Medically reviewed by: Thomas Fischer (Pharmacist). This article has been written according to strict guidelines and medical standards.
Medically reviewed by: Thomas Fischer (Pharmacist)
Cialis is a medical drug that is aimed primarily at assisting patients who suffer from erectile dysfunction. The drug is FDA approved as of 2003 and requires a prescription from a doctor.
In most cases, because a doctor has assessed the patient prior to issuing a prescription, there are generally no issues. There are, however, certain instances where the medication, namely Cialis, just does not seem to work. What can I do if Cialis (Tadalafil) does not work?
Why Doesn't Tadalafil (Cialis) Work? The Possible Reasons
There are various possible reasons why Cialis, with its active ingredient tadalafil, may not work in some patients.
Some of the reasons may be easy to overcome. Such reasons include not reading and following instructions correctly. Some patients do not wait the recommended time before expecting Cialis to work. Another example of patients not following the instructions properly is having the mindset that Cialis will cause an erection on its own. This is not the case, as stimulation is still required.
Some patients also experience the medication failing because they exceed the recommended waiting time of the product. It may also be that the dosage amount is too little for a particular patient.
Did you know?
Sexual Stimulation Is A Prerequisite For It To Be Effective
For any erectile medication to be effective, the patient needs first to become aroused. Sexual stimulation starts with the brain. The brain sends a signal through the nerves down to the penis. This signal begins to stimulate the penis.
The muscles of the corpora cavernosa relax, fill with blood in any open spaces, creating pressure, thus ultimately causing an erection. Erectile dysfunction medication can not produce the brain to send this signal. It can only assist once the signals from the brain have been sent.
The Nerve Transmissions Plays A Role
Once an erectile dysfunction medication has been taken, the patient’s brain still needs to transmit a signal to the sexual organ. This transmission occurs through the nerves in the pelvic region. Sometimes, these can become damaged by accident or illness.
What To Do If Cialis Suddenly Stops Working?
It sometimes occurs that medication a patient takes works for a while and then suddenly stops. The same may happen with Cialis. If this happens, there are various steps a patient can take to try and resolve the issue.
Some of the steps relate directly to the instructions. It would be a wise decision for the patient to reread the instructions and make sure that it was followed correctly. The first thing to check is if the patient has given sufficient time for the medication to work. For example, if Cialis needs to be taken an hour before sexual activity commences, and it previously worked at 45 minutes prior, perhaps the reason it seems not to be working is that the patient did not give it the time required for it to begin working.
The second step patients should take is to confirm if the dosage amount they have taken adheres to the prescribed dosage that the doctor or medical health professional had given them.
If both of the above steps are consistent with the instructions, the patient needs to look at their consumption. The patient should preferably not take erectile dysfunction medication after a large meal or after consuming alcohol. Both of these could affect the effectiveness of Cialis. It is recommended that Cialis be taken four hours after eating. Alcohol and recreational drugs should not be taken in conjunction with the erectile dysfunction medication at all.
The final step before consulting a doctor is to ensure that sexual stimulation occurs. If all of the suggested measures fail, the patient needs to consult a doctor or qualified medical professional.
The doctor may decide to change the dosage amount. The doctor will review other medications the patient is taking to ensure that it is not causing the negative effect. Lastly, the doctor will refer the patient to a specialist in order to target the root cause of the erectile dysfunction problem.
Cialis May Not Respond If The Pressure Is High
Some stress can have a positive effect on the body. Examples of healthy stress could be exercise or a new opportunity. These positive forms of stress cause the body to produce testosterone. Testosterone is a hormone that assists with an erection.
Stress can also be a negative thing. It can have a negative impact on the body and how well the body functions. If a patient feels too pressured to perform sexually, it may have an adverse effect on them. This adverse effect is usually demonstrated by an inability to get an erection. The reason for this is that stress originates in the brain. Stress and anxiety can interrupt how the patient’s brain sends messages to the sexual organ.
Due to this, stress may affect the allowance of extra blood flow. Another way that stress can affect the ability of a male to obtain an erection is through a hormone called cortisol. When a male is affected by unhealthy weight, the body releases cortisol.
This hormone constricts the blood vessels in the penis, thus causing an interruption with regards to the flow of blood. Chronically high levels of cortisol may decrease the number of testosterone levels a patient has over a period of time. Feeling pressure is, in essence, a negative form of stress. If a man feels particularly pressured to perform sexually, after taking Cialis, he may not necessarily be able to obtain an erection. This is because his arousal that starts in the brain is affected by stress.
