tadalafil
Brand names: Cialis
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.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$54.23/unit
Generic Price
$0.10/unit
Generic Savings
100%
Generic Available
Yes (31 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 25, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine can help men who have trouble getting or keeping an erection (ED).
Common side effects
Headache, Upset stomach, Back pain
Key warnings
If you have chest pain, tell your doctor.
How It Works
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.
How to Take It
You should not split the tablets; swallow them whole. For ED, you can take a 10 mg dose as needed before sex. Your doctor may change the dose to 5 mg or 20 mg based on how it works for you. Do not take more than one dose a day. For BPH, take 5 mg daily at the same time each day. You can take this medicine with or without food.
Pregnancy & 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.
Missed Dose
If you take this medicine daily and miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time.
Storage
Store this medicine at room temperature, away from heat and moisture.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 67,414 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 96,629 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
96,629
Death-Related Reports
10,913
Hospitalization Reports
36,455
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DYSPNOEA | 11,663 |
| 2 | HEADACHE | 10,690 |
| 3 | DIARRHOEA | 7,799 |
| 4 | NAUSEA | 6,498 |
| 5 | DEATH | 5,899 |
| 6 | FATIGUE | 5,836 |
| 7 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 5,432 |
| 8 | DIZZINESS | 5,177 |
| 9 | PNEUMONIA | 4,225 |
| 10 | COUGH | 4,199 |
| 11 | MALAISE | 3,723 |
| 12 | VOMITING | 3,434 |
| 13 | ASTHENIA | 3,306 |
| 14 | PAIN IN EXTREMITY | 3,297 |
| 15 | PAIN | 3,291 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS 7.1 Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors BiDil is contraindicated in patients who are using a selective inhibitor of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5), PDE5 inhibitors such as avanafil, sildenafil, vardenafil, and tadalafil have been shown to potentiate the hypotensive effects of organic nitrates.
Mechanism: These medicines both lower blood pressure in a similar way, and using them at the same time can cause a severe and unsafe drop in blood pressure.
What to do: You should not use these drugs together as it is strictly advised against.
Phosphodiesterase inhibitors: Sildenafil Tadalafil Vardenafil Use With Caution Sildenafil, Tadalafil, Vardenafil: Each of these phosphodiesterase inhibitors is primarily metabolized by CYP3A, and CYP3A will be inhibited by concomitant administration of clarithromycin. Co-administration of clarithromycin with sildenafil, tadalafil, or vardenafil will result in increased exposure of these phosphodiesterase inhibitors.
Mechanism: Clarithromycin stops the body from breaking down tadalafil properly. This leads to higher levels of tadalafil in your blood, which can increase the risk of side effects.
What to do: Use this combination with caution. Your doctor may need to change your dose of tadalafil.
Pulmonary hypertension agents (PDE5 inhibitors) tadalafil (Adcirca ® ) ↑ tadalafil Avoid concomitant use of tadalafil with PAXLOVID for pulmonary hypertension. sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil ↑ sildenafil ↑ tadalafil ↑ vardenafil Dosage adjustment is recommended for use of sildenafil, tadalafil or vardenafil with PAXLOVID when used for erectile dysfunction.
Mechanism: This combination prevents the body from clearing tadalafil, leading to much higher levels of the drug in your system.
What to do: Avoid this combination if you take tadalafil for lung pressure, or talk to your doctor about a lower dose if using it for erectile dysfunction.
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).
Mechanism: Both drugs lower blood pressure, so taking them together can cause an additive effect that drops blood pressure further.
What to do: Monitor your blood pressure closely and watch for signs of dizziness or lightheadedness.
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).
Mechanism: These drugs both work to lower blood pressure, which can lead to a combined effect that lowers pressure more than intended.
What to do: Your doctor may need to monitor your blood pressure or adjust your doses if you feel faint.
Common Questions
Can I take this medicine with food?
How long does this medicine last?
Can I drink alcohol while taking this medicine?
What should I do if I get a headache?
Can I take this with other medications?
Is it safe to take Tadalafil every day?
Can Tadalafil cure ED or BPH?
How quickly does Tadalafil work?
Can women take Tadalafil?
Can I buy Tadalafil over the counter?
What are the common side effects of tadalafil?
Does tadalafil interact with other medications?
What drug class is tadalafil?
Is there a generic version of tadalafil?
Is tadalafil safe during pregnancy?
Has tadalafil been recalled?
Active Recalls
cGMP Deviations for the manufacturing Firm (Accord Healthcare) after their inspection.
Preferred Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
CGMP Deviations
Northwind Pharmaceuticals LLC
Related Medications in PDE5 Inhibitor
Other drugs grouped near tadalafil — same-class peers and common alternatives.
alfuzosin
Uroxatral
Alfuzosin is a medicine that helps men with enlarged prostate glands.
Compare with tadalafil →
bethanechol
Urecholine
Bethanechol helps you to urinate if you have trouble emptying your bladder.
Compare with tadalafil →
darifenacin
Enablex
Darifenacin (Enablex) is a medicine that helps control an overactive bladder.
Compare with tadalafil →
dutasteride
Avodart
Dutasteride and tamsulosin hydrochloride capsules contain two medicines to treat enlarged prostate in men.
Compare with tadalafil →
dutasteride/tamsulosin
Jalyn
This medicine combines two drugs to treat enlarged prostate in men.
Compare with tadalafil →
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Related Health & Safety Data
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What the FDA Data Shows for tadalafil
The FDA label for tadalafil (sold under brand names such as Cialis) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the PDE5 Inhibitor class. This medicine can help men who have trouble getting or keeping an erection (ED). Official labeling lists 7 commonly reported side effects, including Headache, Upset stomach, Back pain.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 67,414 voluntary reports. The database also lists 25 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.10 versus $54.23 for the brand — a 100% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 2 recall records on file), and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: October 16, 2024
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages