Tadalafil Side Effects: From Common to Rare

What should tadalafil do?

Tadalafil (brand name Cialis) is a long-lasting medication for erectile dysfunction designed to help men achieve or maintain an erection.

Men may prefer to take a longer-lasting erectile dysfunction treatment, such as tadalafil, if they plan on engaging in sex more than once in a short period.

How effective is tadalafil?

Tadalafil is an effective and generally well-tolerated ED medication for most men. 

It’s effective in helping men achieve erections that are satisfactory enough to engage in sex.

Our guide, Everything You Need to Know About Tadalafil, explains tadalafil's effectiveness in more detail.

Does dosage strength increase the risk of side effects?

There are four dosage options for tadalafil: a 2.5mg and 5mg daily option, or a 10mg and 20mg take-when-needed dosage that lasts up to 36 hours.

Lower dosages decrease the risk of side effects, and higher dosages increase the risk of side effects.

Lower dosages are usually given to men with health conditions or who are prone to side effects.

Our Tadalafil Dosage Guide: What Strength Might You Need? details the available dosages.

How common are tadalafil's side effects?

Most men who are eligible to take tadalafil for the treatment of erectile dysfunction won’t experience any side effects. 

You must speak to a GP or pharmacist if you’re concerned about the potential side effects. You may also wish to book an allergy test with your GP to rule out allergies to tadalafil and its ingredients.

Who is at a high risk of experiencing side effects?

If you have any health conditions or have experienced side effects from PDE5 inhibitors previously, then you are at a higher risk of experiencing side effects. 

If so, your GP may prescribe the lowest dosage of tadalafil, 2.5mg, daily or 10mg taken as needed if you are still eligible for the treatment.

Certain health conditions and medications can interact with tadalafil, and you must discuss them with your GP before considering tadalafil medication. 

The health conditions include sickle cell anaemia, multiple myeloma, leukaemia, penis deformation, a serious liver problem, or a severe kidney problem.

The medications include alpha-blockers, high blood pressure, 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, antifungals, and anticonvulsant medicines.

You must not take tadalafil if you are already taking nitrates or riociguat, are allergic to it, have serious heart problems, have recently had a stroke, have low or uncontrolled high blood pressure, or have a rare eye disease (NAION).

What are the most common side effects of tadalafil?

Common side effects (which may affect up to 10% of men) include headaches, back pain, flushing, indigestion, congestion, and muscle aches.

If you experience any of these common side effects, it is best to book an appointment with your GP immediately to determine whether you need to reduce your dosage or switch treatments.

What are the rare side effects of tadalafil?

Rare side effects (may affect up to 0.10% of men) include fainting, seizures, penile bleeding, and sudden loss of hearing, 

If you experience rare side effects, call 999 and seek urgent medical attention immediately.

How can the side effects of tadalafil be reduced?

If you have experienced side effects from the 20mg taken as-needed dosage, you must inform your GP. They may suggest switching to the 10mg taken as-needed tadalafil dosage to help you reduce the side effects.

If you take 5mg of tadalafil daily, you could also discuss decreasing this to 2.5mg with your GP.

It’s also essential to follow all of the information in the tadalafil patient information leaflet to ensure you take it correctly.

Tadalafil vs sildenafil side effects

Tadalafil (Cialis) and sildenafil (Viagra) are both PDE5 inhibitors that work in a similar way to treat erectile dysfunction. 

The common and rare side effects of tadalafil and sildenafil are similar, so the choice between the two often comes down to personal preference.

Tadalafil, when taken as needed, has a much longer half-life compared to sildenafil. If you are prone to side effects, you might prefer sildenafil’s shorter half-life of 2 to 3 hours instead of tadalafil’s 16-hour half-life. This means that sildenafil will leave your system more quickly.

You may also experience side effects with one treatment but not the other, so it is always best to choose whichever treatment works best for you.

Our article, Sildenafil vs. Tadalafil: Know Your Options, can help determine which medication best suits your lifestyle.

Is tadalafil the right treatment for you?

A consultation with your GP or pharmacist will ensure you are eligible for tadalafil. 

You can also speak to one of our clinicians to start a free online consultation.

Pharmacy2U’s Health Hub and Online Doctor have lots of information to learn about tadalafil or managing erectile dysfunction.

Advice and information to help erectile dysfunction