Adcirca Information and Uses

Adcirca

Adcirca Overview

Adcirca (generic: tadalafil) is a prescription medicine used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) to improve the ability to exercise. PAH is high blood pressure in the lungs. Adcirca belongs to a group of drugs called phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors. It works by causing blood vessels in the lungs to relax which lowers blood pressure.

Adcirca comes in tablet form and is usually taken once a day, with or without food.

Common side effects of Adcirca include headache, nausea, and muscle pain.

Uses of Adcirca

Adcirca is a prescription medicine used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) to improve the ability to exercise. PAH is high blood pressure in the lungs.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Side Effects of Adcirca

The following side effects were reported rarely in patients taking tadalafil:

Decreased eyesight or loss of vision in one or both eyes (NAION). If you notice a sudden decrease or loss of vision in one or both eyes, contact a healthcare provider right away. It is not possible to determine whether these events are related to oral medicines for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, including tadalafil, or to other medical problems, or to a combination of these.
Sudden decrease or loss of hearing, sometimes with ringing in the ears and dizziness. If you notice a sudden decrease or loss of hearing, contact a healthcare provider right away. It is not possible to determine whether these events are related to oral medicines for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, including tadalafil, or to other medical problems, or to a combination of these.
In men, an erection that lasts more than 4 hours (with or without pain). Talk to your healthcare provider or go to the emergency department right away. An erection that lasts more than 4 hours must be treated as soon as possible or you can have lasting damage to your penis, including the inability to have erections.

The most common side effects with Adcirca include:

headache
muscle pain
getting red or hot in the face (flushing)
nausea
pain in the arms, legs, or back
upset stomach
stuffy or congested nose

Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of Adcirca. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Adcirca Interactions

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Adcirca and other medicines may affect each other.

Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take any of these medicines:

nitrates (see "Drug Precautions")
anti-hypertensives, used to treat high blood pressure. Your blood pressure could suddenly drop. You could get dizzy or faint.
alpha blockers, used to treat prostate disease and high blood pressure. Your blood pressure could suddenly drop. You could get dizzy or faint.
protease inhibitors, used to treat HIV infection, such as ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra)
ketoconazole (Extina, Xolegal, Ketozole, Nizoral A-D, Nizoral) itraconazole (Sporanox)
erythromycin (several brand names exist. Please consult your healthcare provider to determine if you are taking this medicine)
rifampin (Rifadin, Rifamate, Rifater, Rimactane)
bosentan (Tracleer)
phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Tegretol)
CIALIS or other medicines or treatments for erectile dysfunction (impotence). Adcirca is also marketed as CIALIS for the treatment of male erectile dysfunction (impotence). Do not take both Adcirca and CIALIS. Do not take Adcirca and other medicines or treatments for erectile dysfunction.

Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of these medicines, if you are not sure.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

Adcirca Precautions

Never take Adcirca with any nitrate medicines:

Your blood pressure could drop quickly to an unsafe level
You could get dizzy, faint and even have a heart attack or stroke.

Nitrates include:

Medicines that treat chest pain (angina)
Nitroglycerin in any form including tablets, patches, sprays, and ointments
Other nitrate medicines (isosorbide mononitrate or dinitrate)
Street drugs that are inhaled, called “poppers” (amyl nitrate, butyl nitrate or nitrite)

Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take a nitrate medicine.

Do not take Adcirca if you

take any medicines called nitrates.
use recreational drugs called “poppers” like amyl nitrate, butyl nitrate or nitrite.
are allergic to tadalafil or any other ingredient in Adcirca.

Do not have more than 4 alcohol-containing drinks in a short period of time while you take Adcirca. Drinking too much alcohol can lower your blood pressure. You could get dizzy or faint.

Adcirca Food Interactions

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Adcirca and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor.

Inform MD

Before taking Adcirca, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

are allergic to Adcirca or Cialis or any of its ingredients.
have pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD)
have heart problems such as angina (chest pain), heart failure, irregular heartbeats, or have had a heart attack
have low blood pressure or high blood pressure that is not controlled
have had a stroke
have liver problems
have kidney problems or get dialysis
have stomach ulcers
have retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic eye disease
have ever had any sudden vision loss, including any damage to your optic nerve or NAION.
have ever had hearing problems such as ringing in the ears, dizziness, or loss of hearing
have a deformed penis shape or Peyronie's disease
have had an erection that lasted more than 4 hours
have blood cell problems such as sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or leukemia
are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It is not known if Adcirca will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
are breastfeeding or plan to breast feed. It is not known if Adcirca passes into your breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will take Adcirca or breastfeed. You should not do both.

Adcirca and Pregnancy

Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It is not known if Adcirca will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Adcirca and Lactation

Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Adcirca passes into your breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will take Adcirca or breastfeed. You should not do both.

Adcirca Usage

Take Adcirca exactly as your healthcare provider tells you.
Take Adcirca tablets at the same time every day. You should take both tablets at the same time, one after the other, every day. Do not split your dose.
Adcirca can be taken with or without food.
Do not change your dose or stop taking Adcirca without speaking to your healthcare provider.
If you take too much Adcirca, call your healthcare provider or go to an emergency department right away.

Adcirca Dosage

Take Adcirca exactly as prescribed. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The recommended dose of Adcirca is 40 mg (two 20 mg tablets) taken by mouth, once daily, with or without food. In people with kidney or liver disease, the dose may be adjusted.

Adcirca Overdose

If you take too much Adcirca, call your local Poison Control Center or seek emergency medical attention right away.

Forms of Adcirca

Adcirca is available as 20 mg tablets.

Active Ingredient: tadalafil

Inactive Ingredients: croscarmellose sodium, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hypromellose, iron oxide, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium lauryl sulfate, talc, titanium dioxide, and triacetin.