We can print a ton of statistics on men and erectile dysfunction but the truth is the statistics don’t really do anything more than reinforce the fact the problem exists. So, let’s skip ahead to viable treatments, starting with Cialis (brand name for the generic Tadalafil).

Questions About Cialis

When we take a look at ED medications, a number of questions arise. Like, how does Cialis work? How do I know if I even need Cialis? How soon will it start to work? Does it make me last longer? These are valid concerns, so let’s take a few moments to tackle them.

How Cialis Works

Cialis is a vasodilator, which means it causes the muscles in blood vessels to relax. It is important to note Cialis does not cause an erection; Cialis helps a man achieve an erection. So, yes, if you take Cialis and you are not sexually aroused, you will not see any effect.

Having said that, let’s take a moment and review how a man achieves an erection:

1. When a man is sexually aroused, nerve endings in the penis release nitric oxide.
2. The nitric oxide creates cyclic nucleotide guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in the muscle cells inside the penis.
3. cGMP relaxes the muscles cells, causing the blood vessels in the penis to widen (or dilate).
4. Dilated blood vessels allow more blood to flow into the penis and erectile tissue, which results in the erection.

Cialis comes in during steps 2 and 3 above. The drug’s effect is to help increase the creation of cGMP by halting another enzyme at work in the penis, phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5). When you have PDE5, you have no cGMP, and vice versa.

Furthermore, Cialis helps maintain the higher levels of cGMP needed to keep the blood vessels dilated. Hence, as long as you remain sexually aroused, your erection will continue to hold.

How Do I Know If I Need Cialis

Because there are many potential causes of ED, it is important to consult with a doctor before starting any treatments. He or she is really the only one who can run the necessary tests and review your health information to determine if Cialis will be an effective option.

Can I Take Cialis with Other Medications

For the most part, it is perfectly safe to take Cialis with other medications. The few exceptions are below:

Class of Medication	That Treat	Common Examples
Nitrates	High blood pressure and chest pain	Nitroglycerin, Isosorbide dinitrate
Alpha blockers	High blood pressure	Flomax, Uroxatral
Antifungals and Antivirals	Infections caused by a fungus or virus	Nizoral, Sporanox

Combining these medications above with Cialis can double the pill’s effect of dilating blood vessels and lowering blood pressure, which can have potentially life-threatening consequences. Furthermore, taking Cialis with alcohol or with grapefruit juice can cause the same problems, so it is best to avoid them until the drug is out of your system.

This list is by no means comprehensive, so be sure to review all of your medications with your doctor to make sure adding Cialis will not cause an unforeseen danger.

Taking Cialis for the First Time

Some men have reported that Cialis does not work the first time they took it, and they almost stopped. Rather than give up, we ask: how long does it take for the drug to take effect?

Cialis is meant to kick in between 30 minutes and an hour after ingestion. However, some users recommend taking Cialis between three and four hours before sexual activity because they found the drug responded more quickly thanks to the longer absorption time. But if Cialis does not take effect, don’t give up. There could be a number of reasons why it failed, and most doctors will advise you to try it a few more times before switching to another treatment.

How Often Can I Take Cialis

Cialis comes in two main dosage options: the as-needed Cialis 20mg pill (also known as 36-Hour Cialis) and Cialis daily use pill. Which dosage you take determines how frequently you can take it.

36-Hour Cialis, which comes in 10mg, 20mg, 40mg, and 60mg tablets, can be taken once in a 24-hour period and is expected to last approximately 36 hours (hence the name). If you take more than one 36-Hour dosage in a 24-hour period, seek medical attention right away as you are at risk for conditions like ruptured blood vessels and tanked blood pressure.

The daily use pill, which comes in 2.5mg and 5mg tablets, is taken every day, once a day. And that is regardless of your plans for sexual activity. If you are taking daily-use Cialis, then be sure to take it every day because skipping a dose can affect the drug’s potency.

Does Cialis Work on Women

As of writing, Cialis is not currently approved by the FDA for women, so information on the drug’s effects on females is scant. Some women who have taken Cialis report the medication helped them achieve orgasm (especially if they are on antidepressants, which can decrease a woman’s chance of orgasm), but it has not affected their sex drive.

How Long It Takes for Cialis to Work

If you are on 36-Hour Cialis, it takes anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour for the drug to start working in the body. However, some men recommend taking the pill sooner – as much as three to four hours before sex – so you have plenty of time before it takes effect.

Of course, once the drug kicks in, the next question is how long does Cialis work? Cialis is meant to last up to 36 hours in your system, so once you have passed the 30-minute absorption time, you will ideally see the effects immediately after sexual arousal over the next two days.

For the daily use version, the lower dosage and the increased frequency of ingestion may affect when Cialis starts working. Some users have reported they were able to achieve and maintain an erection within 30 minutes of taking the first dose. However, the idea of the daily dosage is to create an ongoing solution for ED through long-term use, so once the drug is in your system, you will see the effects immediately after arousal all the time.

Cialis Half-Life

Some terms associated with medications, like “half-life” and “shelf life” can be confusing. To clarify, medications’ half-lives are how long the drugs last in your system after you take them. Shelf-life, on the other hand, is the length of time it is safe to take drugs before they expire.

The half-life of Cialis is approximately 36 hours; the shelf life is about three years.

Does Cialis Make You Last Longer

Cialis by itself does not cause an erection or sustain one. Cialis only works if a man is sexually aroused; therefore, the amount of time the erection lasts depends on how long the man remains stimulated. It goes without saying: if he remains aroused longer, the erection will last longer.

However, some men have noticed that Cialis is also helpful for stemming premature ejaculation. So, from that perspective, you could say Cialis makes you last longer.

What Happens If Cialis Stops Working

Assuming you are following all of the guidelines for taking Cialis, then the most likely reason the drug is not working anymore is tolerance. You can develop a tolerance for Cialis like you can for many other medications, so it may be time to check your dosage and review it with your doctor and get our free Cialis trial pack.