Before taking certain medications, doctors advise their patients to avoid eating foods and drinking beverages that may not interact well with each other with regard to the person’s medical treatment.
This applies to treating men with erectile dysfunction, too. Erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence, is a rare condition affecting most males and their sex life. In order to treat this type of sexual deficit in men, doctors typically administer medications such as Viagra, Cialis, Tadalafil, Sildenafil, Vardenafil, Levitra, Kamagra, Stendra, Suhagra, Staxyn, etc. These medication drugs come in different dosage strengths and their efficacy and side effects may vary.
Here, we’re going to take a look at how the Cialis drug interacts with grapefruit when treating erectile dysfunction in men and whether should grapefruit be avoided for the drug to work effectively.
What is the Use and Function of Cialis Medication?
Cialis is a branded pharmaceutical drug that is mainly administered to males with erectile dysfunction (ED). Aside from treating erectile dysfunction, Cialis is also used for improving the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a prostate condition that may cause problems with urination, and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, the drug may also be used for other medical purposes and through consultation by a professional health practitioner.
Cialis is a prescription-only medication drug, therefore, it is not suggested for use as an over-the-counter (OTC) product. Cialis contains the ingredient Tadalafil, a generic drug that is also present in several other branded pharmaceutical drugs as an active component.
It is available in the form of oral tablets and with dosage strengths of 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg, respectively. Generally, a healthcare professional will recommend the dosage of Cialis drug depending on the person’s medical condition.
The way Cialis drug works in the body of the person when orally taking the medicine is by interacting with the blood vessels and increasing the flow of blood into the body. The function of the blood vessels in our system is to regulate blood flow into different parts of the body which helps in the proper functioning of the body, the nervous system, and the organs.
Cialis medication helps relax the blood vessels in the body and aids in increasing the blood flow to different parts of the body, and the penis too, so that blood can properly flow into the male genital organ in order for the person to produce and maintain firm erections and for a longer duration.
Is Cialis an Effective Drug for Treating ED?
Cialis is an effective medication drug used for treating men with erectile dysfunction, thus allowing them to have penile erections for sexual activity.
Doctors administer Cialis drug to patients starting with a lower dosage and can be taken on a daily basis or as needed. Cialis tablet is typically prescribed for oral intake at least 30 minutes before sexual intercourse. Upon taking the drug, its effectiveness in the person’s body starts to work between 30 minutes and 1 hour. After the oral intake of one Cialis tablet, its effect can last up to 36 hours, or sometimes much longer.
Cialis aids in regulating the flow of blood from the blood vessels into the person’s body and genital organs. The proper flow of blood into the penis allows the male to develop a firm erection, sustain for some time and engage in sexual intercourse with a partner/spouse.
When a person takes Cialis drug for erectile dysfunction, he will have the medicine actively working in his system. Therefore, it will continue to work throughout the day and/or night. It is however not advised to take more than what has been prescribed by the doctor/physician in 24 hours because excessive intake of the medication drug could increase the risk of adverse effects.
What Happens When You Take Grapefruit With Cialis Drug for ED?
Eating grapefruit and/or drinking grapefruit beverages with medications such as Cialis for ED can hurt your body.
Grapefruit is a large yellow edible fruit grown on the citrus tree (Citrus paradisi) having a popular enzyme called CYP 3A4 in medical terminology. This enzyme is responsible for breaking down certain medications, like Cialis, in your body. When you eat a grapefruit, the grapefruit can reduce the amount of CYP 3A4 in your intestines by a significant percentage.
When you take Cialis, the enzyme in your body starts to break down the medication and release it allowing the drug to work in your body’s internal system. However, if you have eaten grapefruit, you have less of this enzyme in your body, which means the components of the Cialis medication stay in your body for quite some time. However, some people tend to have more CYP 3A4 enzyme in their bodies than others, which means grapefruit’s effects on Cialis is likely to vary.
Additionally, Cialis medication tends to rank low in terms of bioavailability. Bio-availability is a term that refers to how much medication the body absorbs. For example, if you take a vitamin that has 100 grams of calcium, you’re your body may absorb only half this amount. Because Cialis is not absorbed as much as other medications, the medication may be administered at a higher dose. Now, this can become problematic when you eat grapefruit because the absorbing state of the Cialis drug can increase, which means more circulation in your bloodstream.
Grapefruit can also have harmful effects on your body even if you do not take Cialis regularly. For example, taking only 8 oz. of grapefruit juice will have the liquid stay in your digestive system for about 72 hours, which is three days. So, let’s say, you had a glass of grapefruit juice three days ago and you are now taking Cialis medication minutes before sexual activity, it is possible that you could experience one or more side effects associated with the consumption of grapefruit juice.
Therefore, if you know you may be taking the medication in the near future, it’s best to avoid grapefruit beverages during the course of the medication as it could make the Cialis drug less effective in enhancing your sex drive. Also, avoid food that causes erectile dysfunction.
Risk of Complications When Taking Cialis and Grapefruit
Cialis drug should be avoided if the person is using a nitrate drug for chest pain or heart problems because the drug can significantly decrease blood pressure. Side effects can occur in a person when given prolonged intake of the drug.
The symptoms that could occur in the person if the Cialis drug is taken for an extended period of time are headache, dizziness, backache, high blood pressure or hypertension, dyspepsia, pain in the limbs, myalgia, cough, nausea, flushing, mild allergic reactions, etc.
Having grapefruit either before or after taking Cialis could possibly increase the adverse effects. In some instances, you can experience more serious side effects like changes in vision, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath fainting, etc. If you have these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention and inform your doctor if you have recently consumed grapefruit.
Wrapping Up
Grapefruit and grapefruit can have a significant impact on the person’s sex drive when taken with Cialis medication for ED. It is, therefore, advised to seek medical assistance from a qualified doctor and avoid experiencing complications arising from consuming grapefruit and Cialis medication together prior to engaging in sexual intercourse.