Please note: a valid prescription is required for all prescription medication.
Cialis is a prescription tablet containing tadalafil, a PDE5 inhibitor (a medicine that relaxes blood vessels so more blood can flow into tissue). It is prescribed for erectile dysfunction, for the urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate, or for both at the same time. You can buy Cialis online with a valid prescription from your own prescriber, and choose the tablet strength your prescription calls for.
Tadalafil is the active ingredient in both brand Cialis and generic tadalafil tablets. The medicine does not cause an erection on its own; sexual stimulation is still needed for it to work.
What Cialis Treats
Prescribing information lists three uses for tadalafil tablets sold under the Cialis name. First, erectile dysfunction (ED), meaning trouble getting or keeping an erection firm enough for sex. Second, the signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), an enlarged prostate that causes weak stream, straining, urgency, and waking at night to urinate. Third, the two conditions together when a man has both.
Cialis is not a hormone and not a testosterone treatment. It does not raise libido, does not protect against sexually transmitted infections, and does not act as a contraceptive. It is prescribed for adult men; tadalafil is not approved to treat sexual problems in women.
Tadalafil is also sold under a different brand name, at different strengths, for pulmonary arterial hypertension. That is a separate medicine with its own labeling and should not be swapped with Cialis tablets.
Why it matters: ED can be an early sign of heart or blood vessel disease, so a clinician visit is worth keeping even when symptoms improve.
Tablet Strengths and Choosing the Right Dose
US prescribing information for tadalafil tablets lists 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg. Not every strength suits every use. Lower strengths are typically used for once-daily treatment, including BPH, while higher strengths are usually prescribed for as-needed use before sexual activity. Pick the strength shown during ordering that matches the directions written on your prescription.
Two dosing patterns are described on the label:
- As needed: one tablet taken before sexual activity. Tadalafil can remain active for up to 36 hours, so the timing is flexible. The label states it should not be taken more than once a day.
- Once daily: a lower-strength tablet taken at about the same time each day, with or without planned activity. This is also the pattern used for BPH symptoms.
Tablets can be taken with or without food. Your prescriber may set a lower maximum if you have reduced kidney or liver function, or if you take certain interacting medicines. Do not change your own dose or dosing schedule; ask your prescriber or pharmacist first.
What You Need to Order Cialis
Cialis is a prescription medicine, so a valid prescription from your own prescriber is required before it can be supplied. Border Free Health is an online prescription referral service that works with certified, accredited pharmacy partners. We may review order details and help confirm prescription details so the strength and quantity on your order match the directions your prescriber wrote.
Useful information to have on hand: the exact strength prescribed, whether the directions say daily or as needed, the quantity, and a current list of your other medicines and supplements. Nitrate heart medicines and alpha-blockers matter most, since both change how tadalafil can be used safely.
Brand Cialis, Generic Tadalafil, and Country Labeling
Cialis is the original brand name for tadalafil, developed by Eli Lilly. Generic tadalafil tablets contain the same active ingredient and are widely prescribed. Brand and generic tablets can look different in color, shape, and imprint, which is normal and does not mean the medicine changed.
Approval status is country specific. A tadalafil tablet authorized outside the United States is the version approved by that country’s regulator, not the US-labeled product, even though the active ingredient is the same. That distinction affects packaging, leaflet wording, and the manufacturer named on the carton. It is not a comment on whether the medicine is regulated; medicines supplied through licensed pharmacies are approved products in the market that licensed them. If you want a specific brand or a specific manufacturer, ask your prescriber to note that on the prescription.
Side Effects, Warnings, and Monitoring
Most side effects reported with tadalafil are mild and tend to fade as the body adjusts. Common effects include:
- Headache
- Indigestion or reflux
- Back pain and muscle aches, often starting 12 to 24 hours after a dose
- Flushing
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Pain in the arms or legs
Some reactions need prompt medical attention. Stop and get urgent care for an erection lasting more than four hours (priapism), which can damage penile tissue. Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes may signal a rare nerve problem called NAION. Sudden hearing loss, with or without ringing or dizziness, also needs immediate review. Chest pain, fainting, or severe dizziness during sex are reasons to stop and call for help rather than take another dose.
Tadalafil lowers blood pressure modestly. That effect is the reason for most of the serious warnings. Tell your prescriber if you have had a recent heart attack or stroke, uncontrolled high or low blood pressure, unstable angina, serious arrhythmia, severe liver disease, retinitis pigmentosa, a prior episode of NAION, or sickle cell disease. Men whose heart condition makes sexual activity unsafe generally should not use PDE5 inhibitors at all.
Practical monitoring is simple: watch your blood pressure if you also take blood pressure medicines, track whether BPH symptoms improve over the first few weeks, and report headaches or back pain that do not settle. Keep follow-up appointments so the cause of ED, not just the symptom, stays under review.
Interactions to Flag Before You Start
Nitrates are the key contraindication. Taking tadalafil with nitroglycerin, isosorbide mononitrate or dinitrate, amyl nitrite or other nitrite poppers can cause a sudden, dangerous drop in blood pressure. The same applies to riociguat and other guanylate cyclase stimulators used for pulmonary hypertension.
