Affecting at least 12 million American men, erectile dysfunction is defined as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance (1).
Although some men experience temporary erectile dysfunction due to stress and other factors, a repeated inability to get an erection eventually starts to affect a man’s confidence and even puts a strain in his relationship.
But the good news is; there are already medications explicitly designed to address erectile dysfunction, one of which is Cialis, a popular drug also known as Tadalafil.
What Is Cialis, and How Does It Work?
Cialis is essentially the brand name of the erectile dysfunction medication tadalafil (2), which is similar to Levitra and Viagra. The drug classified as a phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitor is also used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia.
In a healthy individual, an erection occurs when there is increased blood flow to the penis due to the dilation of the blood vessels delivering blood flow to the penis and the contraction of the vessels removing blood from it.
During an erection, nitric oxide is released into the penis to stimulate the production of cyclic GMP, a substance that initiates and controls erection. PDE5 is also released to inhibit cGMP and end an erection by allowing blood vessels to return to their standard size. Cialis works by stopping PDE5 from disrupting the function of cGMP to make an erection last longer.
Under the brand name Adcirca, Tadalafil is also used for treating pulmonary hypertension because the walls of the lungs and arterial walls both contain PD5.
What Is the Cialis Shelf Life?
A lot of men who are using Cialis admit to taking them way after their expiration date and still enjoy the benefits. A lot of expired Cialis tablets are also sold on the black market because they are cheaper and still prove to be effective. But according to the experts, Cialis tablets should be consumed within one year to enjoy their maximum potency, and they should not be stored for more than two years.
Although there are no severe side effects to taking expired medication, the issue here is about potency. Once a drug reaches its expiration date or shelf life, some of its chemical agents will start to deteriorate, affecting making it less effective than taking a newly manufactured medication.
Proper storage also plays an essential role in keeping the potency and extending the shelf life of Cialis tablets. They should be kept in their original packaging until it’s time to take them, and they have to be kept in a cool, dry place where the temperature is at least 25 degrees Celsius. Avoid storing Cialis near the sink or in the bathroom as well as in the car or near the window because it can destroy the medicine.
What Are the Essential Things to Remember When Taking Cialis?
Cialis may have been proven to be effective against erectile dysfunction; you still need to keep a few things in mind when taking the medication to enjoy its maximum benefits:
- Take Cialis once at the same time every day. For instance, you can take the medication upon waking up or after eating breakfast. The good thing about Cialis is that you can take it even if you have no plans to have sex.
- Cialis may be taken with or without food, but it should never be combined with alcohol because it could lower blood pressure and, therefore, decrease the effect of the medication.
- Never take Cialis or any other medication for erectile dysfunction without consulting a doctor first. This is because some medicines are not suitable for individuals who have pre-existing medical conditions.
- Avoid taking Cialis with a nitrate drug (3) and, most importantly, never take it in combination with recreational drugs because it can cause potentially dangerous hypotension.
- Never buy from any store. Find a reputable supplier of Cialis where you can guarantee good quality medications, especially these days when there are a lot of fake sellers online.
- If you suddenly feel nauseous during sex or you start to feel pain in the chest area, tingling sensation or numbness, you need to call the doctor right away.
Cialis has definitely become a revolutionary medication for men who have erectile dysfunction. But like any other drug, it’s imperative to learn all about it first to know if it’s right for you or not.
