Generic Cialis is called tadalafil, which is the active ingredient in Cialis. Cialis is Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BHP). Generic tadalafil became more widely available after 2018.
What Is Generic Cialis?
According to the FDA, generic medications provide the same benefits as brand-name drugs. Generic medications are considered against the same standards as brand-name versions to make sure that they reach the same level of:
- Strength
- Safety
- Effectiveness
- Stability
- Quality
Usually, generic drugs aren’t available until the expiration of the brand name’s patent. Eli Lilly and Company’s patent for Cialis expired in 2018, opening the market to generic competitors.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about generic Cialis.
What Is Tadalafil Used For?
Tadalafil, or generic Cialis, is most commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). However, it’s also used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Along with other medications used to treat ED, Cialis, and generic tadalafil are only available by prescription.
Tadalafil, like another phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, can interact dangerously with nitrate-based medications, such as Imdur and Nitrostat. This includes nitrates used to treat heart conditions and high blood pressure.
Is Generic Tadalafil As Effective As Cialis?
Generic versions of tadalafil that are FDA-approved are just as effective as Cialis. The FDA provides a rigorous inspection process to make sure companies selling these generic drugs undergo good manufacturing processes and that their drugs provide the same clinical benefits.
FDA-approved tadalafil and Cialis are cleared for treating ED and both drugs are PDE5 inhibitors that work in the same way. By dilating blood vessels to increase blood flow to the penis.
While the results are very similar, one of the biggest differences between the two is the price. Generic tadalafil pills are often less than half the price of Cialis.
Study About Cialis
A 2019 study found that from 2012 to 2017, the median price of Cialis jumped from $127 to $365 for 30 tablets. Generic brands start at around $100 for 30 tablets.
The price depends on the strength of the dose per pill and the pharmacy you’re buying it from. Coupons and discounts may be available. Cialis and tadalafil can both be bought online. More information can be found here.
How PDE5 Inhibitors Work
Tadalafil falls into a category of drugs called PDE5 inhibitors.
When you become sexually aroused, the nerve terminals and blood vessels in your penis release a molecule called nitric oxide (NO). NO activates a series of chemical reactions that increase blood flow to your penis by relaxing your blood vessels.
About Tadalafil
Tadalafil and other PDE5 inhibitors like Viagra block an enzyme called PDE5. By inhibiting PDE5, nitric oxide can be more effective at relaxing blood vessels in the penis and increasing blood flow. This ultimately results in a stronger erection.
Psychological & Physiological Factors
However, both psychological and physiological factors can disrupt the sequence of reactions needed to achieve an erection. For PDE5 inhibitors to work, you still need to be sexually aroused. If your ED is caused by psychological factors, PDE5 inhibitors won’t help treat ED.
Tadalafil is thought to help treat symptoms of BPH by relaxing the muscles in your prostate and bladder. It helps improve symptoms of pulmonary arterial hypertension by relaxing the blood vessels in your lungs.
How Do You Use Generic Cialis?
Tadalafil is taken orally in the form of tablets. The strength of these tablets generally ranges from 2.5 to 20 milligrams (mg).
Tadalafil tablets can either be taken once per day or as needed. If you’re taking them once per day, your doctor will typically start you on a dose of about 2.5 mg and adjust based on how well it’s working for you and whether you’re experiencing any side effects. Avoid taking more than one tablet per day.
How To Take Cialis
You should take the tablets at the same time each day, so you have consistent levels of the medication in your system. Since the medication is always in your system, you can get an erection without planning ahead of time. You can have sex at any time.
When used on an as-needed basis, your doctor will likely start you at about 10 mg per day. You can have sex about 30 minutes after taking the tablet. A typical dose of tadalafil to treat BPH is 5 mg per day.
Does Generic Cialis Have Side Effects?
The side effects of generic tadalafil are the same as Cialis. There are many potential side effects, and the following list isn’t comprehensive. If you notice anything else concerning after starting tadalafil, talk with your doctor.
Common Side Effects Of Tadalafil
Some of the most common side effects of Cialis and tadalafil are:
- Headaches
- Indigestion
- Stuffy Nose
- Facial Flushing
- Muscle Pain
- Back Pain
- Belching
- Heartburn
- Gastrointestinal Distress
Serious Side Effects Of Tadalafil
Tadalafil can cause several more serious side effects that require medical attention, such as:
- Priapism (a painful and prolonged erection that lasts more than 4 hours)
- Vision problems such as:
- Trouble differentiating between colors
- Loss of vision in one or both eyes
- Seeing blue when looking at objects
- Hearing loss
- Low blood pressure
- Dizziness
- Chest pain
- Tinnitus (ringing in your ears)
Relatively Rare Side Effects Of Tadalafil Include:
- Blurred Vision
- Confusion
- Jaw Pain
- Slow Or Fast Heart Rate
- Spontaneous Erections
- Sweating
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Unusual Tiredness
- Cold Sweats
Buy Some Popular ED Medicines:
- Generic Viagra
- Fildena
- Malegra
- Filagra Gel Shots
- Kamagra
- Tadalista
- Cenforce
- Generic Cialis
- Suhagra
- Tadarise
- Tazzle
- Vardenafil
- Vidalista
Interactions To Know About
It’s important to let your doctor know what other medications you’re taking before you start taking tadalafil. Several medications can interact with tadalafil and have serious side effects.
According to the FDA, combining Cialis with nitroglycerin can lower blood pressure. Which can lead to fainting, dizziness, headaches, or even death.
It’s recommended that you avoid tadalafil if you’re taking any of the following medications:
- Amyl nitrite
- Boceprevir
- Erythrityl tetranitrate
- Isosorbide dinitrate
- Isosorbide mononitrate
- Nitroglycerin
- Pentaerythritol tetranitrate
- Propatyl nitrate
- Riociguat
- Telaprevir
Some Categories Of Medications Known To Interact With Tadalafil Include:
- Angina drugs
- Antibiotics
- Epilepsy drugs
- Hepatitis c drugs
- High blood pressure drugs
- Hiv drugs
- Oral antifungal drugs
- Other ed drugs
- Pulmonary arterial hypertension drugs
- Stomach acid drugs