Medical Review by Jennie Stanford, MD, FAAFP, DABOM
Summary:
- Cialis® (tadalafil) is used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by improving blood flow.
- Combining alcohol with Cialis can increase the likelihood of side effects, such as dizziness, headache, and low blood pressure.
- Moderate alcohol consumption should not significantly affect the efficacy of Cialis, but heavy drinking may lead to health risks, including the potential for severe drops in blood pressure.
- Safe drinking practices include limiting alcohol intake to one or two drinks, staying hydrated, and avoiding alcohol entirely if you have underlying health conditions.
- Consult your healthcare provider to discuss your specific health status and to understand how alcohol may interact with Cialis in your case.
Learn how Cialis® & alcohol interact in your body
Cialis® (a branded form of the medication tadalafil) is a prescription medication primarily used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) and certain prostate problems. But, before you take any new medication, it’s important to understand how it could affect your lifestyle—and whether or not there are any activities or behaviors you’ll need to change.
Many people ask our healthcare providers whether they can still drink alcohol if they’re taking Cialis®—and while the short answer is that having a drink or two on Cialis® is usually okay, there are certain conditions you’ll need to look out for to enjoy alcohol responsibly while you’re on this medication. Below, we explain more so that you can have an informed talk with your healthcare provider about whether Cialis® is right for you.
Quick facts about how Cialis® works
Cialis® and tadalafil belong to a class of medications called PDE5 inhibitors, which also include Viagra® (sildenafil) and Stendra® (avanafil). PDE5 inhibitors work by increasing blood flow to the penis—if you have ED, this can help you achieve and maintain an erection.
To increase the amount of blood flowing to your penis during arousal, Cialis® makes the blood vessels in that part of your body wider—a process called vasodilation. But this can also cause your blood pressure to drop.
Risks of combining alcohol & Cialis®
Alcohol is also a vasodilator. Since both alcohol and Cialis® can lower your blood pressure by making your blood vessels wider, using them together comes with the risk of making your blood pressure drop too much.
Abusing alcohol while taking PDE5 inhibitors like Cialis® can come with numerous side effects. The most common ones include:
- Facial flushing: You might feel warmth or notice redness in your face.
- Headaches: You might feel mild to severe head pain.
- Altered vision: You might notice blurred or slightly tinted vision, which could also affect how colors look.
- Chest discomfort: You might feel tightness or mild pain in your chest—check with a doctor if it doesn’t go away.
- Dizziness: You might feel lightheaded or unsteady, especially if your blood pressure drops.
- Skin rash: You might notice itchy or red spots on your skin, which can mean your skin is reacting.
Some of these are also symptoms of drinking alcohol by itself—but people who reported these experiences when combining alcohol with PDE5 inhibitors stated that they were more intense and appeared more quickly.
A sudden drop in blood pressure can also be dangerous if there is not enough pressure to keep blood flowing to your vital organs. This makes it vital to carefully monitor and control your drinking while you’re taking Cialis®, and to contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible if you start to feel unwell.
Safe practices for drinking alcohol while taking Cialis®
Here are some guidelines for alcohol consumption while taking Cialis®:
Limit alcohol intake
The patient information for Cialis® suggests that having 5 or more standard drinks in a sitting while taking this medication can make a sudden drop in blood pressure much more likely. Your heart rate might also increase if this happens, and you could feel dizzy or get a headache.
Alcohol dependence is also a well-known risk factor for ED—so if you want to give Cialis® the best chance of working effectively, it’s a good idea to keep your drinking at or below moderate levels.
Stay hydrated
Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it can dehydrate you—and dehydration can also have unpleasant effects like headaches and dizziness, so drinking plenty of water might help prevent some of these symptoms from getting worse.
Consider waiting periods
If you’ve consumed more than a moderate amount of alcohol, it’s generally a good idea to wait several hours before taking Cialis® to allow your body to process the alcohol and reduce the risk of interaction.
Consulting your healthcare provider
Remember, everyone’s health status is different—and the way alcohol and Cialis® interact in your system may vary depending on factors such as your age, underlying health conditions, and the medications you’re taking.
It’s always a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider before combining Cialis® or tadalafil with alcohol. They can help you determine whether it’s safe for you to drink while using this medication and provide personalized recommendations based on your health profile.
In some cases, avoiding alcohol entirely may be necessary, particularly if you have a pre-existing cardiovascular condition or if you’ve struggled with alcohol in the past. Your healthcare provider can also suggest alternative ED treatments if alcohol is a regular part of your lifestyle and you’re concerned about interactions.
Learn more about taking Cialis® responsibly with Lemonaid Health
Combining alcohol and Cialis® isn’t usually dangerous when done in moderation, but there are certain risks you should be aware of. To minimize the chance of side effects, limit your alcohol intake, stay hydrated, and consider waiting until the effects wear off before you take Cialis®.
Lemonaid Health can help by putting you in touch with US-based healthcare practitioners who can tell you more about Cialis® and other ED medications during private online consultations. You can also have your questions about Cialis® and alcohol answered by an expert, and you may be able to get a prescription for FDA-approved ED medication if clinically indicated. Get started today to learn more about how Cialis® may fit into your lifestyle.
Cialis® is a registered trademark of Lilly ICOS LLC. Viagra® is a registered trademark of Pfizer Inc. Stendra® is a registered U.S. trademark of Metuchen Pharmaceuticals, LLC.
