Cialis Reviews: What Real Customers Think
In the UK, more than 25% of younger men self-reported that they had experienced erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction (ED), or impotence, occurs when you are either unable to get an erection or keep an erection during sex.
ED can be caused by conditions such as diabetes, anxiety, depression, high cholesterol, hormone problems or high blood pressure. Lifestyle factors such as stress, drinking too much alcohol or tiredness may cause ED or impotence on occasion.
While there is no cure for ED, there are effective treatments, such as Cialis, available to help improve erectile dysfunction. Cialis is an ED treatment from Lilly that is well-known for its ability to last up to 36 hours in the body.
Read on to learn what Cialis is, how to use it and its potential side effects, including highlighting UK Cialis reviews.
Cialis tablets overview: what is Cialis and how do you use it?
Active ingredients
The active ingredient in Cialis is Tadalafil. The FDA first approved it for use in treating ED in 2003, and it was approved for use in Europe in late 2002.
How do Cialis tablets work?
An erection is caused when the soft tissue of the penis is filled with blood. This occurs when the blood vessels in the penis widen and rapidly increase blood flow. At the same time, the blood vessels in the penis that remove excess blood are decreased to ensure that the blood stays in the penis.
When sexually stimulated, nitric oxide (NO) is released, causing an enzyme called guanylate cyclase to make cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). The cGMP is mainly responsible for increasing and decreasing the size of the blood vessels in the penis.
When cGMP is destroyed by PDE5 enzymes, the blood vessels in the penis return to normal size, ending the erection, and the blood flows out of the penis.
The active ingredient in Cialis, Tadalafil, belongs to a class of drugs called phosphodiester type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. These drugs prevent PDE5 enzymes from working too fast, and cGMP stays for longer. The persistence of cGMP leads to more blood entering and staying in the penis, resulting in an erection or longer-lasting erection.
How long does it take for Cialis to work?
It normally takes 30 to 60 minutes for Cialis to begin working, and it can last in the bloodstream for up to 36 hours. It is important to remember that you need to be sexually aroused for Cialis to be effective.
If you try Cialis on multiple occasions and find that it is not helping you achieve or maintain an erection, talk to your GP or pharmacist about increasing the dose or exploring the underlying causes of your ED.
How much Cialis can be prescribed on the NHS
On the NHS, Cialis, the branded version of Tadalafil, is not available for the treatment of erectile dysfunction or pulmonary hypertension except in special circumstances (you can buy Tadalafil tablets from Cloud Pharmacy). However, the generic version of tadalafil can be prescribed for the treatment of ED.
Special circumstances in which men are eligible for treatment with Cialis for ED on the NHS include:
- Parkinson’s disease
- Diabetes
- Prostatectomy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Kidney failure treated by dialysis or transplant
- Severe pelvic injury
- Radical pelvic surgery
NHS treatment guidelines suggest that one treatment a week is appropriate for treating ED. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist to see if you are eligible for an NHS prescription for Cialis.
Dosage and usage recommendations
When taking any medication, it is important to take it exactly as prescribed by your GP or pharmacist.
Cialis is available as 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg, or 20mg tablets. The typical dose for Cialis is 10mg, taken when you need it. You may be prescribed a higher dose (20mg) or lower doses (2.5mg or 5mg) depending on how effective 10mg is for you and how well you tolerate the drug.
As the effects of Cialis last more than 24 hours, it is not recommended to take 20mg or 10mg tablets every day. For Cialis to work, you need to be sexually aroused.
Cialis can be swallowed whole with some water or juice. It is important not to use grapefruit juice as it can increase the concentration of the drug in your body, which may cause side effects.
When taking Cialis for ED or impotence, take your prescribed dose (1 tablet) at least 30 minutes before you plan on having sex. In some cases, it may take up to 2 hours before the medicine kicks in.
If you miss a dose of Cialis, do not take two doses at the same time to make up for the forgotten one.
How do you feel after taking Cialis?
After taking Cialis tablets, it begins working within 30 to 60 minutes, provided you’re sexually aroused. Cialis can last from 24 to 36 hours in the body. In some cases, it can last up to 72 hours.
