Is Cialis Over-the-Counter?

Cialis^®, the brand name for tadalafil, is FDA-approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). One dose can improve ED for up to a whopping 36 hours, earning it the nickname the “weekend pill.”

As a prescription medication, Cialis isn’t available over the counter, but that doesn’t make it inaccessible.

You can’t buy Cialis online without a healthcare provider’s prescription. But you can work with healthcare professionals both online and offline to access Cialis if you’re a good candidate based on your medical history, medical conditions, and other unique circumstances.

Is Cialis over-the-counter? No, but we’ll share all the steps to take to find out if you qualify for this ED medication. Keep reading to learn how old you have to be to get it, why you should be wary of over-the-counter (OTC) ED pills, and where you can access generic and brand-name Cialis.

No, you can’t buy Cialis over the counter in the U.S. — but you can in some countries. For instance, in the UK, Cialis Together tablets containing 10 milligrams (mg) of tadalafil are available over the counter at the pharmacy (pharmacists can decide if the treatment is right for the patient).

However, though you can’t buy Cialis without a prescription in the U.S., the prescription doesn’t necessarily have to be from a doctor (MD). Some other healthcare professionals, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, can prescribe medication — sometimes under the supervision of a licensed physician.

Cialis is a prescription drug. It’s a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor — or PDE5 inhibitor for short. The medication works as a vasodilator. That means Cialis can open up blood vessels and increase blood flow to the penis.

It’s not a magic pill, though. You still need sexual stimulation and arousal to get and maintain an erection when tadalafil is in your system.

There were talks of Cialis making the jump from a prescription medication to an over-the-counter one. But this hasn’t yet come to fruition.

You may not be able to get Cialis over the counter just yet, but you can get a prescription relatively easily from an online healthcare provider and online pharmacy if the drug is suitable for you.

The same goes for tadalafil, the generic version of Cialis. Learn more about tadalafil uses and the ideal tadalafil dosage in our guides.

Whether you want as-needed Cialis or daily Cialis, you’ll need a prescription. Here’s how to get one.

Visit Your Primary Care Provider

Your primary care provider (PCP) can be your first point of contact for any and all men’s health issues, including ED.

We know it can be embarrassing to get medical advice for your sexual health, especially when it’s not going well, but erectile dysfunction is common. It affects about 30 to 50 million men in the United States alone. So don’t be afraid to reach out and get treatment.

At your appointment or online consultation, tell your healthcare provider if you’re experiencing symptoms of ED. These include:

• Having trouble getting an erection

• Having trouble keeping an erection long enough for sexual intercourse

• Having erections that aren’t firm enough for penetration

Remember, you’re highly unlikely to be the first person to bring up erectile problems with your provider — they’ve seen and heard it all.

That said, we know speaking about ED with a doctor you’ve had for years — perhaps one you’re on friendly terms with — can feel very uncomfortable. If that’s the case, you can connect with a healthcare professional online.

Meet With a Urologist

Another way to get a Cialis prescription is to skip your general doctor and go straight to a specialist in urology.

A urologist is a physician specializing in diseases of the urinary tract — think kidneys and bladder. They also treat problems with male reproductive organs, including the penis, testes, scrotum, and prostate. And yes, that includes ED.

You might feel more comfortable discussing your sexual activity — or lack thereof — with a healthcare provider you’ve never met before. In some cases, a urologist can more effectively prescribe erectile dysfunction treatment options.

Look for an erectile dysfunction doctor or ED clinic in your area to get a Cialis prescription through an in-person visit.

Have an Online Medical Consultation

You can also obtain Cialis prescriptions with an online medical consultation — like with Hims, for example.

You can connect with a licensed healthcare provider from home (or anywhere you have internet access). After answering a few questions about your symptoms, they may write you a Cialis prescription if you’re eligible. Then you can have it delivered discreetly to your door.

Simple.

Start an online consultation to learn more about Cialis or generic tadalafil. You can also ask about other ED treatments, such as Viagra^® (sildenafil) and Hims chewable hard mints.

Generic Cialis is the cheaper option. Check out our tadalafil cost guide for a pricing breakdown.

Erectile dysfunction doesn’t discriminate based on age — even though it’s rare, you can experience ED in your 30s or even your 20s.

Yes, it’s true you’re more likely to get ED if you’re older. But it can be caused by health conditions men of all ages experience, such as:

• Type 2 diabetes

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)

• Injury to the penis, spinal cord, prostate, bladder, or pelvis

• Anxiety and depression

• Certain medications, like antidepressants and blood pressure meds

Unhealthy lifestyle habits might also make ED worse, including:

• Smoking

• Drinking

• Doing illegal drugs

• Having overweight or obesity

• Not being physically active

So, no matter your age, erectile dysfunction can happen.

Luckily, Cialis is approved in men over 18. And research shows tadalafil is a safe and effective treatment for ED for most men, regardless of age. Phew.

Maybe you’ve seen an “over-the-counter Cialis substitute,” and you’re tempted to give it a go. The reality of these so-called substitutes is that they aren’t FDA-approved, and they come with risks. Over-the-counter products sold as Cialis or tadalafil alternatives aren’t actually real Cialis.

You’re not just wasting your time and money, though. Some over-the-counter ED drugs come with serious health risks, like priapism (a painful erection lasting four or more hours).

Besides the active ingredients, OTC substitutes for treating ED may contain hidden substances not listed on the product labels. This poses a risk of serious side effects or drug interactions with other medications you’re taking, such as nitrates for chest pain (angina) due to heart disease.

The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) keeps a database of tainted sexual enhancement products you can access online, but the agency says this is only a small fraction of them.

Many over-the-counter Cialis substitutes are made with herbal ingredients. Some research suggests that certain supplements like L-arginine can help ED, but most herbal remedies don’t have much evidence behind their claims.

So if you take an herbal supplement that promises to help you get hard, you may find it doesn’t work as well as prescription medication — or, more likely, it won’t work at all.

Our advice? Skip the herbal substitutes and go for the real thing. Talk to a healthcare professional and get a prescription for Cialis or another FDA-approved ED treatment.

Yes, you need to get a prescription to access Cialis or generic tadalafil. Here’s how.

If you have trouble getting and maintaining erections, you want to be in the best condition you can the next time intimacy is on the table. Cialis can help.

Staying in your system for up to 36 hours, Cialis dwarfs Viagra in comparison, which lasts roughly four hours. The active ingredient, tadalafil, is also FDA-approved to help manage benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

In either case, you’ll need a prescription from a licensed medical provider.

Here’s what you need to know about getting a Cialis prescription:

• You can’t get Cialis without a prescription. Speak to your primary care provider, see a urologist, or consult a licensed provider online to get Cialis or any other prescription ED pills.

• You can get Cialis with an online medical consultation. You don’t need to leave home to get a prescription. Connect virtually with a medical professional and get Cialis online.

• OTC Cialis substitutes come with health risks. They may contain hidden active ingredients or simply not work.

If you’re considering Cialis, you can learn about how Cialis works and the common side effects of Cialis (headaches, indigestion, flushing, back pain, etc.) in our guides.

And remember, if the drug isn’t suitable for you, other erectile dysfunction treatments are out there. Learn how ED medications work to brush up on your options.