- Alpha-blockers such as doxazosin, tamsulosin, or alfuzosin can add to the blood pressure drop; your prescriber may stagger timing or adjust strengths.
- Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, clarithromycin, and ritonavir can raise tadalafil levels and usually require a lower maximum dose.
- CYP3A4 inducers such as rifampin can lower tadalafil levels and reduce the effect.
- Other ED medicines or any other PDE5 inhibitor should not be combined with Cialis.
- Alcohol in larger amounts can add to dizziness, flushing, and low blood pressure.
Give your pharmacist the full list, including over-the-counter products and herbal supplements. Allergy to tadalafil or any tablet ingredient rules the medicine out entirely.
Storage and Handling
Store Cialis tablets at room temperature, around 25°C (77°F), with short excursions between 15°C and 30°C (59°F to 86°F) permitted by the label. Keep tablets in their original container with the cap closed and away from steam, so a bathroom cabinet is a poor choice. A dry bedroom drawer or kitchen cupboard away from the stove works better.
Keep tablets out of reach of children and pets. Check the expiry date on the carton before each refill, and ask a pharmacy about safe disposal rather than flushing leftovers. If tablets arrive damaged, crumbled, or without clear labeling, speak with a pharmacist before taking them.
Common Questions Before Your First Dose
Patients usually ask about timing first. Because tadalafil can stay active for up to 36 hours, many men find they do not have to plan around a tight window the way shorter-acting tablets require. Onset still varies between people, and a fair trial often takes several attempts rather than one.
Food and a normal alcoholic drink do not block the medicine, but heavy drinking raises the chance of dizziness and headache. Tadalafil does not affect fertility, does not cause weight gain, and does not need to be stopped before most routine procedures, though your surgical team should know you take it. If the first strength does not work as expected, the answer is a conversation with your prescriber, not a second tablet in the same day.
Related Treatment Choices
Other PDE5 inhibitors, including sildenafil and vardenafil, treat ED with a shorter duration of action and different food or timing considerations. Some men prefer that shorter window; others prefer tadalafil’s longer one. For BPH alone, alpha-blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors are common alternatives and are sometimes used alongside tadalafil under supervision.
Treating the underlying cause matters too. Blood pressure control, diabetes management, sleep apnea treatment, lower alcohol intake, and stopping smoking all affect erectile function. Ask your prescriber which combination fits your medical history before changing anything.
Authoritative Sources
This content is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified clinician or pharmacist about your situation, and seek urgent care or call your local emergency number for severe or worsening symptoms.
Frequently asked questions
What does Cialis treat?
How is Cialis usually taken?
Who should not take tadalafil?
Is there a Cialis for women?
Is generic tadalafil the same as brand Cialis?
Express Shipping - from $29.99
Shipping with this method takes 3-5 days
Prices:
- Dry-Packed Products $29.99
- Cold-Packed Products $39.99
Shipping Countries:
- United States (all contiguous states**)
- Worldwide (excludes some countries***)
Standard Shipping - $19.99
Shipping with this method takes 5-10 days
Prices:
- Dry-Packed Products $19.99
- Not available for Cold-Packed products
Shipping Countries:
- United States (all contiguous states**)
- Worldwide (excludes some countries***)
What does Cialis do to a man?
Cialis helps improve blood flow to the penis in response to sexual stimulation, which may help a man get and keep an erection. It may also improve urinary symptoms from benign prostatic hyperplasia by relaxing smooth muscle around the prostate and bladder outlet.
How long will I stay hard with Cialis?
Cialis does not cause a constant erection. Tadalafil may support erectile response for a longer window than some other ED medicines, but sexual stimulation is still needed. An erection lasting more than 4 hours is a medical emergency.
Is Cialis as powerful as Viagra?
Cialis and Viagra work in the same general medicine class, but they differ in timing, duration, side effects, and dosing patterns. Cialis is known for a longer effect window, while Viagra is commonly used closer to planned sexual activity. The better choice depends on individual health and treatment goals.
Can Cialis be used every day?
Cialis may be used once daily when directed, often at lower strengths such as 2.5 mg or 5 mg. Daily use is different from as-needed use, and the two patterns should not be mixed unless a clinician specifically says to do so.
What side effects should I watch for with Cialis?
Common side effects include headache, flushing, nasal congestion, indigestion, back pain, muscle aches, and dizziness. Urgent symptoms include chest pain, fainting, sudden vision or hearing loss, swelling of the face or throat, or an erection lasting more than 4 hours.
Rewards Program
Earn points on birthdays, product orders, reviews, friend referrals, and more! Enjoy your medication at unparalleled discounts while reaping rewards for every step you take with us.
You can read more about rewards.
POINT VALUE
How to earn points
- 1Create an account and start earning.
- 2Earn points every time you shop or perform certain actions.
- 3Redeem points for exclusive discounts.
