Tadalafil FAQ
Q: Is tadalafil good for the heart?
A: When tadalafil appeared on the market, the anecdotal blamed it as a dangerous drug for heart patients, more for cultural reasons than for objective data. Numerous studies have already documented the favorable effect of 5-phosphodiesterase (PDE-5 I) inhibitors on primary pulmonary hypertension, and suggest potentially favorable effects on a number of other cardiovascular diseases. All of this is not surprising considering the mechanism of action of these drugs. It is no coincidence that the first experiments conducted on tadalafil investigated its anti-anginal effect, but the efficacy on the symptom was poor while the patients showed a peculiar "side effect".
The effects of tadalafil are directed at the heart because the drug's target molecule, phosphodiesterase type 5, acts directly on the cardiac transformations induced by diabetes, which lead to the feared heart failure. Recent studies carried out by the researchers of Virginia Commonwealth University have proven that the use of tadalafil and other PDE5i can prevent and treat heart disease. At the cardiac level, the PDE5i reduce the heart deformity induced by pressure overload, while in the vessel wall they protect from ischemic damage, prevent the proliferation of muscle cells and therefore the formation of the atherosclerotic plaque. Finally, on a myometrial level they could cause a greater blood flow with an indirect tocolytic action. The effect of tadalafil on its target, PDE5, will therefore vary according to the role played by the cGMP in the individual district concerned.
Q: How long does the effect of tadalafil last?
A: Taken in anticipation of sexual activity, tadalafil will continue to produce its effects for the ensuing 36 hours. This extended therapeutic window makes tadalafil the most long-acting erectile dysfunction molecule on the market.
Q: How long does it take for tadalafil to kick in?
A: The onset of tadalafil effects happens within an hour following dosing; many consumers report that they start to experience the signs of tadalafil activity in their body already 20 minutes after the intake, but the peak concentration in the blood plasma will only be reached after 60 minutes. How will you know that tadalafil started producing its effects? You will feel the warmth in your extremities and the face, and some patients will experience flushing of the face. The slightest sexual stimulus will result in a firm erection when tadalafil molecule becomes active in the body.
Q: What happens if I take too much tadalafil?
A: In volunteers, a single dose of tadalafil up to 500 mg and multiple doses accumulating up to 100 mg of the active substance did not result in any other side effects than those associated with the therapeutic dose (20 mg). This gives reasons to believe that tadalafil toxicity cannot be reached under normal circumstances. It is not, however, reasonable to step up the dose recommended to you by the doctor, pharmacists and/or the manufacturer’s prescribing information. Elevated doses of tadalafil are linked to higher risk of adverse reactions.