Cialis

Every once in a while a man may experience problems in either getting or maintaining an erection that is hard enough for sexual intercourse or that lasts until the end of intercourse. If these problems are only temporary then there is probably nothing to worry about but if erection problems keep happening they are termed erectile dysfunction (ED) (sometimes called impotence).

ED is a genuine medical condition which can have a variety of causes. ED can happen at any age although it is more common in older men. It can also vary enormously in severity ranging from frequently not being able to keep or maintain an erection through to never being able to achieve or keep an erection at all.

ED is a widespread medical condition that affects more than 30 million men in the US alone. Nearly 70% of these cases having physical causes including injury, other health conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes or as a side-effect of medication. Psychological factors can also play a role in causing ED.

The problems with ED are further exacerbated by the fact that it can have serious knock-on effects that can cause depression and stress, guilt and anxiety as well as seriously impact on a sufferer’s relationship with their partner.

Cialis is specifically designed to help ED sufferers. It belongs to a class of drugs known as ‘PDE5 inhibitors’. The active ingredient in Cialis is Tadalafil which works to inhibit an enzyme known as Phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE5).

The shaft of the penis consists of two erectile bodies known as the corpus cavernosum. They are spongy tissue made up of smooth muscle and blood vessels. During sexual stimulation, nitric oxide (NO) is released from the nerve terminals and endothelial cells. This stimulates the synthesis of Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate (cGMP) in the smooth muscle cells found in the blood vessel walls of the corpus cavernosum. Cyclic GMP causes these smooth muscles to relax and by relaxing, they open wider allowing more blood to flow in which fills the corpus cavernosum. At the same time, the veins that carry blood away from the penis shut down, causing an increase in blood pressure in the penis.  Blood is therefore trapped in the corpus cavernosum which causes the penis to become hard and erect.

PDE5 occurs naturally in erectile tissue but its actions can break down cGMP. Men who produce too little cGMP or too much PDE5 have problems obtaining and maintaining an erection. By inhibiting PDE5, Cialis leads to an increase in the amount of cGMP available which in turn means that these erectile problems can be overcome.

As a PDE5 inhibitor, Cialis can work even when ED is caused by another medical condition, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Indeed, Cialis has been clinically proven to improve erections for most ED sufferers no matter how severe their symptoms are. It provides the sufferer with the ability to maintain erections that last long enough and that are hard enough for successful sexual intercourse to occur. This gives sufferers confidence in their ability to achieve and maintain satisfactory erections. However, it should be remembered that Cialis does not cure ED.

Cialis only works with sexual stimulation. Simply taking Cialis without any sexual stimulation will not result in an erection. Taken before sexual activity, Cialis helps to increase blood flow to the penis when a man is sexually aroused.  This is because Cialis is a PDE5 inhibitor. PDE5 is only synthesized after the local penile release of nitric oxide and sexual stimulation is required to initiate this release. Therefore, without sexual stimulation of the penis, Cialis will not have any effect. And once sexual activity has ended, any erection will go away.

Cialis does not increase sexual desire nor does it increase function in men who do not have ED. It does not affect fertility, does not act as birth control nor does it provide protection against sexually transmitted diseases.

The benefits of Cialis over Viagra lie in its ability to work faster and last longer. Cialis can be effective in as little as 30 minutes whereas Viagra on average takes 60 minutes to work.  Cialis also has a longer half-life than Viagra. This means that its effects last longer – in trials it was found to last for 12 hours (although in some cases it was still effective for up to 24 hours). Viagra, on the other hand, works for 4 hours.

Dosage

Take 10mg (maximum 20mg) up to one hour before sexual intercourse. Cialis should be taken with water but it can be taken with or without food.

Side effects

Like all medicines, Cialis can have side effects although they are normally mild to moderate in nature. The most common side effects are headache and indigestion. Less commonly reported side effects include back pain, muscle aches, nasal congestion, facial flushing, diarrhoea, skin rashes, and urinary or respiratory-tract infection.

Caution

Cialis must not be taken concurrently with organic nitrates (often used to treat heart conditions such as hypotensive conditions, (low blood pressure)). Caution is also advised for any patient using Cialis who has a heart problem, even if they are not using nitrates for the condition.