Daily tadalafil in the Philippines

What is daily tadalafil?

Daily tadalafil is a way of using tadalafil (Cialis) in which a low-strength tablet is used once a day instead of a higher strength before sex. Because tadalafil lasts a long time in the body, daily use keeps a steady level so an erection is possible at any time with arousal.

Tadalafil has a half-life of about 17.5 hours. With one low-strength tablet a day, the level in the blood rises over the first five or so days and then holds steady. The US FDA and the European Medicines Agency both approve this pattern for erectile dysfunction, and the US FDA also for BPH. The background on the medicine itself is on our tadalafil page.

The strengths used for daily treatment are 2.5 mg and 5 mg. Which one, and whether daily use is right at all, is your doctor's decision.

Who might daily tadalafil suit?

Daily tadalafil may suit men who have sex twice a week or more, who dislike planning around a tablet, or who also have prostate symptoms. It is less likely to make sense for men who have sex occasionally.

Doctors often consider it when:

• Sex is frequent, so a daily tablet works out at a similar cost to repeated on-demand tablets.
• Spontaneity matters. Some couples find the "when do I take it" question itself adds pressure. A daily routine takes that away.
• There are BPH symptoms: a weak stream, frequent urination, getting up at night to urinate. Daily tadalafil can treat these and ED with one tablet.
• On-demand tablets cause side effects. The lower, steady level of daily use sometimes causes fewer noticeable side effects than a higher strength taken occasionally.

It may not suit men who have sex a few times a month, who are on certain blood pressure or prostate medicines (see below), or who have severe kidney disease. Our sildenafil vs tadalafil page compares the wider options.

How does daily tadalafil help with an enlarged prostate (BPH)?

Tadalafil relaxes smooth muscle in the prostate, bladder neck and the blood vessels that supply them. In trials, daily use improved urinary symptom scores in men with BPH.

BPH is very common in men over 50. Many Filipino men live with the night-time trips to the toilet for years before mentioning them. If you have both ED and urinary symptoms, tell your doctor about both: one medicine may cover them. A urologist can also check that the symptoms are BPH and not something else that needs different care.

One important caution: the US label does not recommend tadalafil for BPH in men already taking an alpha blocker such as tamsulosin, a common prostate medicine. If you are on one, your doctor will decide how to proceed.

How much does daily tadalafil cost in the Philippines?

A month of brand-name Cialis 5 mg at the Watsons price works out to about ₱NaN, at ₱277 a tablet. We have not yet verified a price for a generic 5 mg tablet.

Here is exactly what our verified prices show, and what they do not:

Option	Per tablet	About 30 tablets
tadalafil 5 mg (Cialis), Watsons	₱277	₱NaN
tadalafil 2.5 mg (Torfil), Watsons	₱95	₱NaN
generic tadalafil 5 mg	price being checked	price being checked

Two points of precision:

• Torfil 2.5 mg is a different strength, not a generic 5 mg. It is the nearest verified low-strength generic, and 2.5 mg is itself a strength used for daily treatment. Whether 2.5 mg or 5 mg suits you is a medical decision, so do not read the Torfil row as a cheaper version of the Cialis row.
• Generic 5 mg tablets may exist at some pharmacies. We publish only prices we have checked against a named pharmacy on a known date. See tadalafil prices and the Torfil and Cialis brand pages for updates.

Is daily tadalafil cheaper than on-demand?

It depends on how often you have sex. For occasional sex, on-demand generic tablets usually cost less; for frequent sex, the gap narrows.

For comparison, on-demand tadalafil using generic Torfil 20 mg at the Watsons price costs about ₱NaN for four uses a month and ₱NaN for eight. Generic Torfil 10 mg comes to about ₱NaN for four uses. Brand Cialis 20 mg costs about ₱NaN for four.

These figures only illustrate cost. The strength and pattern you use is set by your doctor, and the cheapest plan is not the right one if it does not suit your health. Generic sildenafil is cheaper again; see sildenafil prices. To run your own numbers, try the cost per dose calculator.

What are the side effects of daily tadalafil?

They are the same as for on-demand tadalafil: headache, indigestion, back pain, muscle aches, a blocked nose and flushing. In the trials they were usually mild and often became less noticeable after the first weeks.

Because the medicine is always in your body, there is no "off" period. That matters in two ways:

• Nitrates are off-limits at all times, not just on certain days. If you develop chest pain, tell the emergency team you take daily tadalafil. The US label says at least 48 hours should pass after the last tablet before a nitrate is given, and only under medical supervision.
• Alcohol and blood pressure medicines are always in the mix. Heavy drinking with tadalafil increases dizziness and drops in blood pressure on standing.

Serious effects are rare but need urgent care: an erection lasting more than 4 hours, sudden loss of vision or hearing, chest pain, fainting or a severe allergic reaction. For the full list and interactions see ED medicine side effects and safety.

Who should not use daily tadalafil?

The rules are the same as for any tadalafil: no nitrates, no riociguat, and caution after a recent heart attack or stroke or with serious heart disease. Daily use is also not recommended with severe kidney disease.

Your doctor will check your blood pressure, heart, kidney and liver function, eyes (any past sudden vision loss), and your other medicines, especially alpha blockers, HIV medicines, some antifungals and antibiotics, and rifampicin, which is often used in tuberculosis treatment in the Philippines. Grapefruit, and possibly pomelo, can raise tadalafil levels.

How do you start daily tadalafil?

Through a licensed doctor, who decides whether daily use fits you and which strength. You will need a prescription, and a review after a few weeks to see how it is working.

A general practitioner, internist or urologist can prescribe it. If you have prostate symptoms, a urologist is a good choice. Online consultations are a private option that fits around office and night-shift hours and end with an e-prescription. Read online ED consultation or go back to the ED medicines overview.

Questions worth asking at that visit:

1. Does daily or on-demand use fit how often I am sexually active?
2. Do my urinary symptoms point to BPH, and would daily tadalafil help both?
3. I take tamsulosin or a blood pressure medicine. Is daily tadalafil safe with it?
4. Is 2.5 mg or 5 mg right for me, and is a generic fine?
5. When should we review whether it is working?

Frequently asked questions

What is tadalafil 5 mg used for?+

Tadalafil 5 mg is one of the strengths used for daily treatment of erectile dysfunction, the urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate (BPH), or both. Your doctor decides whether daily use and which strength suit you.

How much is tadalafil 5 mg in the Philippines?+

The only verified 5 mg price we hold is for brand-name Cialis at Watsons. We have not yet verified a generic 5 mg price; Torfil 2.5 mg is the nearest verified generic low strength.

Is daily tadalafil safe long term?+

Daily tadalafil has been studied for a year and more in clinical trials, with side effects similar to on-demand use and often milder over time. The same rules apply: never with nitrates or riociguat, and regular review by your doctor.

Does daily tadalafil work straight away?+

It can help within the first days, but the level in your blood builds over about five days of daily use. Doctors usually review it after a few weeks.

Can I use daily tadalafil only on some days?+

Daily tadalafil is designed for use every day. Skipping days or mixing it with on-demand tablets changes the plan, so ask your doctor before changing anything.