Adcirca

Adcirca^®, also known by its generic name tadalafil, is a phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitor that is primarily used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), or high blood pressure in the lungs. It works by relaxing blood vessels, which improves blood flow in the lungs and helps reduce strain on the heart. 

Unlike Cialis^®, another brand name for tadalafil that’s used at lower doses for treating erectile dysfunction (ED) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or an enlarged prostate, Adcirca is prescribed as a once-daily 40-milligram dose. Clinical studies have shown that Adcirca can help improve exercise tolerance, reduce breathlessness, and enhance overall quality of life in folks with PAH. 

Common side effects include headache, flushing, nasal congestion, indigestion, and muscle pain, while more serious effects may include hypotension (abnormally low blood pressure), vision or hearing loss, and priapism (a painful erection that lasts for more than four hours without sexual stimulation).

Adcirca (tadalafil) is indicated for the treatment of:

• Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (WHO Group 1) to improve exercise ability

Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitor

The most common adverse reaction is:

• Headache

The cost of Adcirca may vary depending on factors such as your insurance plan, the quantity in your prescription, and where you buy it.

Without insurance, the average price of the medication is between $4,000 and $5,000 for a month’s supply. Coupons and discount cards may be available to bring down the price, and insurance may cover all or some of the cost of the drug.

Generic tadalafil (the active ingredient in Adcirca) is also available and costs significantly less than brand-name Adcirca, averaging about $1,700 for a month’s supply, with coupons available to bring down the price as low as about $12. Again, insurance may cover all or some of the cost of tadalafil.

You can get a prescription for Adcirca or its generic form, tadalafil, after being evaluated by your primary care provider or another specialist who can determine if the medicine is right for you based on factors like your symptoms and medical history.

• Concomitant organic nitrates

• Concomitant guanylate cyclase (GC) stimulators

• History of known serious hypersensitivity reaction to Adcirca or Cialis

• Drug interactions: Nitrates, alpha blockers, antihypertensives, alcohol, CYP3A4 inhibitors/inducers

• Low blood pressure

• Effects on the eye: Sudden loss of vision could be a sign of non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) and may be permanent

• Hearing impairment: Cases of sudden decrease or loss of hearing have been reported with Cialis

• Concomitant PDE5 inhibitors: Avoid use with Cialis or other PDE5 inhibitors

• Prolonged erection: Seek emergency treatment if an erection lasts >4 hours

There are other medications prescribed to treat PAH that can help relax blood vessels and improve blood flow in the lungs. These include:

Other PDE5 inhibitors:

• Generic tadalafil

• Revatio^® (sildenafil)

Calcium channel blockers:

• Nifedipine (brand names include Adalat^®, Adipine^®, Coracten^®, Fortipine^®, and Nifedipress^®)

• Diltiazem (brand names include Adizem^®, Angitil^®, Tildiem^®, Viazem^®, and Zemtard^®)

Endothelin receptor antagonists:

• Letairis^® (ambrisentan)

• Opsumit^® (macitentan)

• Tracleer^® (bosentan)

• Combination medications like Opsynvi (macitentan and tadalafil)

Soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators:

• Riociguat^® (adempas)

*This information is from the label for brand name Adcirca^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Tadalafil, the active ingredient in Adcirca, may also be the active ingredient in other medications, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient tadalafil.