctor.

There are currently no research studies that show negative long-term effects of taking Cialis. You should only use Cialis on an ‘as needed’ basis before having sex.

There are 4 dosages of Cialis. 2 daily doses and 2 doses that should be taken before sex. Daily doses can be a better choice if you have sex on more than 2 different days a week.

Cialis 2.5mg:

• the lower-strength daily dose
• you can try this dose if you’ve tried 5mg and it worked well but it gives you some mild side effects

Cialis 5mg:

• the standard daily dose
• this is the recommended dose if you’ve not tried Cialis Daily before

Cialis 10mg:

• the standard before sex dose
• this is the recommended dose if you’ve not tried Cialis before

Cialis 20mg:

• the higher-strength before sex dose
• you could try this dose if 10mg does not work for you and you don’t get any serious side effects

Make sure to check with a doctor before switching the dose of any medication.

You can quickly and easily buy Cialis online from services like Superdrug Online Doctor, which doesn’t require a face-to-face appointment.

Make sure you buy Cialis from UK pharmacies that are regulated by the Care Quality Commission to avoid buying fake, dangerous or expired medicines from illegal online pharmacies.

If you have a physical prescription for Cialis you should be able to get it filled at most UK pharmacies.

Can I buy Cialis over-the-counter?

No, Cialis is a prescription-only ED treatment medication. You will need a doctor to prescribe Cialis to make sure it is suitable and safe for you. But, if you use a service like Superdrug Online Doctor, you won’t need a face-to-face appointment with a doctor to request treatment.

Cialis Together is a version of Cialis available as 10mg tablets only, that you can buy over-the-counter without a prescription. You can also get Cialis Together online.

Can I get Cialis on the NHS?

You may be able to get Cialis on the NHS if you are eligible. You will need to book a face to face appointment with your GP first to be reviewed.

You may be able to get a private prescription for Cialis from an NHS doctor even if you don’t meet the requirements for getting Cialis on an NHS prescription. This means instead of paying the flat NHS prescription fee, you would pay full price for your treatment. This is how Superdrug Online Doctor’s ED treatment service works too.

You may experience some side effects when taking Cialis tablets but not everyone gets them.

Some common Cialis side effects include:

• headaches
• back pain
• muscle aches
• indigestion
• nasal congestion
• flushed face

You will find the full list of all known Cialis side effects in the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine pack.

How long do Cialis side effects last?

Cialis side effects usually go away after a few hours, but back pain and muscle aches may take up to 2 days to improve. Speak to your doctor as soon as possible if you experience side effects when taking Cialis tablets.

What do I do if I get side effects when taking Cialis?

Cialis side effects are usually mild or moderate so some people may be able to tolerate them. If you are struggling with side effects when taking Cialis, speak to your doctor to consider adjusting your dose or alternatives to Cialis.

If you experience any of the serious or severe Cialis side effects below, stop taking Cialis and seek medical attention immediately:

• chest pain
• allergic reactions (rashes, difficulty breathing, swollen tongue, lips, or face, palpitations)
• sudden loss of vision
• priapism (a prolonged and painful erection lasting over 4 hours)

Do not take Cialis if you:

• take a group of medications known as nitrates (for example, GTN spray or tablets for angina)
• use recreational drugs, like amyl nitrates (poppers)
• are allergic to tadalafil or any of the other ingredients in Cialis (see your patient information leaflet for the full list of ingredients)
• are also taking other ED treatments

Always discuss with your doctor first to see if Cialis is a suitable treatment for you. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had any of the following medical conditions:

• heart disease
• stroke
• high blood pressure
• problems with your vision
• liver or kidney problems
• diabetes
• blood cancers (myeloma, leukaemia)
• any other penis-related health conditions

Also, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• other ED treatments
• any medicines known as nitrates (GTN spray or tablets)
• antibiotics
• antifungals
• HIV medication
• high blood pressure medication
• medications for treating epilepsy
• medications for treating an enlarged prostate

You can find all currently known Cialis tablet warnings in the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine pack.

There are other ways you can manage ED without taking medications:

• eat a healthy diet
• exercise regularly
• treat the medical cause (high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol)
• treat the emotional or psychological cause (therapy, reduce stress/anxiety)
• quit smoking
• reduce alcohol intake