Cilatil (Tadalafil)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Cilatil Used For?
Cilatil contains tadalafil and belongs to a group of medicines called phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors. Your doctor may prescribe Cilatil to treat one or both of these conditions.
Primary Uses
Cilatil treats erectile dysfunction (impotence) in men – when a man cannot get or maintain a hard erection suitable for sexual activity. It also treats urinary symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate), including difficulty starting urination, feeling of incomplete bladder emptying, and frequent urination including at night.
How It Works
For erectile dysfunction: Following sexual stimulation, Cilatil helps blood vessels in your penis relax, allowing blood flow into your penis for improved erectile function. You must be sexually aroused for it to work. For enlarged prostate: Cilatil improves blood flow to and relaxes muscles of the prostate and bladder, which may reduce urinary symptoms.
Good to know: Cilatil only works for erectile dysfunction when you are sexually aroused. You and your partner will need to engage in foreplay just as you would without medication.
How to Take Cilatil
Always take Cilatil exactly as your doctor tells you. Swallow one tablet whole with a full glass of water. Cilatil can be taken with or without food.
Dosage Instructions
For erectile dysfunction – On-demand dosing: Take 10mg or 20mg at least 30-60 minutes before sexual activity (maximum once daily). Once-daily dosing: Take 5mg once daily at the same time each day. For enlarged prostate: Take 5mg once daily. For kidney disease: Maximum 10mg for on-demand use; once-daily not recommended for severe kidney problems. For liver disease: Maximum 10mg; once-daily not recommended for severe liver problems. Do not take more than once per day.
What If You Miss a Dose?
For once-daily dosing, take your missed dose as soon as you remember, but do not take two doses in one day. For on-demand dosing, only take when needed before sexual activity.
Important: Never take once-daily dosing and on-demand dosing at the same time. Do not take Cilatil more than once per day.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Headache or migraine
- Dizziness
- Facial flushing
- Indigestion
- Nausea or vomiting
- Back pain
- Muscle pain
- Sweating
- Fatigue
- Stuffy nose
- Sore throat
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Chest pain
- Increased heart rate
- Erection lasting longer than 4 hours
- Sudden vision loss or changes
- Sudden hearing loss
- Seizures
- Severe allergic reactions
Important Warnings
Do not use Cilatil if you have certain medical conditions or take specific medications. Always tell your doctor about all your health conditions and medications.
Who Should Not Take Cilatil
Do not take if you: are allergic to tadalafil or any ingredients; take nitrates for chest pain or heart conditions; use recreational drugs like ‘poppers’ or amyl nitrite; take guanylate cyclase stimulators like riociguat; have heart problems making sexual activity inadvisable; have had a heart attack in the last 3 months; have had a stroke in the last 6 months; have uncontrolled high or low blood pressure; have vision loss in one eye from NAION.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have: liver or kidney problems; heart problems or previous heart attack; blood vessel problems; sickle cell anemia; multiple myeloma; leukemia; penis deformation; sudden vision changes, loss, or distortion; take medicines for other conditions. Patients 75 years and older have higher risk of side effects like dizziness and diarrhea.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Cilatil is not intended for use by women or children under 18 years.
Emergency Warning: If you need emergency heart treatment, immediately tell medical staff that you take Cilatil. Do not use nitrate medications.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Cilatil and affect how it works. Tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, and supplements you take.
Grapefruit interaction: Grapefruit juice may interact with Cilatil. Discuss with your doctor or pharmacist.
- Nitrates (glyceryl trinitrate, isosorbide mononitrate, sodium nitroprusside)
- Guanylate cyclase stimulators (riociguat)
- Antibiotics (rifampicin, erythromycin, clarithromycin)
- Seizure medications (phenytoin, phenobarbitone, carbamazepine)
- Antifungal medications (ketoconazole, itraconazole)
- HIV protease inhibitors (ritonavir, saquinavir)
- Blood pressure medications (metoprolol, irbesartan, enalapril)
- Alpha-blockers (prazosin, doxazosin)
- 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (finasteride)
- Blood thinners (warfarin)
- Other PDE5 inhibitors (sildenafil)
- Large amounts of alcohol
Alcohol & Driving
Be careful with alcohol and driving while taking Cilatil as it may affect your ability to function safely.
Alcohol
Cilatil can be taken with alcohol, but drinking may affect your ability to get an erection, so avoid excessive alcohol. When taking Cilatil with large amounts of alcohol, some men may experience dizziness.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Cilatil affects you. The medication may cause dizziness or other side effects that could impair your ability to drive safely.
Storage
Store Cilatil below 25°C in a cool, dry place away from moisture, heat, and sunlight. Keep tablets in the original pack until time to take them. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills. Keep out of reach of children. Take expired or unwanted medicine to any pharmacy for safe disposal.
Overdose Information
If you think you have taken too much Cilatil, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Call the Poisons Information Centre at 13 11 26, contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department, even if you feel fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
For on-demand dosing, Cilatil can work as early as 16 minutes after taking, but it’s recommended to allow 1 hour the first time. It remains effective for up to 36 hours. For once-daily dosing, it may take up to 1 week for full effect on erectile dysfunction and up to 1 month for full effect on urinary symptoms.
Yes, Cilatil can be taken with or without food. Food does not affect how the medication works.
Cilatil can be taken with alcohol, but drinking may affect your ability to get an erection, so avoid excessive alcohol. Large amounts of alcohol combined with Cilatil may cause dizziness in some men.
Don’t give up if you’re feeling anxious or nervous and don’t respond to the first tablet. It may take a few doses before you get the full benefit of Cilatil.
No, you should not take Cilatil more than once a day. Do not take once-daily dosing and on-demand dosing at the same time.
An erection lasting longer than 4 hours is a serious side effect. Call your doctor straight away or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital immediately.
Patients aged 75 years and over have a higher chance of experiencing side effects like dizziness and diarrhea. Your doctor will assess if Cilatil is suitable for you. No special dosing consideration is needed for elderly patients otherwise.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.