In recent years, millions of men have been prescribed medication to treat their erectile dysfunction. Many of these men have found relief from a medication called Cialis. Cialis is available with a prescription at your local pharmacy. But, many people find it much easier to get their Cialis online and have it shipped right to their home. However, before you rush ahead to order, there some questions you should consider regarding the safety and efficacy of ordering Cialis online.
What is Cialis?
Cialis is a popular, safe, and effective drug for treating erectile dysfunction (ED). It can also be used to treat the symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
Cialis is derived from a drug called Tadalafil, which was developed by a coalition of major drug companies in the late 1990s. These companies, ICOS and Eli Lilly, were interested in creating their own ED drug after Viagra took the pharmaceutical industry by storm. After several years of clinical trials, the drug was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on November 21, 2003.
Cialis is currently available by prescription only. That means that any purchase of the drug without a prescription, whether online or over the counter, is illegal and potentially dangerous.
Chemically, Cialis is a ‘highly selective PDE5 inhibitor’. All PDE5 inhibitors (a class of drugs that also includes Viagra, Levitra, and other popular ED remedies) work by stopping the ‘degradative action’ of the PDE5 enzyme.
When PDE5 is blocked by a drug like Cialis, it promotes a build-up of cGMP, a substance that naturally promotes muscle relaxation and vasodilation in the body. In other words, the blood vessels in the body widen and more blood moves through the body’s smooth muscles, like those in the male genitalia.
Put simply: Cialis helps the body send more blood to the penis when there is arousal. So, Cialis will not automatically give you an erection, but it will help you get and sustain an erection when you are sexually aroused.
Eli Lilly’s exclusive patent on Cialis (Tadalafil) was originally set to expire on April 26, 2020. But, in 2017 the company released a statement saying that they had made an agreement with generic drug manufacturers and that, “As part of the agreement, Cialis exclusivity is now expected to end at the earliest on September 27, 2018.”
Once the patent expires, consumers can expect a steep drop in the cost of Cialis and its equivalents, both online and at brick-and-mortar pharmacy locations.
Generic Cialis online
Despite Eli Lilly’s exclusive patent for Cialis and its active ingredient, Tadalafil, there are generic Cialis-like drugs being sold for a cheaper price than that of name-brand Cialis online.
These drugs are often produced in other countries, where U.S. patent laws are either nonexistent or simply ignored. This means that companies can use the same exact ingredients as Cialis to produce a drug that is virtually the same. Since these companies have essentially skipped over the research and testing phases of drug development, the medication is much cheaper for them to produce, and they can, therefore, offer it for a much lower price than brand name Cialis online.
However, in places where U.S. patent laws are not applicable, it also means that U.S. standards for drug production, storage, distribution, and consumption are also not applicable. This means that there is no way to really verify that the drugs that claim to be generic versions of Cialis truly contain the same ingredients or are of the strength that they advertise.
Three of the most popular generic versions of Cialis that people purchase online are sold under the names Apcalis, Tazalis, and Tadalista.
Apcalis
Apcalis is a generic form of Tadalafil that is produced by the Indian pharmaceutical company Ajanta Pharma Limited. Apcalis is usually sold in 10mg or 20mg doses, which are quite large. Therefore, those who chose to buy Apcalis online should make sure that they are taking the appropriate dosage for their condition. As always, consult a doctor before using any medication.
Tazalis
Tazalis is another generic form of Tadalafil that’s made in India. This generic drug is produced by Carminol Laboratories. It’s very difficult to find any reliable information about Carminol’s production, distribution, or quality control of their products. Also, like Apcalis, Tazalis is generally sold in high doses, like 20mg tablets.
Tadalista
Tadalista is produced by the Indian company Centurion Laboratories. Tadalista seems to be available in more standardized doses, like 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg tablets, making it a generic form of Tadalafil that’s closer to the name-brand Cialis. However, as with any generic drug that is not produced in the United States, there are certain risks to consider before ordering online.
Can you buy Cialis online with a prescription?
The first step in buying any prescription medication is to consult with your doctor. Is Cialis right for you? If you decide that it is, then you can easily use your prescription for Cialis to order the medication online and have it delivered directly to your door.
A simple Google search for ‘Cialis’ or its generic form, ‘Tadalafil’, will result in thousands of hits, many of which are online pharmacies. But not all online pharmacies are legitimate, and there are some important safety precautions that people should take before ordering any prescription medication, like Cialis, online.
Is it safe to buy Cialis online?
