Tadalafil Dosage Guide: What Strength Might You Need?

Tadalafil dosage to treat erectile dysfunction

The standard dosage of tadalafil to treat erectile dysfunction is 10mg, taken as and when you need it, but no more than once in 24 hours.

The 10mg standard dosage is adequate for most men whose GP or pharmacist deems them suitable for taking the medication.

ED medications do not always work after taking them for the first time. If you have found that the medication isn't allowing you to achieve or maintain an erection, it’s always best to discuss this with your GP to see if the 20mg dosage would be more appropriate for you.

When increasing the dosage of tadalafil, you also increase the risk of experiencing potential side effects. 

Our guide on Tadalafil Side Effects - From Common To Rare can help explain the side effects of tadalafil and who is at the most risk of experiencing them.

Why are there different dosages of tadalafil?

There are different dosages of tadalafil, which depend on its purpose of use.

This is because different dosages are needed to treat other medical conditions, such as erectile dysfunction, benign prostate enlargement, and pulmonary hypertension.

To treat ED, tadalafil is usually given in a 2.5mg daily or 10mg taken-as-needed form that can be increased depending on your medical history, experience of side effects, and the severity of your condition. 

When it comes to treating benign prostate enlargement, 5mg is usually taken daily, and for pulmonary hypertension, the usual dose is two 20mg tablets taken once a day.

For more information on how tadalafil works and its uses, read our article Tadalafil: Everything You Need to Know.

2.5mg and 5mg dosage of tadalafil

The 2.5mg or 5mg dosage of tadalafil is to be taken daily for men who plan to engage in sexual activity spontaneously over the week. 

The standard daily dosage of tadalafil is 2.5mg, which is to be taken at the same time every day. 

Your GP may decide to increase your dose to 5mg if you have no contraindications, have experienced no side effects on 2.5mg, and were unable to maintain or achieve an erection that was suitable for sex.

10mg and 20mg dosage of tadalafil

Tadalafil 10mg or 20mg should be taken as needed, but no more than once every 24 hours. 

10mg is the standard take-when-needed dose, which can be taken with or without food and lasts up to 36 hours. 

Your GP can increase the dosage to 20mg if you can't achieve or maintain an erection on 10mg, and it’s deemed safe and suitable for you to take it. 

This option is suitable for men who know exactly when they plan to engage in sex over the next 36 hours.

How to take your tadalafil dosage

You should take tadalafil at least 30 minutes before you plan on engaging in sexual activity.

You can take tadalafil with or without food, and you must be sexually stimulated for tadalafil to work.

It’s always best to avoid alcohol as this can make erectile dysfunction symptoms worse, and you must avoid grapefruit juice as this is known to cause an interaction. 

You should read the tadalafil patient information leaflet for full details on how to take it correctly.

How will I know what dosage I need?

Your GP or pharmacist will be able to assess whether you’re eligible for tadalafil medication.

If you have no contraindications, allergies, or medical reasons why tadalafil wouldn’t be safe to take, then you should be able to take the standard dosage of 10mg.

If you think that you may need a stronger dose, then you will have to discuss this with your GP to be prescribed the 20mg dose.

Is tadalafil taken daily or tadalafil taken as needed better?

Whether you’d be better off taking tadalafil daily or tadalafil taken as needed all depends on how regularly you plan to have sex and how well your body responds to the medication. 

If you plan to have sex regularly, your GP will be able to assess whether you’re eligible for tadalafil daily.

If you plan to have sex less frequently, then tadalafil taken as needed could be a good option for you.

Where can I purchase tadalafil?

If you have a GP prescription for tadalafil, you can visit your local in-store pharmacy or have it delivered to your door using Pharmacy2U’s NHS prescription service. 

You can also find out more information about erectile dysfunction on our Health Hub and Online Doctor if you want to learn more.

Advice and information to help erectile dysfunction