Safety Information
Go >View Important Safety Information.
Go >View Full Prescribing Information.
Register for Updates
Sign up to receive the latest CIALIS treatment information and CialisMD.com updates.
Register >
About ED
CIALIS Clinical Data
Resource Library
To Patient Website
Small Text Regular Text Large Text Adjust Text Size
Fast Fact

Dosing Guidelines

CIALIS is available in 20-mg, 10-mg, 5-mg, and 2.5-mg tablets.

CIALIS for Use as Needed

  • The recommended starting dose of CIALIS for use as needed in most patients is 10 mg, taken prior to anticipated sexual activity
  • The dose may be increased to 20 mg or decreased to 5 mg, based on individual efficacy and tolerability. The maximum recommended dosing frequency is once per day in most patients
  • CIALIS for use as needed was shown to improve erectile function compared to placebo up to 36 hours following dosing. Therefore, when advising patients on optimal use of CIALIS, this should be taken into consideration

CIALIS for Once Daily Use

  • The recommended starting dose of CIALIS for once daily use is 2.5 mg, taken at approximately the same time every day, without regard to timing of sexual activity
  • The dose may be increased to 5 mg, based on individual efficacy and tolerability
  • If a patient misses a dose, he may take it when he remembers; however, he should not exceed one dose per day

Absorption not affected by high-fat foods
CIALIS may be taken without regard to food. CIALIS is the only PDE5 inhibitor with absorption not affected by high-fat foods.*1-3

Dosing adjustments and limitations

CIALIS for Use as Needed

  • Moderate renal insufficiency: limited to CIALIS 5 mg once per day starting dose and maximum dose of 10 mg every 48 hours
  • Severe renal insufficiency: maximum dose of 5 mg once every 72 hours
  • Mild or moderate hepatic impairment: not to exceed CIALIS 10 mg once per day; not recommended in patients with severe hepatic impairment
  • Concomitant use of potent inhibitors of CYP3A4 (e.g., ketoconazole, ritonavir): limited to CIALIS 10 mg once every 72 hours
  • Dose adjustments not required for patients >65 years or with mild renal insufficiency
  • When CIALIS is co-administered with an alpha blocker, patients should be stable on alpha-blocker therapy prior to initiating treatment with CIALIS, and CIALIS should be initiated at the lowest recommended dose

CIALIS for Once Daily Use

  • Mild or moderate renal insufficiency: no dose adjustment is required
  • Severe renal insufficiency: not recommended
  • Mild or moderate hepatic impairment: CIALIS for once daily use has not been extensively evaluated in patients with hepatic insufficiency; therefore, caution is advised when prescribing to these patients
  • Severe hepatic impairment: not recommended
  • Concomitant use of potent inhibitors of CYP3A4 (e.g., ketoconazole, ritonavir): not to exceed CIALIS 2.5 mg once daily
  • Dose adjustments not required for patients >65 years
  • When CIALIS is co-administered with an alpha blocker, patients should be stable on alpha-blocker therapy prior to initiating treatment with CIALIS, and CIALIS should be initiated at the lowest recommended dose

For additional details on dosing and administration of CIALIS, see the full Prescribing Information.

  • *Based on data regarding rate and extent of absorption taken from studies of healthy subjects described in product labels and not based on head-to-head clinical studies. The clinical significance of these effects has not been studied. All PDE5 inhibitors can be taken with or without food.
  1. Cialis [package insert]. Indianapolis, Ind: Eli Lilly and Company; February 2008.
  2. Viagra [package insert]. New York, NY: Pfizer, Inc; 2007.
  3. Levitra [package insert]. West Haven, Conn: Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corp; 2007.
Prescribing Information | Patient Information | Important Safety Information