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Dr Clare Morrison

Article by Dr Clare Morrison

Tadalafil Released In UK As Cialis Patent Expires


Generic Cialis (Tadalafil) is now available to purchase in the UK. The patent expired on November 14 2017 – this means that patients will now be able to buy generic Cialis in the form of the active ingredient Tadalafil. You can purchase Tadalafil from MedExpress here.

What dose should you take?

Tadalafil 36-Hour comes in two doses, either 10 mg or 20 mg. It is best to start with the lower dose, as lower doses have less chance of side effects. If you find it is not having the desired effect on your erection after several separate attempts, you can try increasing the dose to 20 mg. To take Tadalafil 36 hour, take a tablet whole with a glass of water 30 minutes to one hour before planning to be sexually active. You can take this with or without food, although it may take longer to work if taken with a heavy meal.

Tadalafil Daily is available in two strengths of 2.5 mg and 5 mg. If you find that you are experiencing side effects or the 5 mg seems to be too strong for you, you can try decreasing the dose to 2.5 mg. You should take Tadalafil Daily with a glass of water at the same time each day, with or without food. It’s important you take it regularly every day to ensure you get the full benefit of the medication – so it could be best to incorporate it into your daily routine.

Why is Tadalafil so effective?

Erectile dysfunction drugs are phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors, which work by inhibiting the enzyme that regulates blood flow to the penis.  Tadalafil is effective for many men because it works on the very last step of the process needed for an erection to occur. However, unlike Viagra and Levitra, Cialis is taken 15 to 20 minutes before sex and lasts for around 36 hours, and is known as “The Weekend Drug”. This extended duration allows couples to be more spontaneous in comparison with other ED drugs – which need to be taken an hour or so before sexual activity.

Is Tadalafil the same as Cialis?

Generic medicines can differ in their packaging; but they are required to be medically the same as their branded equivalents. This means that the dosages, effects and active ingredients are the same. When drug companies develop a new drug to release to the market, drug companies choose a brand name for the medicine and then doctors prescribe this by its name. When the patent expires, competing drug companies can create a generic version of the medicine, assigning a new name, or just using the name of the active ingredient – in this case Tadalafil.

Will Cialis be available over-the-counter?

Eli-Lilly, the manufacturer of Cialis, announced plans to license Cialis as an over-the-counter product (OTC) in 2018 once the patents expire. Currently, Cialis is a prescription only medication, not available without a valid prescription from a doctor.

Under the terms of the agreement, Sanofi will acquire the exclusive rights to apply for approval of Cialis for OTC use in the United States, Europe, Canada and Australia, and then sell the drug in these regions.

However, due to regulatory hurdles, this could take a considerable amount of time. If approved, Cialis would be the first former prescription erectile dysfunction drug available directly to consumers, giving it a huge advantage over Viagra and Levitra.

Tadalafil side effects

One of the advantages of taking Tadalafil is that it has fewer side effects than other medications used to treat erectile dysfunction. However, there are some side effects of Tadalafil, and these include:

  • Face flushing
  • Headaches
  • Indigestion

If you have any further questions, contact MedExpress’s customer service team for more information.

Dr Clare Morrison
Dr Clare Morrison
Experienced General Practitioner in Hampshire since 1995, with particular interest in Nutrition, Obesity and Smoking Cessation.
Originally published November 20 2017, updated July 08 2019