Adcirca vs. Cialis: Is There a Difference?

If you’ve searched online for info about medications for pulmonary arterial hypertension or erectile dysfunction (ED), you’ve likely seen mentions of Adcirca® and Cialis®.

Adcirca and Cialis are both brand-name versions of tadalafil, a PDE5 inhibitor used to treat a variety of conditions. While Adcirca and Cialis contain the same active ingredient, the two medications are generally prescribed for different purposes. 

Ahead, we’ll provide a rundown of differences between Adcirca versus Cialis, as well as their benefits, side effects and availability.

Adcirca is a brand name used to market tadalafil. Unlike Cialis, which is marketed as a treatment for erectile dysfunction and benign prostatic hyperplasia, Adcirca is marketed to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a form of high blood pressure that affects the small arteries inside the lungs.

Adcirca treats PAH by inhibiting the enzyme phosphodiesterase type 5 (or PDE5). This enzyme is often found in the lungs, particularly in the smooth muscle of the pulmonary arteries.

By stopping the effects of PDE5, medications like Adcirca allow blood vessels in the lungs to dilate and the arteries to relax, reducing blood pressure and increasing blood flow.

Tadalafil is the active ingredient in all three of these PDE5 inhibitor medications. It’s the Adcirca generic, the Cialis generic and the ingredient within both medications.

If your insurance covers ED medication, it might only cover the generic version. But check with your provider to see what your options are.

Tadalafil

Tadalafil was approved by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) in 2003 as a medication for treating erectile dysfunction. It came onto the market shortly after sildenafil (sold as Viagra®), which was first FDA-approved in 1998.

Cialis

Cialis was originally approved solely to treat ED. But in 2011, the FDA also approved it as a once-daily medication for men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

This medication comes in several dosages, ranging from 2.5 milligrams to a maximum of 20 milligrams per tablet. Some forms of Cialis are designed for as-needed use, whereas others are intended for daily use.

Adcirca

First approved by the FDA in 2009, one tablet of Adcirca contains 20 milligrams (mg) of tadalafil — the same dosage used in the highest-strength Cialis tablet. People with PAH are generally advised to take two tablets (40 milligrams) once a day, with or without food.

Unlike Cialis, which is only intended for use in men, Adcirca is approved as a treatment for PAH in men and women. 

How PDE5 Inhibitors Work

PDE5 inhibitors (including Adcirca, Cialis and generic tadalafil) work by blocking the action of cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 — an enzyme found in certain types of smooth muscle tissue. 

By inhibiting PDE5, they can improve blood flow to erectile tissue, making it easier to get and maintain an erection.

A typical dose of Cialis can improve erection quality and sexual performance for up to 36 hours — far longer than other ED meds.

Because Adcirca and Cialis contain the same active ingredient, they have similar effects and side effects.

Common side effects of both medications include:

• Headache

• Muscle pain or back pain

• Facial flushing

• Nausea, indigestion or upset stomach

• Nasal congestion (stuffy nose)

More serious side effects of tadalafil may include:

• Sudden low blood pressure

• Hearing loss

• Chest pain

• Prolonged erection (priapism)

Both Adcirca and Cialis can cause dizziness, fainting and other health issues when taken with alcohol. Don’t drink excessive amounts of alcohol (for example, four or more alcoholic drinks) while taking Adcirca or Cialis. 

All PDE5 inhibitors, including Adcirca and Cialis, can interact with certain medications used to treat high blood pressure.

Medications that can cause risky drug interactions include:

• Nitrates like nitric oxide or nitroglycerin

• Alpha blockers

• Riociguat

• Ritonavir

• Revatio

• Rifampin

Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about anything else you’re taking, whether it’s prescribed drugs, over-the-counter medications or herbal supplements.

Likewise, inform a healthcare professional if you’re currently being treated for medical conditions (like pulmonary hypertension or heart disease) or have a history of heart attack.

Adcirca and Cialis are both prescription medications, meaning you’ll need to talk to a healthcare provider before buying or using either drug.

If you’re dealing with erectile dysfunction and want to treat it using Cialis, you can connect with an ED doctor online through Hims. We offer Cialis and tadalafil, following a consultation with a healthcare provider who’ll determine if a prescription is appropriate.

Hims also has sildenafil (generic for Viagra®), plus chewable ED meds in the form of hard mints.

If you have pulmonary arterial hypertension, you’ll need to discuss Adcirca with your healthcare provider.

Are there natural ways to boost libido? Check out our blogs on foods that help ED, foods for male virility and what to eat before sex to last longer.

The main difference between Adcirca versus Cialis is what they’re meant to treat.

Here’s a recap of what we covered:

• They have the same active ingredient. The active ingredient in both Adcirca and Cialis is tadalafil.

• Cialis is an ED medication. Cialis is one of several medications used to treat erectile dysfunction. Others include sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra), vardenafil (generic for Levitra®) and more recent medications like avanafil (sold as Stendra).

• Adcirca is a PAH medication. While Adcirca uses the same active ingredient, it is not the same as Cialis. This pulmonary arterial hypertension medication is often prescribed in different doses than what’s usually needed to treat sexual dysfunction.

You can find out more about how these medications work in our full guide to the most common ED treatments and drugs.

If you’re dealing with ED, don’t mix and match medications. A safe and legal prescription for Cialis or tadalafil is just a virtual consultation away. Get started today.