Tadalafil

Tadalafil is a medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence in adult men. You can use tadalafil to get and keep an erection.

Tadalafil is a PDE5 inhibitor (phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor).

How does tadalafil work?

• Tadalafil helps to relax the muscle in the blood vessels of your penis, so you get an erection.
• This allows more blood to flow into your penis which helps you keep your erection.

Tadalafil will not work if you are not sexually aroused.

If using 10mg or 20mg tadalafil, one tablet should be taken at least 30 minutes before you want to have sex.

If using the 5mg daily dose, one tablet should be taken every day around the same time. You do not have to plan when in the day you will have sex.

Tadalafil will only work if you are sexually aroused. You should only take 1 tadalafil tablet per 24 hours.

Can you take tadalafil with food or drink?

You can take tadalafil with or without food. Keep in mind that a heavy or greasy meal can slow down how fast tadalafil will work.

You should not drink a large amount of alcohol before you take tadalafil, as this can make it difficult for you to maintain an erection.

If you are unable to get an erection or keep an erection long enough with tadalafil, contact your doctor.

Tadalafil is available in 5mg, 10mg and 20mg dosage strengths. The dose you are prescribed by a doctor will depend on your medical history.

• The lowest dose of tadalafil is 5mg. This is used as a once daily dose, and is recommended for men who have sex frequently (at least twice a week). 5 mg is taken every day.
• The standard dose for tadalafil is 10mg. This is the usual starting dose if you have not used tadalafil before and you want to use it as and when it is needed.
• The highest dose for tadalafil is 20mg. This might be used if the standard 10mg dose does not work for you.

You might find that you lose an erection once every so often, but normally it’s nothing to worry about. If it keeps happening, you could have erectile dysfunction (ED). This means you find it difficult to get and keep an erection, even when you are sexually aroused.

Erectile dysfunction can happen:

• if you have a condition that affects the blood vessels in your body, like diabetes
• as a side effect of certain medications, such as antidepressants
• if you are using recreational drugs (like ‘poppers’)
• if you drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week
• due to lifestyle factors, like smoking or obesity
• if you are stressed or anxious, or if your mood is low

Tadalafil should only be taken once a day. If you have already taken a dose, you should not take another one for at least 24 hours. If you are using the 10mg or 20mg dose and are taking these more than twice a week, you should try changing to the daily 5mg dose.

The maximum dose of tadalafil is 20mg. If you take a dose higher than this, it will not make it more effective. You are more likely to have side effects if you take more than 20mg of tadalafil and may need to see an emergency doctor.

If you have taken more tadalafil tablets than advised, contact your doctor right away. If your erection lasts longer than 4 hours (also called priapism), call 999.

Tadalafil might not be appropriate for you to use if you:

• do not have erectile dysfunction
• are taking other erectile dysfunction treatment, such as Viagra (sildenafil) or Levitra (vardenafil)
• are a woman
• are under 18 years old
• take nitric oxide donors or ‘poppers’
• have an allergy to any of the ingredients in tadalafil
• take medicines called nitrates to treat chest pain or heart problems like angina
• take treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension, such as riociguat
• have low blood pressure or very high blood pressure
• have recently had a heart attack or a stroke
• have ever had loss of vision (also known as NAION, or ‘stroke of the eye’)
• have severe heart disease
• have severe liver disease
• have severe kidney disease

You should not use tadalafil without speaking to your doctor first if you have:

• sickle cell anaemia
• leukaemia (blood cancer)
• multiple myeloma (bone cancer)
• any deformity of the penis or Peyronie’s Disease
• a current stomach ulcer
• a bleeding disorder, such as haemophilia
• any heart problems where your heart might not be able to take extra stress

If you are unsure about anything, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

You might get side effects when you take tadalafil. These side effects usually last for a short period of time. You can speak to your doctor at any time for advice on what to do.

Common side effects of tadalafil include:

• headache
• facial flushing
• indigestion
• muscle aches
• back pain
• nasal congestion

Less common side effects of tadalafil include:

• feeling sick or being sick
• eye pain
• dizziness
• difficulty breathing
• chest pain
• a fast heart rate
• palpitations (pounding sensation in your chest)
• changes in blood pressure
• acid reflux
• nose bleed
• feeling tired or hot
• changes in vision
• prolonged erection

You can read the patient information leaflet inside your pack of tadalafil for more details.

The following are serious, but rare side effects. If you notice any of these, you or your partner should call 999 so you get medical attention urgently:

• an allergic reaction, like wheezing, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips or throat
• chest pain: if this happens, do not use nitrate medications (given for angina)
• a prolonged or painful erection lasting more than 4 hours
• a sudden loss of vision
• seizures or fits

You should watch out for any dizziness or blurry vision after you take sildenafil. If you experience this, you should not drive or operate machinery.

Tadalafil tablets can interact with other medicines. These drug interactions affect how well tadalafil works or how the other medicines work.

Speak to a doctor or pharmacist, if you’re taking:

• angina or chest pain treatment called nitrates, such as glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) or isosorbide mononitrate
• HIV treatment, such as protease inhibitors
• alpha-blockers for high blood pressure, such as doxazosin or alfuzosin
• epilepsy treatment, such as carbamazepine, phenytoin or phenobarbital
• medication used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), such as finasteride
• recreational drugs that contain amyl nitrates, such as ‘poppers’
• certain antibiotics, such as erythromycin
• certain antifungal medication, such as ketoconazole

You should avoid drinking grapefruit juice when taking tadalafil as this can affect how the medicine works.

You should avoid drinking a large amount of alcohol before you take tadalafil, as this can make it difficult for you to maintain an erection.

Which active ingredients does it contain?

The active ingredient in tadalafil tablets is tadalafil (5mg, 10mg or 20mg).

The other ingredients are: lactose monohydrate, croscarmellose sodium (E468), hydroxypropyl cellulose (E463), sodium lauryl sulfate, povidone K-25, silica colloidal anhydrous, magnesium stearate (E572), hypromellose, titanium dioxide (E171), macrogol, talc and iron oxide yellow (E172).

If you have an allergy or hypersensitivity to any of these ingredients, please speak to a doctor for advice before taking tadalafil.[Text Wrapping Break]

Check the patient information leaflet for the most up to date details on the ingredients of generic tadalafil tablets.

How should the product be disposed of?

If you want to dispose of your tadalafil tablets, take them to your local pharmacy. Do not throw away your tadalafil tablets in the bin or down the drain at home.

How should the medication be stored?

You should store tadalafil in its original packaging, below 30°C and away from sunlight and moisture. Keep tadalafil away from children or pets.

What does tadalafil look like?

Tadalafil tablets are round and yellow.

In which pack sizes is tadalafil available?

Tadalafil is available in pack sizes of 4 to 28 tablets from Asda Online Doctor.

Information on the manufacturer

The company that holds the marketing authorisation of tadalafil is Aspire Pharma Ltd, Unit 4, Rotherbrook Court, Bedford Road, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU32 3QG, UK.

Tadalafil is manufactured by Aspire Pharma Ltd. and Pharmadoc Healthcare Limited, KW20A Kordin Industrial Park, Paola, PLA 3000, Malta or Wave Pharma Limited, 4th Floor, Cavendish House, 369 Burnt Oak Broadway, Edgware, HA8 5AW, UK.