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Cialis (Tadalafil) May Not Work Properly If There Are Dosage Errors
Cialis is a prescription medication that should only be taken under the advisory of a doctor or qualified medical health professional. Each patient’s individual needs are taken into account—the doctor basing the medical analysis on factors such as the patient’s general health.
The pre-existing medical conditions of the patient and the medication that the patient is currently taking are also factors to take into account. After establishing all these factors, the doctor or medical health professional will decide. Part of this decision is the dosage of medication that a patient should take. If a patient reduces the dosage by their own accord, the medicine may not be effective or work at all. There may be too little medication in the patient’s body to have the desired effect.
If a patient takes more than the dosage of Cialis (Tadalafil) that was recommended by the doctor or medical health professional, the patient may experience adverse medical effects. The side-effects of the medication may be more severe (s. also Common and Rare Side Effects of Tadalafil (Cialis)).
If a patient is supposed to take Cialis on a daily basis (s. also Cialis 5mg – Uses, Benefits And Ordering Online), and they do not, the medication ratio in the patient’s body may not be sufficient. Sufficient enough to get or to sustain an erection if the patient was planning on being sexually active.
Alcohol And Cialis
Cialis should not be taken with recreational drugs or alcohol for medical health reasons. Combining them may even affect the effectiveness of Cialis, and over time it may worsen the patient’s problem of erectile dysfunction.
Other common effects a person may experience when mixing alcohol with Cialis are nausea, stomach pain, and diarrhea. Another potential health risk includes orthostatic hypotension, a sudden drop in blood pressure.
Cialis and alcohol both relax and expand the blood vessels in a person’s body (s. also Cialis & Alcohol – Are There Compatibility Issues?). Due to this fact, they interact with each other when mixed. The blood vessels may widen more than if the two substances were used individually.
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Cialis May Not Work For Those With Low Testosterone Levels
Testosterone is a hormone. It is commonly associated with the sex drive in male patients and also with the production of sperm. A male’s testosterone levels can also affect his mood. Low levels of testosterone can affect a male in the following ways:
- Low sex drive
- Lack of energy
- Moodiness
- Weight gain
- Less body hair
- Depression
The levels of testosterone in men may reduce naturally as they get older, or the testosterone levels may be lowered by chronic conditions or treatments. These lowered levels of testosterone may affect the way that the patient responds to erectile dysfunction medication.
Patients who have low testosterone levels and struggle with the issue of erectile dysfunction are likely to encounter an additional problem. This problem is that the medications directed at treating the problem of erectile dysfunction may not work.
Cialis Takes Time To Work
Patients who follow the doctor’s instructions on how to take Cialis would know that Cialis is not an instant medication. It takes time for the body to absorb it and for it to be effective. Doctors generally recommended taking Cialis 30 minutes to an hour before the anticipated sexual activity. This is the average time it takes for Cialis to work, but it could take up to two hours.
What To Do If Cialis Doesn't Work?
If Cialis doesn’t seem to be working, the patient needs to double-check the following:
- Is the dosage amount taken correctly?
- Has the patient waited for the required time?
- Has the patient been stimulated?
- Has the patient consumed alcohol or recreational drugs in conjunction with Cialis?
If none of the above is a problem, the patient needs to consult a doctor.
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Article Sources
- Questions and Answers for Cialis (tadalafil). In: U.S. Food and Drug Administration. URL: https://www.fda.gov/
- Parker-Pope, Tara (August 28, 2009). “The Cost of Treating Erectile Dysfunction“. New York Times.
- CIALIS- tadalafil tablet, film coated. Eli Lilly and Company. URL: https://uspl.lilly.com/
- A Study of Tadalafil and Sildenafil in Men With Erectile Dysfunction in China. Information provided by (Responsible Party): Eli Lilly and Company. URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01352507
- Porst, Hartmut et al. Efficacy of tadalafil for the treatment of erectile dysfunction at 24 and 36 hours after dosing: a randomized controlled trial. In: Urology Volume 62, 07/2003. Elsevier Inc.
- Brock, Gerald et al. Efficacy and Safety of Tadalafil for the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction: Results of Integrated Analyses. In: The Journal of Urology Volume 168, 10/2002. Elsevier Inc.
- Eli Lilly and Company Limited (2017). Cialis 20mg film-coated tablets. EMC. [online] Available at: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.7430.pdf [accessed 20th July, 2020].
- Moncada, I., Bethencourt, F, R and Lledó-García et al., (2014). Effects of Tadalafil Once Daily or On Demand Versus Placebo on Time to Recovery of Erectile Function in Patients After Bilateral Nerve-Sparing Radical Prostatectomy. World J Urol: 33, pp 1031-1038.