What Is Tadalafil? How It Works & What to Expect

Tadalafil is one of the most widely used medications for erectile dysfunction. It's the active ingredient behind the brand name Cialis®, and it's known for lasting up to 36 hours, longer than any other common ED medication.

In this guide, we'll break down what tadalafil is, how it works, the benefits it can bring, and how BlueChew makes it available as a sublingual tablet called TAD.

• Tadalafil is a PDE5 inhibitor that increases blood flow to the penis, supporting stronger, longer-lasting erections.
• It's the same active ingredient found in brand-name Cialis, with more than 20 years of research behind it. In clinical trials, 67–89% of men taking PDE5 inhibitors had improved erections.
• BlueChew offers tadalafil as TAD, a 9 mg compounded sublingual tablet that typically starts working within 15–30 minutes, with no water or swallowing required.
• Take TAD 15–30 minutes before sexual activity. Its effects can last up to 36 hours.
• TAD is for as-needed use. For a daily option, BlueChew offers DailyTAD.
• Ready to see if TAD is right for you? Take the quiz.

Tadalafil is a prescription medication best known by the brand name Cialis. It belongs to a class of drugs called phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors, and it works by increasing blood flow to the penis to support a firm, lasting erection.

What sets tadalafil apart is how long it lasts. Sildenafil (Viagra) and vardenafil (Levitra) work for about 4–6 hours, while tadalafil can work for up to 36 hours, giving you more room for spontaneity.

BlueChew offers tadalafil as TAD, a 9 mg compounded sublingual tablet prescribed for as-needed use. Because TAD is a compounded medication, it's custom-made in the dosage and form best suited to our patients' needs, rather than a one-size-fits-all pill.

Sublingual tablets have a few distinct advantages over traditional pills:

• Convenience: Take it anywhere and let it dissolve under your tongue. No water and no swallowing.
• Speed: Research suggests sublingual medications may kick in faster than standard pills, typically taking effect within 15–30 minutes.
• Discretion: A small, easy-to-carry tablet that doesn't look like a prescription bottle.

TAD, containing the active ingredient tadalafil, is a type of medication known as a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, or PDE5i for short.

It works by blocking an enzyme called phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5). During arousal, nitric oxide (NO) is released in the penis, which raises levels of a molecule called cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). cGMP relaxes the smooth muscle in blood vessels so they can widen. PDE5 normally breaks cGMP down.

By stopping PDE5 from breaking down cGMP, tadalafil keeps those blood vessels relaxed longer, allowing more blood to flow to the penis.

As blood flow increases, the tissue becomes engorged, making it easier to achieve and maintain a hard, long-lasting erection during sexual stimulation. Tadalafil stays active in the body much longer than other PDE5 inhibitors, which is why its effects can last up to 36 hours.

Thanks to its blood-flow-enhancing properties, tadalafil can help you achieve and maintain firmer erections. In clinical trials, 67–89% of men taking PDE5 inhibitors had improved erections.

Tadalafil's long window is its biggest advantage. Because one dose can last up to 36 hours, you don't have to time intimacy around a pill, which can take pressure off. That matters, since anxiety can make erection problems worse.

Other Potential Health Benefits of Tadalafil

Under different brand names, tadalafil is also FDA-approved to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs) and the urinary symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (an enlarged prostate).

Researchers are studying other possible benefits, but this research is early, and TAD is not approved or prescribed for any of these uses:

• Improved exercise capacity
• Modestly lower blood pressure
• A possible link to lower risk of death from major cardiovascular events, based on observational data

Interested in the science behind these findings? Read our post on tadalafil and longevity.

TAD is prescribed for as-needed use, so you take it before you expect to be intimate, not on a daily schedule. Your BlueChew provider will give you specific instructions, but generally, TAD is taken 15–30 minutes before sexual activity. Because one dose can last up to 36 hours, don't take it more often than your provider recommends.

If you'd rather take tadalafil every day, DailyTAD combines a low daily dose of tadalafil with 7 essential vitamins in one chewable tablet.

Once taken, TAD can help you get erections for up to 36 hours. It typically starts working within 15–30 minutes and only causes an erection with sexual stimulation.

