amlodipine vs tadalafil
Side-by-side comparison of amlodipine and tadalafil. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
Clinical pharmacology studies were conducted to assess the effect of tadalafil on the potentiation of the blood-pressure-lowering effects of selected antihypertensive medications (amlodipine, angiotensin II receptor blockers, bendrofluazide, enalapril, and metoprolol).
Recommendation: Monitor your blood pressure closely and watch for signs of dizziness or lightheadedness.
Norvasc
Cialis
Amlodipine (Norvasc) is a drug that lowers blood pressure and treats chest pain. It belongs to a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers.
Tadalafil (Cialis) is a medicine that helps men with erectile dysfunction (ED) or enlarged prostate (BPH). It belongs to a class of drugs called PDE5 inhibitors.
This medicine treats high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Amlodipine also treats chest pain (angina) caused by coronary artery disease, including chronic stable angina and vasospastic angina.
This medicine can help men who have trouble getting or keeping an erection (ED). It can also treat the symptoms of an enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH can cause difficulty with urination.
Amlodipine blocks calcium from entering heart and blood vessel cells. This relaxes and widens blood vessels, making it easier for blood to flow. As a result, the heart does not have to work as hard, which lowers blood pressure and reduces chest pain.
Tadalafil works by relaxing the muscles in the penis and prostate. This increases blood flow to these areas. For BPH, it relaxes muscles in the prostate and bladder, which can improve urinary symptoms.
- • Swelling in your ankles or feet
- • Dizziness
- • Flushing (redness of the face)
- • Palpitations (feeling your heart beat rapidly or irregularly)
- • Fatigue (feeling tired)
- • Headache
- • Upset stomach
- • Back pain
- • Muscle aches
- • Nasal congestion
- Feeling tired 15,696
- Diarrhea 14,038
- Feeling sick to your stomach 13,425
- Shortness of breath 13,222
- Feeling lightheaded or unsteady 10,671
- Shortness of breath 11,663
- Headache 10,690
- Diarrhea 7,800
- Feeling sick to your stomach 6,498
- Death 5,896
Amlodipine may cause low blood pressure, especially if you have severe aortic stenosis. Some people with severe heart disease may experience worsening chest pain or a heart attack when starting or increasing the dose of amlodipine. If you have severe liver problems, your doctor will increase your dose slowly.
If you have chest pain, tell your doctor. If you need nitrates for a heart problem, wait 48 hours after taking tadalafil before taking nitrates. If you get an erection that lasts more than 4 hours, get medical help right away. If you have sudden vision loss in one or both eyes, stop taking this medicine and get medical help right away. If you have a sudden decrease or loss of hearing, stop taking this medicine and get medical help right away.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. High blood pressure during pregnancy can harm both the mother and the baby. Amlodipine passes into breast milk, but no harmful effects on the breastfed infant have been seen.
This medicine is not for use in women. It is not known if this medicine will harm an unborn baby. It is also not known if this medicine passes into breast milk.
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How to Read This amlodipine vs tadalafil Comparison
amlodipine is classified in the Calcium Channel Blocker drug class, while tadalafil sits within the PDE5 Inhibitor class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, amlodipine has 67,052 submissions while tadalafil has 42,547. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to both drugs lower blood pressure, so taking them together can cause an additive effect that drops blood pressure further.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between amlodipine and tadalafil - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.