Before taking tadalafil

Before taking tadalafil make sure your doctor or pharmacist knows:

• If you have been advised by a doctor not to have sexual intercourse.
• If you have heart problems.
• If you have had a stroke, angina (severe chest pain) or heart attack in the last six months.
• If you have high blood pressure, which is not well controlled, or low blood pressure.
• If you have an irregular heart beat which is not well controlled.
• If you have liver or kidney problems.
• If you have problems with your eyesight.
• If you have any deformation of the penis.
• If you have sickle-cell disease, leukaemia or a type of cancer called multiple myeloma.
• If you are using any other treatment for erectile dysfunction.
• If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breast-feeding.
• If you are taking other medicines, including those available to buy without a prescription, herbal and complementary medicines.
• If you have ever had an allergic reaction to this or any other medicine.

How to take tadalafil

• Before starting this treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack.
• Take tadalafil exactly as your doctor has told you.
• It is not important whether you take tadalafil before, with or after food.

• Take your medicine at least 30 minutes before sexual activity.
• Tadalafil should not be taken more frequently than once a day.

• Try to take tadalafil at the same time each day to avoid missing any doses.
• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is nearly time for your next dose, in which case leave out the missed dose. Do not take two doses together to make up for a missed dose.

Getting the most from your treatment

• If you are having an operation or dental treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking tadalafil.
• Keep your regular appointments with your doctor so your progress can be monitored.
• If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are safe to take with tadalafil.

• You and your partner will still need to engage in foreplay, just as you would if you were not taking a medicine for erectile dysfunction. Tadalafil does not work if there is no sexual stimulation.
• Tadalafil may still be effective up to 36 hours after taking the tablet.
• Drinking alcohol may affect your ability to get an erection.

Can tadalafil cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. These usually improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side-effects continue or become troublesome.

• Sudden problems with your eyesight.
• If you are male and have an erection lasting 4 hours or more.

If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to this medicine, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.

How to store tadalafil

• Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.
• Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.

Important information about all medicines

References

• Manufacturer's PIL, Cialis® 10mg film-coated tablets, Eli Lilly and Company Limited, electronic Medicines Compendium. Dated September 2010.
• Manufacturer's PIL, Adcirca® 20mg film-coated tablets, Eli Lilly and Company Limited, electronic Medicines Compendium. Dated November 2010.
• British National Formulary; 61st Edition (March 2011) British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, London (link to current BNF)