Tadalafil

Pronunciation: ta-DAL-a-fil
Generic Name: Tadalafil
Brand Name: Adcirca

Tadalafil is used for:

Treating high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary arterial hypertension [PAH]. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Tadalafil is a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor. It works by relaxing and dilating the vessels in the lungs. This lowers the blood pressure in the lungs and helps to improve your ability to exercise.

Do NOT use Tadalafil if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Tadalafil


• you have severe kidney or liver problems, certain hereditary eye problems (eg, retinitis pigmentosa), or if you are on dialysis


• you have pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD)


• you take a nitrate (eg, isosorbide, nitroglycerin) in any form (eg, tablet, capsule, patch, spray, ointment), or nitroprusside


• you take another medicine that contains tadalafil, another PDE5 inhibitor (eg, sildenafil, vardenafil), an azole antifungal (eg, itraconazole, ketoconazole), or rifampin


• you use certain recreational drugs called "poppers" (eg, amyl nitrate or nitrite, butyl nitrate or nitrite)

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Tadalafil:

Some medical conditions may interact with Tadalafil. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding


• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement


• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances


• if you have a history of a prolonged (more than 4 hours) or painful erection (priapism)


• if you have a deformed penis (eg, Peyronie disease, cavernosal fibrosis), certain blood cell problems (eg, sickle cell anemia, leukemia, multiple myeloma), or other conditions that may increase the risk of a prolonged or painful erection (priapism)


• if you have low blood pressure, uncontrolled high blood pressure, blood vessel problems, angina (chest pain), heart problems (eg, heart valve disease, congestive heart failure, irregular heartbeat) or a history of these conditions


• if you have a history of heart attack, stroke, life-threatening irregular heartbeat, liver or kidney problems, dialysis, ulcers, or bleeding problems


• if you have a history of eye or vision problems (eg, decreased vision or vision loss, optic nerve problems, retina problems) or hearing problems (eg, ringing in the ears, decreased hearing, hearing loss)


• if you take medicine for erectile dysfunction (ED)

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Tadalafil. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Alpha-blockers (eg, doxazosin), medicines for high blood pressure, or nitrates (eg, isosorbide, nitroglycerin) because severe low blood pressure with dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting may occur


• Azole antifungals (eg, itraconazole, ketoconazole), HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir), macrolide antibiotics (eg, erythromycin), or telithromycin because they may increase the risk of Tadalafil's side effects


• Barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital), bosentan, carbamazepine, hydantoins (eg, phenytoin), or rifampin because they may decrease Tadalafil's effectiveness

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Tadalafil may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Tadalafil:

Use Tadalafil as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• An extra patient leaflet is available with Tadalafil. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.


• Take Tadalafil by mouth with or without food.


• Tadalafil works best if it is taken at the same time each day.


• Check with your doctor before you eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are taking Tadalafil.


• If you miss a dose of Tadalafil, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Tadalafil.

Important safety information:

• Tadalafil may cause dizziness, drowsiness, fainting, or blurred vision. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Tadalafil with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.


• Tadalafil may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting; alcohol, hot weather, exercise, or fever may increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Sit or lie down at the first sign of any of these effects.


• Do not drink large amounts of alcohol (eg, 4 or 5 drinks or more) while you take Tadalafil. Doing so may increase your risk of dizziness, headache, fast heartbeat, and low blood pressure.


• Patients with heart problems who take Tadalafil may be at increased risk for heart-related side effects, including heart attack or stroke. Symptoms of a heart attack may include chest, shoulder, neck, or jaw pain; numbness of an arm or leg; severe dizziness, headache, nausea, stomach pain, or vomiting; fainting; or vision changes. Symptoms of a stroke may include confusion; vision or speech changes; one-sided weakness; or fainting. Contact your doctor or seek medical attention right away if you experience these symptoms.


• Tadalafil may rarely cause a prolonged (eg, longer than 4 hours) or painful erection. This could happen even when you are not having sex. If this is not treated right away, it could lead to permanent sexual problems such as impotence. Contact your doctor right away if this happens.


• Tadalafil may uncommonly cause mild, temporary vision changes (eg, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, blue/green color tint to vision). Contact your doctor if vision changes persist or are severe.


• Rarely, an eye problem called nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) has been reported in patients who took Tadalafil. This may lead to decreased vision or permanent loss of vision in some cases. If you notice a sudden decrease in vision or loss of vision in one or both eyes, contact your doctor right away.


• Sudden decreases in hearing and loss of hearing have been reported in some patients who have taken Tadalafil. Sometimes they also noticed ringing in the ears or dizziness. If you notice a sudden decrease or loss of hearing, contact your doctor right away.


• Do not use medicines or treatments for ED while you are taking Tadalafil without first checking with your doctor.


• Use Tadalafil with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects.


• Use Tadalafil with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.


• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Tadalafil while you are pregnant. It is not known if Tadalafil is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Tadalafil, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of Tadalafil:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Flushing; headache; heartburn; mild pain in the arms, legs, or back; muscle pain; nausea; stomach upset; stuffy nose.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; confusion; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; memory loss; numbness in arm or leg; one-sided weakness; prolonged, painful erection; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; ringing in the ears; seizures; severe or persistent back or muscle pain; severe or persistent dizziness; severe or persistent vision changes; shortness of breath or wheezing; slurred speech; sudden decrease or loss of hearing; sudden decrease or loss of vision in one or both eyes; sudden, severe headache or vomiting.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

See also: Tadalafil side effects (in more detail)

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include chest pain; fainting; prolonged erection; severe dizziness; severe or persistent back or muscle pain; severe or persistent vision changes.

Proper storage of Tadalafil:

Store Tadalafil at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Tadalafil out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Tadalafil, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.


• Tadalafil is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.


• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.


• Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Tadalafil. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Issue Date: February 1, 2012

Database Edition 12.1.1.002

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

More Tadalafil resources

• Tadalafil Side Effects (in more detail)
• Tadalafil Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Tadalafil Drug Interactions
• Tadalafil Support Group
• 103 Reviews for Tadalafil - Add your own review/rating

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