Tadalafil (Cialis®) is a drug used to treat male erectile dysfunction (impotence), developed by the biotech ICOS, and marketed worldwide by Eli Lilly. The generic name for this compound is tadalafil. The tablet are yellow and oval-shaped. (See also Sildenafil (Viagra) and vardenafil (Levitra), commercial competitors with Cialis. See also Dr. John R. Brinkley for a historical perspective on electronic media campaigns regarding this same topic.)

History

Cialis's main selling points: It works for up to 36 hours after being swallowed and can be taken with or without food (Viagra works for some 4 hours). It has the same mode of action as sildenafil (Viagra), and vardenafil (Levitra).

Men taking nitrates or or alpha blockers should not take Cialis because it could cause blood pressure problems. Some of the side effects of the drug include back ache, stomach ache, muscle aches, or headaches. The company advises that in the rare event that an erection lasts for more than four hours (a condition called priapism), the man should seek emergency medical attention.

Cialis has a multiyear promotional deal with professional golf.

Cialis has FDA approval and appeared in U.S. stores in December, 2003.

References

• Tadalafil (Cialis) and vardenafil (Levitra), are commercial competitors to Viagra.
• Dr. John R. Brinkley began a fad for finding cures for male impotence during the 1930s. He used the medium of radio to achieve the same kind of advertising boom to treat the same kind of symptoms. Today the medium of television is being used for that same purpose. Time will tell how history will rate the current advertising campaigns by Viagra, Cialis and Levitra.

External links

• Home Page for Viagra (http://www.viagra.com/)
• Pfizer Pharmaceutical (Company website) (http://www.pfizer.com/) - manufacturer of Viagra; prescribing information (http://www.pfizer.com/download/uspi_viagra.pdf) available in PDF format.
• FDA Web Site for Viagra Consumer Information (http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/viagra/)
• Viagra Misunderstood (http://www.usrf.org/breakingnews/bn_111202_viagra/bn_111202_viagra.html) Article describing what Viagra feels like
• Cheitlin MD, Hutter AM Jr, Brindis RG, Ganz P, Kaul S, Russell RO Jr, Zusman RM. ACC/AHA expert consensus document. Use of sildenafil (Viagra) in patients with cardiovascular disease. American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1999 Jan;33(1):273-82. (Medline abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=9935041)) (Full text (http://www.acc.org/clinical/consensus/viagra.htm))

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