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Tadalafil And Alcohol: What You Should Know
Tadalafil And Alcohol: What You Should Know
Dr. Zoë Lees (PhD)
Dr. Sophie Dix (BSc, PhD)
11 December 2024 | Updated: 4 August 2026
4 August 2026
Tadalafil is a popular erectile dysfunction medication (ED), best known by its brand name Cialis, or ‘the weekend pill’. If you’re considering a treatment for ED, or have already started one, you may be curious to learn more about whether or not it’s safe to use with alcohol.
Let’s take a look at the influence of alcohol and explore whether there are any potential health risks of mixing it with tadalafil.
What is tadalafil and how does it work?
Tadalafil belongs to a class of medications known as PDE5 inhibitors. These drugs improve sexual performance by relaxing the blood vessels and improving blood flow in the body. By increasing blood flow to the penis, they make it easier for you to achieve and maintain an erection when you’re aroused. [1]
It’s sometimes also prescribed for other medical conditions, including high blood pressure in the lungs and prostate issues, and medical conditions such as an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia) or pulmonary arterial hypertension.
What are the potential risks of mixing tadalafil and alcohol?
To begin with, alcohol can negatively impact your sexual performance, so using it without tadalafil may increase your risk of erectile dysfunction. [2] Heavy alcohol consumption is always advised against, as lots of alcohol can harm your health.
According to official medical advice, one alcoholic beverage is unlikely to impact the results of an erectile dysfunction treatment [3], but the consumption of alcohol with tadalafil can also lead to adverse effects, such as a drop in blood pressure.
That’s because tadalafil and alcohol both lower blood pressure, so when taken together can result in a sudden drop in blood pressure. [4] This can lead to symptoms like dizziness, headaches, and nausea.
If you have underlying heart disease, combining tadalafil with alcohol could also increase your risk of serious issues like a heart attack.
Another rare risk of tadalafil is prolonged erection (priapism), which could become more likely when drinking alcohol. [5] If you experience a painful or prolonged erection (more than 4 hours) when taking tadalafil with or without alcohol, it’s essential to seek prompt medical attention.
To reduce these risks, stick to alcohol in moderation or avoid drinking altogether when using tadalafil.
Lifestyle tips for safe use
For the best results while using tadalafil, remember the following tips:
- Watch your alcohol intake: Limit excessive alcohol consumption to prevent complications, such as a sudden drop in blood pressure or other adverse effects.
- Avoid consuming grapefruit products: Grapefruit juice can alter how tadalafil is absorbed, changing its effectiveness.
- Stick to a healthy lifestyle: Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and reduced stress could support your sexual performance.
- Be aware of drug interactions: Tadalafil can interact with other medications, which could lead to adverse effects. Speak with your healthcare provider to discuss these risks, especially if you’re taking blood pressure medication.
- Always speak to a trusted healthcare provider about any medical conditions, medications, or supplements you’re taking.
With guidance from a healthcare professional, you can safely enjoy the benefits of tadalafil.
Looking for an erectile dysfunction treatment?
Visit MedExpress to explore your treatment options today, and get your order with fast, discreet delivery and no in-person appointment needed.
References
- Dhaliwal A, Gupta M. PDE5 Inhibitor [Internet]. PubMed. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549843/
- Li S, Song JM, Zhang K, Zhang CL. A Meta-Analysis of Erectile Dysfunction and Alcohol Consumption. Urologia Internationalis. 2021;105(11-12):969–85. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34521090/
- Common questions about tadalafil [Internet]. nhs.uk. 2022. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/tadalafil/common-questions-about-tadalafil/
- Source: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.12501.pdf
- Source: https://www.drugs.com/disease-interactions/tadalafil.html#priapism
Next scheduled review date: 4 August 2029
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Authors
Written by: Dr. Zoë Lees (PhD)
Dr. Zoë Lees is a medical writer at MedExpress specialising in obesity and health communication. She completed her PhD at the University of Glasgow, where she investigated adipose tissue (fat tissue) function in pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes. Her work focuses on translating complex clinical evidence into clear, engaging and evidence-based health information for patients and the public. At MedExpress, Zoë contributes to clinical content, educational resources and media communications across areas including weight management, GLP-1 therapies and metabolic disease. Zoë is particularly interested in improving public understanding of obesity as a chronic condition and ensuring patients have access to accurate, accessible health information grounded in current scientific evidence.
Medically reviewed by: Dr. Sophie Dix (BSc, PhD)
Dr. Sophie Dix is Head of Medical Affairs at MedExpress. A behavioural neuroscientist by training, Sophie has spent 30 years working at the intersection of medical research, pharmacology, technology and patient communication across the pharmaceutical industry, health technology and charity sectors. At MedExpress, Sophie's role is to ensure that everything the organisation does is grounded in the most current science. That means translating complex clinical evidence into accessible health information across the website, clinical pathways and media communications. It also means working with external press and broadcast media as a named expert commentator, making the science behind weight management and GLP-1 treatments understandable to a general audience. A core part of Sophie's work is building MedExpress's Real-World Evidence (RWE) programme: learning systematically from patient outcomes to understand what works in practice, not just in clinical trials. This patient-level insight feeds directly into improving patient experience and health outcomes. Sophie believes that patients make better decisions when they have access to accurate, evidence-based information. As an advocate for meaningful change in how obesity is understood, Sophie works to reduce stigma and raise awareness of the condition as an illness. This includes reframing the conversation around GLP-1s from aesthetics to public health, while highlighting the health benefits of weight loss and weight management.
Note from the experts
Remember: This blog shouldn’t be regarded as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We make sure everything we publish is fact checked by clinical experts and regularly reviewed, but it may not always reflect the most recent health guidelines. Always speak to your doctor about any health concerns you have.