Can I Take 40mg of Cialis?

Cialis® is a commonly prescribed erectile dysfunction medication used every day by millions of men all over the world. Why? Because it works. But here’s the thing about all prescription medications —  you have to take them as prescribed. 

We know the temptation is real. Your provider told you not to take more than 20mg of Cialis per day, but what if you bent the rules just this once? Your erections are great at 20mg, but 40mg could very well turn into a sex god, right? So, you wonder: “Can I take 40mg of Cialis?”

The answer is still a resounding “absolutely not.” Aside from not turning into a sex god by doubling up on your Cialis dosage, you also risk some pretty gnarly side effects. After all, erectile dysfunction medications are prescription medications and shouldn’t be treated lightly.

Keep reading to learn more about the science behind how erectile medications work, why taking more than prescribed won’t help you and what you can expect if you take too much Cialis.

Erections and Erectile Dysfunction

First, a few words about your penis. When it’s working correctly, erections are the result of two primary processes activated by arousal. 

The first of the two primary processes: increased blood flow to the blood vessels of the penis; the second: the blood becoming trapped in the corpora cavernosa (two large storage chambers that make your penis look full and hard). 

Essentially, when you get turned on, your brain sends signals to your body to send extra blood to the penis, and to lock that blood up so it can fill your erection. 

When something goes wrong, you have erectile dysfunction. 

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines the condition of erectile dysfunction as a “condition in which you are unable to get or keep an erection firm enough for satisfactory sexual intercourse.” 

Many factors can contribute to erectile dysfunction — obesity, illicit or prescribed drug use, stress, anxiety, poor diet, blood flow issues and hormone imbalances are just a few of the potential causes.

A Look At ED Medication

It’s a condition that affects an estimated 30 million to 50 million men nationwide. And because of how common it is, there are effective treatments, including Cialis and Viagra®. 

Cialis and Viagra have a lot in common. For the moment, we’re going to focus on Cialis, but you can read more extensively in our guide, Cialis vs. Viagra. 

Cialis is a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, which blocks the breakdown of compounds in your body that interfere with blood vessel dilation and blood flow to the soft tissue of your penis. 

Because of how they work, PDE5 inhibitors are also used to treat certain types of hypertension.

The big difference between Cialis and other ed drugs is that it can be taken daily, rather than a certain amount of time before sex is planned. 

It can also be taken as needed if that’s more your speed, and because of its longer-than-average half-life, a single dose of Cialis can alleviate the symptoms of ED for up to 36 hours. They don’t call it “the weekend pill” for nothin’.

That gives you more freedom to be spontaneous.

This is important to note: tadalafil doesn't give you arousal, or erections — they merely create the ideal conditions for them to happen. You still have to do the work of getting excited.

Cialis Side Effects

Cialis carries with it certain side effect risks, including: 

• Blurred vision

• Diarrhea

• Flushing

• Nausea

• Indigestion

• Cough

• Stomach pain

• Ringing in the ears

• Dizziness

• Chest pain

• Hives

• Rash

• Difficulty breathing or swallowing

• Headaches

• Blistering

• Swelling of the face

These side effects of Cialis can be minor or serious.

Some people may even have their vision altered or lost (if you’re experiencing this, seek medical care immediately).

Also, because this medication affects blood flow, it’s especially important to talk to your healthcare provider about tadalafil or Cialis before taking them if you have blood pressure conditions or are currently on medication for high blood pressure.

Can You Take 40mg of Cialis?

As for taking a double dose (40mg), well, bad ideas abound. 

Remember how we mentioned Cialis doesn’t give you an erection? Well, taking a second one isn’t going to change how the drug fundamentally works. 

What it will do is double the risk of mild and serious side effects like the ones we mentioned. You don’t want a doubled risk of diarrhea, let alone blindness. 

Worse yet, taking double doses can increase the likelihood of experiencing a condition called priapism —  an erection that lasts for several hours.

It can be painful, it will require medical attention and it may cause permanent damage. Of course, that’s not to say that priapism isn’t a side effect at the regular dosage.

Taking 40mg of Cialis: Not a Good Idea

Take this as a little heart-to-heart. If you’re considering double dosing on prescription medications like Cialis, you might be in bigger trouble than you know. 

For starters, more of the ED medication isn’t going to solve the problem and DIY dosages are, as we explained, potentially dangerous. 

We’ve already explained the dangers of double doses, but the bigger picture is that you need to have a healthy line of communication with your providers about what is and isn’t working. 

They’ll be able to help you find the right solutions, tweak treatments, and get you back in the game — without dangerous side effects. 

If you’ve been prescribed pills that aren’t working, it may be time to look at other causes of ED, which can include psychological or lifestyle influences. Again, a consultation with a healthcare provider can help you with this.

If you’re just here learning about ED medications, we can help with that too. Check out our blog on common ED treatments to help determine if either tadalafil (Cialis) or sildenafil (Viagra) are right for you.