Tadalafil: Unveiling Its Features and Uses
Guía de Salud Masculina
1. Basic information
1、drug type
- Tadalafil is a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in men and is a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor.
2、mechanism of action
- During male sexual stimulation, the neuronal endings in the corpus cavernosum of the penis release nitric oxide (NO). NO activates guanylate cyclase, raising cyclic guanosine phosphate (cGMP) levels, causing smooth muscle relaxation and blood to flow into penile tissue, resulting in erection.
- While PDE5 can decompose cGMP, tadalafil can increase the concentration of cGMP by inhibiting PDE5, thereby maintaining penile erectile function.
2. Clinical application
1、Treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED)
- Tadalafil can effectively improve ED symptoms caused by different causes, whether it is organic (such as vascular diseases caused by diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc.), psychological or mixed ED.
- When taken as needed, it is usually effective 30 minutes to 120 minutes before sexual activity; there are also regular taking (small doses daily) regimens, which can help improve vascular endothelial function and may be more suitable for some patients who need long-term improvement in erectile function.
2、Treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)
- Tadalafil can dilate pulmonary vessels, reduce pulmonary artery pressure, and improve pulmonary vascular remodeling, thereby being used for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.
3. Matters needing attention
1、adverse reactions
- Common adverse reactions include headache, facial flushing, indigestion, nasal congestion, back pain, myalgia, etc., which are generally mild to moderate and mostly transient.
- A small number of patients may experience adverse reactions such as visual abnormalities (such as color blindness, blurred vision, etc.) and tinnitus.
2、contraindications
- Tadalafil is contraindicated for patients who are taking any form of nitrates (such as nitroglycerin, isosorbide dinitrate, etc.) because their combination may cause severe hypotension.
- It is contraindicated for people allergic to tadalafil.
- Tadalafil is not suitable for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in women, children and other groups.