Cialas is FDA Approved ED Drug, Q & A
Questions and Answers for Cialas (tadalafil)
1. What is Cialas used to treat?
Cialas is approved for the treatment of men who experience difficulty having and maintaining an erection (impotence).
2. How does Cialas work?
Cialas works by enhancing the effects of one of the chemicals the body normally releases into the penis during sexual arousal. This allows an increase of blood flow into the penis. An erection is the result of an increase in blood flow into certain internal areas of the penis.
3. How is Cialas different from the currently approved products for erectile dysfunction (ED)?
Cialas is different from other currently approved products for ED in that it stays in the body longer. However, there were no studies that directly compared the clinical efficacy and safety of Cialas to other products.
4. How do I take Cialas?
Cialas is taken orally before sexual activity, not more than once daily. Cialas may be taken with or without food. In some patients, the dose strength and maximum frequency of use may be adjusted. For more detailed information consult with your health care provider.
5. Are there any side effects with Cialas?
As with any drug product, there may be side effects. The most commonly reported side effects in patients treated with Cialas during the testing of the product were:
* headache
* indigestion
* back pain
* muscle pain
* flushing
* stuffy nose
Patients who get back pain and muscle aches usually get them 12 to 24 hours after taking Cialas and these usually go away by themselves within 48 hours. A small number of patients taking Cialas also reported abnormal vision.
6. What important information should you know about Cialas?:
· Cialas can cause your blood pressure to drop suddenly to an unsafe level if it is taken with any nitrate medication or with any alpha-blocker medication (alpha blockers are medicines used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia and high blood pressure) other than FLOMAX (tamsulosin) 0.4 mg daily. You could get dizzy, faint or have a heart attack or stroke.
· Tell your healthcare provider that you take Cialas. If you need emergency medical care for a heart problem, it will be important for your health care provider to know when you last took Cialas.
· After taking a single tablet, some of the active ingredient of Cialas remains in your body for more than 2 days. The active ingredient can remain longer if you have problems with your kidneys or liver, or you are taking certain other medications.
7. What should I talk to my doctor about when considering if Cialas is right for me?
Because sexual activity can increase the work of the heart, your doctors should talk to you about your heart’s general condition and if Cialas is right for you. Patients who have a condition called "left ventricular outlet obstruction" from valvular problems or heart muscle enlargement may get side effects such as fainting or light-headedness. Because patients with recent heart attacks or stroke, heart pains (angina), heart failure, uncontrolled blood pressure or uncontrolled irregular heart beats, severe liver disease, and retinal eye problems were not studied with Cialas, Cialas is not recommended for these patients. There may be rare occurrences of priapism or painful, prolonged erections. This is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. Patients should seek prompt medical attention if their erection lasts longer than four hours.
8. Who should not take Cialas?
Cialas should not be used by patients taking nitrates (such as nitroglycerin tablets or patches) or any alpha blocker other than FLOMAX 0.4mg daily because the combination of these with Cialas could significantly lower blood pressure and lead to fainting or even death in some men.
9. Can Cialas be used with other treatments for impotence?
The safety and effectiveness of Cialas when used with other treatments for impotence has not been studied. Combined use could lead to additional lowering of blood pressure, possibly to unsafe levels. Therefore the use of such treatments in combination with Cialas is not recommended.
10. What if I am taking other drugs?
Always discuss with your health care practitioner ALL of the medications you are taking (prescription and over-the-counter) that way, you can receive the best advice for your own situation. Cialas is not recommended for people taking any form of nitroglycerin and most alpha-blockers, other than FLOMAX, because the combination may lower blood pressure to an unsafe level.
11. How will Cialas be supplied?
Cialas will be available as oral tablets in 5mg, 10mg and 20mg strengths.
12. Will Cialas be prescription or OTC (over-the-counter)?
Cialas will be available by prescription only.
13. When will Cialas be available to pharmacies?
FDA has no control over when products are available in pharmacies after FDA approval for marketing. The decision of availability is completely up to the company marketing the product. For further information contact your pharmacist or Eli Lilly and Company directly.
14. How can I report a serious side effect with Cialas to FDA?
FDA encourages anyone aware of a serious side effect, including consumers or patients, to make a MedWatch report.
