Let's look inside: Cialis Together

What is Cialis Together?

Cialis Together contains 10mg of the active ingredient tadalafil, which temporarily increases blood flow to the penis to help men get or keep an erection when they are sexually aroused. It is an over-the-counter (OTC) treatment in tablet format for adult men who have erectile dysfunction (ED).

What are the benefits?

ED is a common condition, with 42.6 per cent of men (aged ≥18 years) in the UK, and approximately 53.9 million men across the European Union self-reporting difficulty in achieving or maintaining an erection during a six-month period.¹ ED results in withdrawal from sexual intimacy, reduced quality of life, and decreased work productivity. This condition is associated with many psychosocial problems, such as anxiety, depression, anger, frustration, poor self-esteem, guilt, lack of confidence, and limited intimacy.²

When a person experiences erection difficulties, it can have a negative impact on their sex life and lead them to be hesitant and anxious to engage in sexual intercourse with their partner. Until the launch of Cialis Together in June 2023, OTC treatments available for erection difficulties in the UK lasted up to four hours. The introduction of Cialis
Together as a new self-care option not only gives men more treatment options OTC, but as Cialis Together is effective for up to 36 hours, it gives men with erection difficulties more time to decide when the moment is right for them to have sex.

Providing access to ED medications at community pharmacies helps overcome some of the barriers to treatment and increases men’s engagement with the healthcare system.

How does it work?

The active ingredient in Cialis Together is tadalafil, which belongs to a group of medicines called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. These work by relaxing the blood vessels in the penis, allowing blood flow into the penis and thereby producing an erection, following sexual stimulation. Cialis Together does not work without sexual stimulation and an erection should subside after sexual activity. This is because sexual stimulation causes the local release of nitric oxide, which is needed in order for the active ingredient in Cialis Together (tadalafil) to work.

Where does it come from?

Tadalafil has been available on the market for 20 years (since 2002) and has been used by 100 million men globally.³ It has a well-established and well-understood safety profile, and in clinical trials has been shown to be well-tolerated in both uncomplicated patients and those with serious conditions.^4,5

What is the recommended dosage?

Men from 18 years of age, one tablet to be taken with a glass of water, at any convenient time (not more than one tablet a day). Food will not delay the effects. It starts working after 30 minutes and provides a window of spontaneity for up to 36 hours.

Where can pharmacy teams find out more?

Visit: cialistogether.com/en-gb/hcp. For pharmacy training and support materials and in-store merchandising, contact: GB-CHC-CustomerService@sanofi.com.

References

1. Goldstein I, Goren A, Li V et al. Epidemiology Update of Erectile Dysfunction in Eight Countries with High Burden. Sex Med Rev 2020;8:48-58)

2. Elterman DS, Bhattacharyya SK, Mafilios M, Woodward E, Nitschelm K, Burnett AL. The Quality of Life and Economic Burden of Erectile Dysfunction. Res Rep Urol. 2021 Feb 18;13:79-86. doi: 10.2147/RRU.S283097. PMID: 33634039; PMCID: PMC7901407.

3. Data on file

4. Montorsi F, Verheyden B, Meuleman E, Jünemann KP, Moncada I, Valiquette L, Casabé A, Pacheco C, Denne J, Knight J, Segal S, Watkins VS. Long-term safety and tolerability of tadalafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Eur Urol. 2004 Mar;45(3):339-44; discussion 344-5. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2003.11.010. PMID: 15036680.

5. Peng Z, Yang L, Dong Q, Wei Q, Liu L, Yang B. Efficacy and Safety of Tadalafil Once-a-Day versus Tadalafil On-Demand in Patients with Erectile Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses. Urol Int. 2017;99(3):343-352. doi: 10.1159/000477496. Epub 2017 Jun 21. PMID: 28628914.