Yes, it is safe to buy Cialis online as long as you take some very important and simple precautions. The global market for erectile dysfunction drugs is expected to reach $4.25 billion by 2023. That’s an enormous amount of money, and there are many people who want to take home their piece of the pie.
While some of these people are legitimate doctors and medical companies, others are swindlers and fakes. These people often set up completely fraudulent online pharmacies that then sell dangerous, unregulated drugs to people across the world.
An FDA investigation found that some erectile dysfunction drugs that were being sold online contained completely different active ingredients, like metronidazole (an antibiotic) and clomiphene (a fertility drug). Sometimes prescription drugs are simply swapped out with sugar pills.
The FDA has also found that many ‘herbal’ remedies sold online to treat erectile dysfunction are actually not herbal at all. Some of these products contain secret, active ingredients that can cause serious side-effects. Even when a drug like Cialis is being sold online under the correct name, the dosage is often incorrect. Taking the wrong dosage of a drug like Cialis can lead to a dangerous overdose or a pleasureless underdose.
So, before you order any online prescription medications like Cialis, you should confirm that you are buying it from a safe, secure, and legitimate vendor.
Where to buy Cialis online?
A simple Google search for ‘buy Cialis’ will yield thousands of results. So, how do you know which pharmacies are legitimate, and which are unsafe scams?
There are a few warning signs that you can check for to see if the pharmacy you are using is a fraud. Ask yourself these questions before buying medication online:
- Does the vendor let you buy a prescription medication without a valid prescription from a health-care provider?
- Do you they have a U.S. state-licensed pharmacist who can answer your questions?
- Do they send spam emails to you advertising very cheap products and special deals?
- Are they located in another country?
If the answer is yes to any of the above questions, then the website is likely not run by a legitimate, legal pharmacy within the United States, and buying Cialis online from them could result in a regrettable situation.
Thankfully, the FDA has set up an easy-to-use ‘BeSafeRX’ program, which can help you find a pharmacy that can sell you Cialis in a safe, legal manner. Just go to their website and click on your state. This will transfer you to your state board of pharmacies’ license database, where you can find all of the licensed vendors in your state.
If you are going to buy Cialis online, it is best to use one of these licensed vendors who is recognized by the state government. While other vendors might advertise cheaper prices, buying from them is not worth the risks.
How to take Cialis?
Cialis comes in the form of a small tablet. The tablet is an oval shape with a ‘C’ on it and a number indicating the mg dosage (for example C10 for a 10mg dose). The pills are not scored down the middle and are therefore they are difficult to split up into smaller doses.
Unlike some other erectile dysfunction medications, Cialis can be taken with or without food, and there will be no effect on its efficacy. However, drinking grapefruit juice or eating grapefruit while the drug is in your system is not recommended. Grapefruit juice has compounds in it that can make it harder for your body to break down drugs like Cialis, and therefore can lead to a dangerous increase in the levels of drugs in the system.
Many people who are trying to ‘get into the mood’ will drink a few glasses of wine with a romantic dinner. Luckily, mixing moderate amounts of alcohol with Cialis is perfectly fine. However, consuming high amounts (more than five drinks in a night) can cause unwanted dizziness and other side-effects, and is therefore not recommended.
One of the most exciting things about Cialis, and one thing that makes it different from other ED drugs like Viagra, is that there are two distinct ways that you can use it: daily or on an as-needed basis. You should consult with your doctor to figure out which option is better for you and your lifestyle.
Daily
When taken daily, Cialis is used in smaller doses of 2.5 or 5mg. The benefit of this once-daily dose is that you don’t have to wait for a pill to kick in when you are ‘in the mood’. Instead, the low doses of Cialis stay in your system for the whole 24 hours between your doses, so you can be ready anytime.
Those who are taking Cialis on a daily basis should be sure to set a regular time that they can remember to take their pill. This time should be about the same every day. No matter what your dose is, you should not take Cialis more than once each day.
As-Needed
For those who want to take Cialis on an as-needed basis, the doses are higher. These 5mg, 10mg, or 20mg tablets should be taken at least 30 minutes before the desired time of arousal. It often takes longer for the drugs to work in some men, so giving yourself an hour or two head start is often advisable.
The 20mg doses of Cialis can keep working for up to 36 hours, but the recommended starting dose for most patients if just 10mg. For many men, 10mg will provide a whole day of sustained ED relief.
As with the daily doses, as-needed Cialis should never be taken more than once in a single day.
How long does it take for Cialis to work?