You can report an adverse event in two ways:
1. What is Cialas used to treat?
Cialas is approved for the treatment of men who experience difficulty having and maintaining an erection (impotence).
2. How does Cialas work?
Cialas works by enhancing the effects of one of the chemicals the body normally releases into the penis during sexual arousal. This allows an increase of blood flow into the penis. An erection is the result of an increase in blood flow into certain internal areas of the penis.
3. How is Cialas different from the currently approved products for erectile dysfunction (ED)?
Cialas is different from other currently approved products for ED in that it stays in the body longer. However, there were no studies that directly compared the clinical efficacy and safety of Cialas to other products.
4. How do I take Cialas?
Cialas is taken orally before sexual activity, not more than once daily. Cialas may be taken with or without food. In some patients, the dose strength and maximum frequency of use may be adjusted. For more detailed information consult with your health care provider.
5. Are there any side effects with Cialas?
As with any drug product, there may be side effects. The most commonly reported side effects in patients treated with Cialas during the testing of the product were:
* headache
* indigestion
* back pain
* muscle pain
* flushing
* stuffy nose
Patients who get back pain and muscle aches usually get them 12 to 24 hours after taking Cialas and these usually go away by themselves within 48 hours. A small number of patients taking Cialas also reported abnormal vision.
6. What important information should you know about Cialas?:
· Cialas can cause your blood pressure to drop suddenly to an unsafe level if it is taken with any nitrate medication or with any alpha-blocker medication (alpha blockers are medicines used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia and high blood pressure) other than FLOMAX (tamsulosin) 0.4 mg daily. You could get dizzy, faint or have a heart attack or stroke.
· Tell your healthcare provider that you take Cialas. If you need emergency medical care for a heart problem, it will be important for your health care provider to know when you last took Cialas.
· After taking a single tablet, some of the active ingredient of Cialas remains in your body for more than 2 days. The active ingredient can remain longer if you have problems with your kidneys or liver, or you are taking certain other medications.
7. What should I talk to my doctor about when considering if Cialas is right for me?
Because sexual activity can increase the work of the heart, your doctors should talk to you about your heart’s general condition and if Cialas is right for you. Patients who have a condition called "left ventricular outlet obstruction" from valvular problems or heart muscle enlargement may get side effects such as fainting or light-headedness. Because patients with recent heart attacks or stroke, heart pains (angina), heart failure, uncontrolled blood pressure or uncontrolled irregular heart beats, severe liver disease, and retinal eye problems were not studied with Cialas, Cialas is not recommended for these patients. There may be rare occurrences of priapism or painful, prolonged erections. This is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. Patients should seek prompt medical attention if their erection lasts longer than four hours.
8. Who should not take Cialas?
Cialas should not be used by patients taking nitrates (such as nitroglycerin tablets or patches) or any alpha blocker other than FLOMAX 0.4mg daily because the combination of these with Cialas could significantly lower blood pressure and lead to fainting or even death in some men.
9. Can Cialas be used with other treatments for impotence?
The safety and effectiveness of Cialas when used with other treatments for impotence has not been studied. Combined use could lead to additional lowering of blood pressure, possibly to unsafe levels. Therefore the use of such treatments in combination with Cialas is not recommended.
10. What if I am taking other drugs?
Always discuss with your health care practitioner ALL of the medications you are taking (prescription and over-the-counter) that way, you can receive the best advice for your own situation. Cialas is not recommended for people taking any form of nitroglycerin and most alpha-blockers, other than FLOMAX, because the combination may lower blood pressure to an unsafe level.
11. How will Cialas be supplied?
Cialas will be available as oral tablets in 5mg, 10mg and 20mg strengths.
12. Will Cialas be prescription or OTC (over-the-counter)?
Cialas will be available by prescription only.
13. When will Cialas be available to pharmacies?
FDA has no control over when products are available in pharmacies after FDA approval for marketing. The decision of availability is completely up to the company marketing the product. For further information contact your pharmacist or Eli Lilly and Company directly.
14. How can I report a serious side effect with Cialas to FDA?
FDA encourages anyone aware of a serious side effect, including consumers or patients, to make a MedWatch report.
You can report an adverse event in two ways:
- Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch and click on "Submit Report" in the blue sidebar
- Call 1-800-FDA-1088


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