There is no guarantee that Cialis will be effective every time you use it. Certain factors can affect how long Cialis lasts in your body and how well it works, including:
- The dose
- Diet and lifestyle (smoking, unmanaged stress, heavy drinking, etc.)
- The kind of dose (daily or as needed)
- Liver and kidney function
- Overall health condition
- Other medications you are taking
- Age
Take Cialis exactly as prescribed by your pharmacist or GP. Do not take extra doses or change when you are prescribed to take it.
Side effects: is there a downside to taking Cialis?
There are known side effects of Cialis. Like with most medications, not everyone may experience them. If you find that side effects persist or are severe, contact your GP or pharmacist.
The most common side effects of Cialis may include:
- Indigestion or heartburn
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Back pain
- Facial flushing
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Pain in the limbs
- Other flu-like symptoms
Severe side effects when taking Cialis are uncommon; however, if they occur, they include:
- An erection lasting more than 4 hours (priapism)
- Sudden loss or decrease of hearing or vision
- Low blood pressure
- Heart attack, or symptoms of a heart attack
- Stroke
- An allergic reaction
Severe side effects are uncommon and only happen in less than 1 in 1,000 people who take Cialis. If you experience any severe side effects when taking Cialis, stop taking this ED medication immediately and seek emergency medical attention or call 999.
Interactions with other medications
Cialis can interact negatively with other medications, such as prescription drugs used to treat high blood pressure, heart (cardiovascular) conditions, fungal infections and other medical conditions.
Do not take Cialis if you are taking:
- Medicines called Nitrates typically used to treat chest pain, such as glyceryl trinitrate (GTN)
- Medications used to treat pulmonary hypertension, such as ricociguat
- Medicines called alpha-blockers are often used for prostate problems
- Blood pressure medications
- Some medications used to treat HIV
- Some antifungal medications
- Antibiotics such as erythromycin, clarithromycin or telithromycin
- Other medications, such as PDE5 inhibitors and other ED medications (Viagra, Sildenafil, Spedra, Vardenafil)
Before taking Cialis, tell your pharmacist or GP about any prescription medications, supplements, over-the-counter (OTC) medications or herbal remedies that you are taking.
Cialis is not the best option to treat ED in some people. To ensure that this is the best medication for you, tell your GP or pharmacist if you:
- Have sickle cell anaemia or any abnormality of the red blood cells
- Have leukaemia
- Have a kidney or liver condition
- Are taking medications called nitrates
- Have low blood pressure or uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Have recently had a heart attack or stroke
- Have any serious heart or liver conditions
- Have curved penis (Peyronie’s disease)
- Have an allergic reaction to tadalafil or other medications
You should exercise caution when mixing Cialis and alcohol, as this combination may cause side effects. Both Cialis and alcohol can cause low blood pressure, causing symptoms such as lightheadedness and dizziness. It is advised to avoid mixing alcohol and Cialis or talk to your healthcare provider about how much alcohol is safe to drink.
Cost
Cloud Pharmacy has Cialis tablets available to buy after an online consultation with a registered pharmacist:
Dose | 4 tablets | 8 tablets | 16 tablets | 28 tablets | 32 tablets | 56 tablets | 84 tablets |
2.5mg | N/A | N/A | N/A | £70.99 | N/A | £139.99 | £201.95 |
5mg | N/A | N/A | N/A | £70.99 | N/A | £139.99 | £201.95 |
10mg | £38.99 | £73.99 | £135.99 | N/A | £254.99 | N/A | N/A |
20mg | £38.99 | £73.99 | £135.99 | N/A | £254.99 | N/A | N/A |
Cialis summary
Active Ingredient | The active ingredient in Cialis is tadalafil. |
Dosage | Cialis is available in 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg, or 20mg doses. |
Effectiveness | Cialis typically takes 30 to 60 minutes to begin working and can last up to 36 hours in the bloodstream. |
Side effects | Common side effects may include flushing, headache, muscle pain, back pain, stuffy nose, or heart pain. |
Interactions with Medications | It can be dangerous to take Cialis with medications called nitrates and others. |
Reviews | Reviews are mostly positive for Cialis, with users noting that the medication is expensive. |
Price | Cialis starts at £38.99 from Cloud Pharmacy |
Cialis Reviews
UK Cialis reviews are mostly positive and, for some people, it can be effective over a long weekend.