How quickly Cialis works to remedy ED depends on which dose you are taking. Those who are taking Cialis daily may have to wait four or five days after their first pill for the effects to be seen. However, after those initial days, they can expect it to work at any time of the day, no matter when their pill was taken.
Those who are taking Cialis as-needed will need to plan their dosages at least 30 minutes before they want the drug to begin working. However, in some cases, it can take an hour or longer for blood flow to the penis to increase.
It should be noted that Cialis does not automatically give you an erection. It helps your body to send more blood to the penis when it is aroused. So, in order to see the results, you may need to do a little bit of work on your own to obtain arousal.
How long does the Cialis effect last?
How long Cialis lasts also depends on the dose that you are taking. The smaller, daily doses can take up to five days to build up in the system and begin working. After that, the effects are continuous, as long as you continue to take the pill daily at the same time. The larger doses of as-needed Cialis can work for up to 36 hours in some cases, earning the drug its nickname: ‘The Weekender’.
While Cialis is active in your system you should be able to get and maintain an erection for intercourse, but your erection should not last too long or be painful. If you have an erection that lasts more than four hours, you should contact your doctor.
Cialis side effects
When taken correctly, Cialis is a rather safe and effective drug. However, there are some possible side-effects that can occur when taking Cialis or any form of Tadalafil.
The most serious side effects that can occur when using Cialis are:
- Sudden loss of vision
- Ringing in the ears or loss of hearing
- Chest pain, pain in the arm or shoulder, nausea, and/or abnormal sweating
- Irregular heartbeat
- Loss/shortness of breath
- Seizures
- Lightheadedness
- A painful erection that lasts more than four hours
These serious risks are not common, but they are increased for those who are over 50 years of age, and those who smoke, have diabetes, high cholesterol, or heart disease.
If you are taking Cialis and you experience any of these side-effects, contact a medical provider immediately.
There are several less serious side effects that can occur to those taking Cialis. These include:
- Warmth and/or redness in the face, neck, or chest
- Stuffy nose, sneezing, or other cold symptoms
- Headaches
- Small problems with memory
- Upset stomach, muscle pain, and back pain
If these less serious side effects are bothering you when you are taking Cialis, you can talk to your doctor about alternative medications or other solutions to eliminate the side-effects.
How does Cialis compare to other erectile dysfunction drugs?
Cialis has earned its place as one of the most successful pharmaceutical drugs in the world. But how does it compare to the other popular ED drugs on the market?
The two other largest names in the erectile dysfunction drug market are Viagra and Levitra. While all three of these drugs are classified as PDE5 inhibitors, they are not exactly the same. There may be benefits of using one drug over another, depending on your lifestyle.
Cialis vs. Viagra
Viagra preceded Cialis on the market and it is still today the most popular drug for ED. It is generally considered to give the user the strongest erections compared to other medications. People also like Viagra because it begins working rather fast (in as little as 30 minutes), and lasts for several hours. The major difference between Viagra and Cialis is that Cialis can last much longer than Viagra. This is why Cialis is often called the ‘Weekender’. One pill can last as long as 36 hours.
It’s also this long-lasting effect that allows Cialis to be taken daily in small doses. With this daily intake, you can be ready any time of the day, any day of the week, without notice. Cialis users also have the added benefit of being able to take their drug with food. When Viagra is taken on a full stomach, the drug’s effects are often delayed by several hours.
For those who want to always be ready for arousal, Cialis may be the better option over Viagra.
Levitra vs. Cialis
Levitra is another very popular and effective pharmaceutical drug for treating erectile dysfunction. Like both Viagra and Cialis, Levitra works as a PDE5 inhibitor and helps men achieve an erection when they are sexually stimulated.
Levitra, however, is the slowest acting of all the major ED drugs. It can take at least 60 minutes for the drug to begin working on the body. Levitra, like Viagra, only works for about four to six hours.
Those who need an ED medication that works quickly and lasts for more than a single night would benefit from using Cialis over Levitra.
Final Thoughts
Cialis can free you from the embarrassment, frustration, and loneliness that is often produced by ED. Taking care of your erectile dysfunction can open the door to a whole new life of pleasure and connection. Beginning that life can be simple and easy when you order Cialis online and have it delivered directly to your door.
But, before you order any medications online, there are some factors you should consider: is Cialis really the best drug for you? Are you at risk for some of the more serious side effects? Can you find a reputable, legal vendor of Cialis who will sell you safe, legitimate medication? And, of course, before taking any medication you should consult with your doctor.
With all of the correct, pertinent information about Cialis and other ED drugs, you can now make the most informed and healthy decision for you and your body!
