nitroglycerin vs tadalafil
Side-by-side comparison of nitroglycerin 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
PDE-5-Inhibitors such as avanafil, sildenafil, vardenafil, and tadalafil have been shown to potentiate the hypotensive effects of organic nitrates.
Recommendation: Do not use these medications at the same time, as the combination can cause life-threatening low blood pressure.
Nitrostat, Nitro-Dur
Cialis
Nitroglycerin sublingual tablets help to relieve chest pain (angina) due to heart disease. They work by widening blood vessels to improve blood flow.
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 chest pain called angina. Angina is caused by heart disease. Nitroglycerin can relieve an attack or prevent angina before activities that may cause it.
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.
Nitroglycerin is a nitrate vasodilator. It widens your blood vessels. This lets more blood flow to your heart 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.
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Tingling
- • Headache
- • Upset stomach
- • Back pain
- • Muscle aches
- • Nasal congestion
- Shortness of breath 4,152
- Pain 3,624
- Tiredness 3,492
- Heart attack 3,394
- Feeling sick to your stomach 3,265
- Shortness of breath 11,663
- Headache 10,690
- Diarrhea 7,800
- Feeling sick to your stomach 6,498
- Death 5,896
Taking too much nitroglycerin can lead to tolerance, where the drug stops working as well. Nitroglycerin can also cause very low blood pressure, especially if you stand up quickly. If chest pain continues after 3 tablets, get medical help right away.
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.
It is not known if nitroglycerin will harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if nitroglycerin passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
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 nitroglycerin vs tadalafil Comparison
nitroglycerin is classified in the Nitrate Vasodilator 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, nitroglycerin has 17,927 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 tadalafil makes the blood-pressure-lowering effects of nitroglycerin much stronger. this can lead to a severe and unsafe decrease in your blood pressure.. 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 nitroglycerin 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.