Cialis is the brand name for tadalafil, a prescription medication used to treat certain conditions related to blood flow. It belongs to a class of drugs called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. Whether it’s for sexual activity or an enlarged prostate, taking too much Cialis will typically cause side effects to occur, which may include sudden and serious drops in blood pressure, among others.
Taking too much Cialis (tadalafil) can lead to serious health complications. Cialis is a prescription medication used to treat erectile dysfunction and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. When taken in higher-than-recommended doses, it can cause the following effects:
1. Severe Side Effects
- Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension): Overdosing on Cialis can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure, leading to dizziness, fainting, or even heart complications.
- Priapism: A prolonged and painful erection lasting more than 4 hours, which can damage the tissues of the penis and lead to permanent erectile dysfunction if untreated.
- Vision Problems: Blurred vision, changes in color vision, or even sudden vision loss due to decreased blood flow to the optic nerve (a condition called NAION).
- Hearing Loss: Sudden hearing loss or ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
2. Common Overdose Symptoms
- Nausea or vomiting
- Severe headache
- Back or muscle pain
- Flushing
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Heart palpitations
Common, mild side effects of Cialis include:
- Indigestion
- Headache
- Back pain
- Muscle pain
- Flushing
- Congestion
- Pain in limbs
While side effects are often out of your control, in the case of Cialis, they can largely be dose-dependent. In other words, taking a large mg dose of tadalafil will make side effects comparably worse.
Taking too much Cialis also increases your risk of experiencing not just worse versions of the mild side effects, but also more severe adverse effects. These may include:
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Blurred vision
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Sudden decrease in blood pressure
- Skin peeling or blistering
- Sudden loss of hearing and/or loss of vision
- Hives or rash
- Swelling
- Heart failure
- Painful erection (priapism)
If you develop any of these side effects — mild or severe — seek medical help ASAP so that a healthcare professional can advise you on what to do.
That said, using Cialis as prescribed can unfortunately lead some folks to experience some of the effects of “overdose,” which could include a stroke or heart attack. While these are very rare, they can happen even with normal doses of Cialis.