Cialis®, Prescribed Online

To understand how Cialis® works to treat ED, it’s important to first understand the basics of how erections work. Blood flow plays a key role in getting an erection and the penis needs to be filled with blood to get hard. Put simply, Cialis® works by increasing blood flow to the penis and therefore makes it easier to get and keep an erection.

Erotic stimulation (by physical touch, erotic thoughts, smells, etc.) causes the local tissues to release nitric oxide (NO), which increases the amount of a chemical called cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). cGMP causes the muscles on the sides of the penis, the corpora cavernosa, to relax allowing blood to rush into the penis. At the same time, veins that drain blood from the penis get compressed causing the increased blood to be trapped in the penis causing an erection. An enzyme called phosphodiesterase-5 breaks down cGMP leading the penis to return to its flaccid state. PDE5i, like Cialis®, block this enzyme leading to higher levels of cGMP and improving the ability to get and maintain an erection.

Cialis® and Viagra® are each brand name medications used to treat erectile dysfunction. While they both start working within about an hour, Viagra® remains effective for about 4 hours, while Cialis® can remain effective for as long as 24-36 hours. Keep in mind that these medications do not automatically induce erections—you need to be aroused for them to work—so the amount of time they remain in your system just reflects the window during which they make it easier to get an erection. While Viagra® is only taken on an as-needed basis and requires some planning ahead, certain strengths of Cialis® can be prescribed as a daily medication, which means you don’t need to plan as carefully.

Cialis® rarely causes side effects, and when it does, side effects are typically mild. These can include flushing and sweating, headaches, nausea, indigestion or diarrhea, runny nose or congestion, muscle aches, and back pain.

Yes. Ro connects you with a US-licensed healthcare provider online who will review your information and prescribe Cialis®, if appropriate. Keep in mind that Cialis® is not available without a prescription in the United States and therefore, websites offering “over-the-counter” Cialis® without a prescription are likely not reliable or trustworthy sources for this medication. With Ro, you can always be sure you are getting genuine medication with active ingredients in the correct amount without harmful additives. Ro dispenses drugs manufactured by pharmaceutical companies that are regulated by the FDA.

Ro offers branded Cialis® and its generic, tadalafil, to treat ED. They are both FDA-approved to treat ED. They can be taken as needed (from 5 mg to 20 mg) or daily (in the 2.5 mg and 5 mg doses) to treat ED.

In addition to as needed dosing, Cialis® is also approved for daily use in the 2.5 mg and 5 mg doses. This creates a steady amount of medicine in the blood and completely eliminates the need to plan for sex. With daily Cialis®, treatment for ED becomes part of your daily routine.

Most men who are eligible for ED treatment can take daily Cialis® with certain exceptions, including airline pilots, air traffic controllers, and people taking certain medicines (e.g., some HIV medicines, certain antibiotics and antifungals). You should speak with your provider to determine if daily Cialis® is an appropriate treatment option for you.

Tadalafil is the active ingredient in Cialis®. Cialis® was originally patented and sold by Eli Lilly. It is FDA-approved to treat ED and urinary symptoms due to BPH. After the patent expired in 2018, the FDA gave permission to other drug companies to manufacture a generic version of Cialis®. Generic drugs act the same way in the body and are expected to produce the same effects as the original brand-name drug. Generic drugs are generally much cheaper than the original brand name drug, and most drugs prescribed in the US are generic.