Can you take Cialis daily?

Authored by

Dr Muhammad Zeeshan Afzal

18 September 2022

Reviewed by

Samantha Burgess

Lead Healthcare Content Creator

What’s covered?

Can you take Cialis daily?

Cialis is a low dosage PDE-5 inhibitor that can be used daily.

Sexual drugs enhance your performance in bed.

Cialis (active ingredient; tadalafil) is another Viagra-like drug prescribed for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. It's gaining fame because it is available in lower doses and is a long-acting drug. Here, it is essential to answer a question. Can you take it daily?

To answer this question, you should know how it works and how long its effects last. Moreover, you should also be aware of the possible side effects of regular use.

How does Cialis work?

As with the other PDE-5 inhibitors, its active ingredient tadalafil also causes a sustained erection by breaking down the enzyme phosphodiesterase-5 that destroying cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). This cGMP is the cause of the erection.

It relaxes the blood vessels in the penis and thus improves blood flow in the spongy erectile tissues of the penis, making it more firm and hard.

Why should you choose Cialis for erectile dysfunction?

If you take ED drugs, you may be annoyed at the prospect of taking the pill in your pocket. Moreover, if you forget to take the pill before the expected intercourse, it will not work for you because it needs some time to work, which can kill the mood between you and your partner.

This is where Cialis comes to your rescue. As it is available in lower doses, you can take it daily without any severe side effects and enjoy sex anytime. This practice however should be done after consulting with a doctor because it is a prescription drug. Another factor to be considered is its cost. Its daily use will be a heavy burden on your pocket.

Only low doses of Cialis are safe for daily use.

It should however be kept in mind that only lower doses (2.5mg and 5mg) are recommended for regular use. The higher doses, i.e., 10mg and 20mg, are not recommended for everyday use and should be taken 30 minutes before expected sexual intercourse.

How long do its effects last?

One major factor that allows you to use it for more extended periods is its duration of action. While the effects of Viagra last for 4-6 hours (with some exceptions on the higher or lower side), Cialis is effective for as much as 36 hours.

Seems too much? Wait a minute. It doesn't mean you will have a sustained erection for 36 hours. It just means that after taking the drug, you can have sex anytime after sexual stimulation within that period. That's why some people prefer Cialis because it doesn't require you to take it before sex.

However, an erection lasting for hours is an emergency condition (priapism) and should never be ignored as it can cause permanent damage to the erect tissues.

What dosage can be used daily?

Only lower doses are recommended for regular use, and you should not take more than one pill daily. It is the job of your doctor to decide what amount you need. A doctor will make the decision keeping these factors in mind;

Your age
Your medical condition
Severity and type of the situation
Your health status
The past use of erectile dysfunction drugs and history of side effects

Typically, the doctors start from the minimum available dose, i.e., 2.5mg. If this dose is ineffective, the doctor will gradually increase the amount until the desired effects are reached. The drug is available in quantities up to 20mg. If, however, you have a problem with your liver or kidney, you should opt for a lower dose. Taking the drug at the same time of the day is recommended if you are taking Cialis daily.

What side could effects be expected from daily use?

Before taking a daily dose of Cialis to improve erectile function, you know its side effects and drug interactions.

Heart patients

Cialis has various other functions. Another drug, 'Adcirca', has the same active ingredient and is used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, high blood pressure and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Its use should be cautioned in heart patients.

Drug interactions

If you are taking other blood pressure medications, it is not advised to use Cialis due to the fear of drug interactions.

Priapism

Daily use of a long-acting drug can be problematic. It is particularly true if you are taking higher doses. You can develop a very painful erection lasting longer than expected. It can become a medical emergency.

Other side effects

Besides these, you can note the following issues.

Muscle pain
Low blood pressure
Chest pain
Allergic reaction
Heartburn
Headache
Nasal congestion
Flushing

Moreover, the daily users can also experience;

Abdominal pains
Diarrhoea
Sore throat
Respiratory infections
Cough
Urinary tract infections
Acid reflux

These factors will dictate how long you can continue to take it. A severe allergic reaction can force you to the hospital's emergency room.

We have detailed the safety aspects of Cialis in another informative article. Click here to read it.

How long can you continue to use it?

Currently, there is no recommendation of how long it could be used. However, the doctor may ask you to leave it as you start taking blood pressure drugs, antifungals etc. It is, however, asked to consult a physician if you are taking other medications.

End note

Cialis is a prescription drug and is not available over the counter. Understanding its mode of action, side effects and duration of action will be helpful to us in answering the question asked in the title. We can split the original question into two parts;

Should you take Cialis daily?
Can you take Cialis daily"?

The answer to the first question is straightforward. If you are prescribed, you should take Viagra daily. However, only the lower doses are approved for regular use. The answer to the second question is also the same. As a long-acting drug available in lower doses, you can take it daily if your pocket allows it.

The higher doses are, however, to be used only before expected sexual activity. Like Viagra, Cialis also needs sexual stimulation to show its effects.

At Welzo, we offer several kinds of ED medications available at different strengths, to learn more about Cialis click here to view our product page.

Our information pages have a lot more information available for you, to learn more about ED click here.

For online consultation, click here to consult our sexual health experts.