That long window means you don't have to plan sex around a pill, which is why many men choose tadalafil over shorter-acting options like SIL or VAR. If you'd like tadalafil's long window plus a fast-acting partner ingredient, MAX, VMAX, and GOLD all include tadalafil.

A few tips for best results:

• Limit alcohol, which can reduce the medication's effectiveness and raise the risk of dizziness.
• Avoid grapefruit juice, which may alter how tadalafil works in your body.

TAD may not be the right fit for everyone. Our side-by-side comparison of BlueChew's medications can help you decide, or you can talk it through with a BlueChew provider.

TAD is typically well tolerated, but like all prescription medications, it carries a risk of side effects. Tadalafil has a solid safety and effectiveness track record spanning more than 20 years, but it's still worth knowing what to look out for.

Common side effects:

• Headache
• Upset stomach or indigestion
• Back or muscle pain
• Flushing
• Stuffy or runny nose, or nose and throat irritation

Because tadalafil lasts longer than other PDE5 inhibitors, side effects like back or muscle aches can last longer too, often a day or two.

Less common but more serious: a prolonged erection lasting more than 4 hours, low blood pressure, sudden vision loss, sudden decrease in hearing or ringing in the ears, or irregular heartbeat. If you experience any of these, contact your doctor or a member of the BlueChew medical team right away. Although rare, allergic reactions are also possible; seek emergency care immediately if symptoms are severe.

Who shouldn't take TAD: Don't take TAD if you use nitrates for chest pain or guanylate cyclase stimulators, because the combination can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure. Share all your current medications and health conditions in your intake so your provider can confirm TAD is safe for you. For the full list, see our safety information page or our guide to BlueChew side effects.

Interested in getting your hands on an erectile dysfunction prescription? BlueChew has got you covered.

Select a plan, complete an online intake, and you're done. A medical provider will review your information and, if appropriate, prescribe your plan, which will be shipped directly to your door.

No doctor appointments or patient support charges make it a stress-free experience.

Plus, there's no commitment—you can easily cancel or switch plans anytime. Click here to explore all plan options for treatments at BlueChew.

Is tadalafil the same as Cialis? 

Both TAD and Cialis contain the active ingredient tadalafil. TAD is a compounded medication in sublingual form. Compounded medications are custom-made by state-licensed pharmacies and are not FDA-approved, but they contain the same active ingredient as their brand-name counterparts.

How is tadalafil different from sildenafil? 

The biggest difference is duration. Tadalafil lasts up to 36 hours, while sildenafil (Viagra) and vardenafil (Levitra) last about 4–6 hours. That makes tadalafil a good fit if you want more spontaneity. Learn more in What Is Sildenafil?

Is TAD meant to be taken daily? 

No. TAD is prescribed for as-needed use, taken 15–30 minutes before sexual activity. If you want a daily option, BlueChew offers DailyTAD, a low-dose tadalafil chewable with 7 essential vitamins. See What Is DailyTAD?

How long before sex should I take TAD? 

Take TAD 15–30 minutes before sexual activity, or as your provider directs.

How long does TAD last? 

TAD's effects can last up to 36 hours. It only causes an erection with sexual stimulation.

Does TAD make you last longer in bed? 

TAD helps you get and keep an erection when you're aroused. It isn't designed to delay ejaculation, but firmer, more reliable erections can take some of the pressure off.

What are the other potential health benefits of tadalafil? 

Under different brand names, tadalafil is FDA-approved to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension and the urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Early research is also exploring possible effects on exercise capacity, blood pressure, and heart health, but TAD is not approved or prescribed for these uses.

How do I get a prescription for TAD through BlueChew? 

Select your plan, create an account, and complete a medical intake form. A licensed provider usually reviews your history within 24 hours and prescribes TAD if appropriate. Approved orders ship within 24 hours. For the full process, see how to buy tadalafil online.

What are the potential side effects of tadalafil? 

Common side effects include headache, indigestion, back or muscle pain, flushing, and nasal congestion. Less common but serious side effects include a prolonged erection, sudden vision or hearing loss, low blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of these.

Don't take TAD with nitrates or guanylate cyclase stimulators, and disclose all current medications to avoid interactions.