UK Cialis reviews summary
Reviewers reported a positive experience when using Cialis and noted that it was a great treatment option for long weekends away. Some UK reviewers noted that they found Cialis more cost-effective than Viagra.
Do Cialis tablets work as well as the generic tadalafil?
Cialis (branded version) | Tadalafil (generic version) | |
Active ingredient | Tadalafil | Tadalafil |
Doses | 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg, 25mg | 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg, 25mg |
Price | Starting from £38.99 | Starting from £8.49 |
Advantages | Some people prefer the branding of Cialis compared to Tadalafil. | Tadalafil is cheaper than Cialis while working the same. |
Disadvantages | Is more costly compared to the generic Tadalafil. | The packaging is different to that of Cialis (brand version) |
User review themes | User reviews are positive. However, reviewers found Cialis expensive. | Reviews are positive, with reviewers noting that it is cost-effective and works well. |
As Tadalafil is the generic version of Cialis (brand name), the cost and packaging (branding) are the only differences. Generic versions of brand-name medications are always cheaper, even though they work the same and are available in the same dosages. Both Tadalafil and Cialis require prescriptions in the UK.
Recent Cialis tablets research and relevant reading material
Cialis can be used off-label, which means that it has not been approved by regulatory bodies for treatment. Cialis has been used off-label to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), as the drug is generally well tolerated. There is a lack of evidence from large controlled trials to determine the safety and effectiveness of using tadalafil in combination therapy.
How good is Cialis?
Cialis is a safe and effective treatment for erectile dysfunction that is known for how long it lasts in the body (up to 36 hours).
Pros of taking Cialis | Cons of taking Cialis |
Cialis can be taken with or without food as it does not affect the medication like that seen with Viagra (sildenafil) | Cialis is not suitable for some people, such as those who have had a heart attack, stroke or heart failure. |
The effects of Cialis can last up to 36 hours. | Cialis cannot be taken with other medications such as Nitrates, other PDE5 inhibitors and others. |
Cialis can be taken as needed. | Those over the age of 65+ may experience more side effects than younger individuals. |
Cialis summary
Cialis does not cure ED, nor does it increase libido (sexual desire). However, it is an effective and safe treatment for ED that can last in the blood system for up to 36 hours. To purchase Cialis in the UK, you need a prescription.
Cloud Pharmacy is a UK-based GPhC and MHRA-registered company that stocks Cialis tablets. We also stock the OTC variant, Cialis Together.
You can get a prescription for Cialis Tablets online once you complete a short questionnaire to determine your eligibility. Once that has been determined, you will have a short consultation with a registered pharmacist.
Once your Cialis is dispensed, it will be shipped (same-day) in discreet packing to your UK address.
Click here to start the process today.
FAQs
Is Cialis the same as Viagra?
Although Cialis and Viagra are both PDE5 inhibitors, they have different active ingredients, come in different doses and have different effects. How effective each is varies on a user-by-user basis.
Cialis has the active ingredient Tadalafil and is available in 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg and 25mg tablets. Cialis can last up to 36 hours in the bloodstream.
Viagra has the active ingredient Sildenafil citrate and is available in 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg tablets. Viagra can last up to 4-6 hours in the bloodstream.
Is Tadalafil as good as Cialis?
Tadalafil is the generic version of Cialis (brand name). It works the same and is available in the same doses. The only difference is the price and branding. Tadalafil is cheaper than Cialis because it is a generic ED medication.
How long does Cialis keep you hard for?
Cialis can keep you hard for the duration of sex. However, the drug can remain effective in your body for up to 36 hours, meaning that you may find you can get multiple erections over 36 hours when sexually stimulated.
If your erection lasts longer than 4 hours or is painful, seek medical attention to avoid causing permanent damage to your penis.