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Cialis and Grapefruit: Is it Dangerous?

8 min read
Cialis and Grapefruit: Is it Dangerous?

Cialis - which is the brand name for the generic drug tadalafil - is a very effective solution for erectile dysfunction. It's also super popular due to how easy it is to use - you just take a pill either on a daily basis, or as and when you need it. However, like lots of medications, tadalafil can interact negatively with other substances - one of which is grapefruit.

In this article, we've put together a guide on whether or not you can safely consume grapefruit while taking tadalafil. Spoiler alert - it's not recommended. There are numerous other foods and substances you should avoid while taking tadalafil, and we've discussed them here as well.

Finally, we've listed some of our favorite tips for getting the most out of tadalafil. It's a solution that works great for lots of people, but there are certain things you can do to improve its effectiveness.

At a Glance

  • Avoid grapefruit while taking Cialis; it can lead to dangerous side effects.
  • Grapefruit interactions can last up to 72 hours, so skip it entirely with daily doses.
  • Be cautious of alcohol, heavy meals, and certain medications, as they may reduce Cialis's effectiveness.
  • Speak to a doctor before using Cialis to ensure it’s safe with your current meds and lifestyle.
  • Improve results by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, boosting arousal, quitting smoking, and exercising regularly.

Can You Eat Grapefruit If You're Taking Cialis?

When taking Cialis (tadalafil), do not consume any kind of grapefruit. You shouldn't eat grapefruit and you shouldn't drink grapefruit juice, so you'll need to pay extra attention to the products you buy and consume in order to ensure they don't contain the fruit in any form.

The main issue with combining tadalafil and grapefruit is that it slows down the bodily processes involved in breaking down the medicine, meaning you can end up with higher levels of it in your blood - an overdose. This both delays its effects and can increase your chance of experiencing side effects including blurred vision, diarrhea, difficulty concentrating, dizziness, drowsiness, headaches, nausea, stomach pains, and weakness.

When taking Cialis (tadalafil), do not consume any kind of grapefruit. 

Furthermore, an overdose can have even more dangerous effects. Low blood pressure is what is responsible for some of the previously listed symptoms, but a severe drop can also reduce the oxygen received by your heart and brain, potentially causing organ damage. Overdosing on tadalafil can also cause priapism - a condition where you have a prolonged, often painful erection that can cause severe tissue damage if left untreated.

How long will grapefruit affect Cialis?

A 2006 American Family Physician journal entry titled Management of Grapefruit-Drug Interactions states that one study found the potential for an interaction between grapefruit and medicines persists for up to 72 hours after eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice. It relays from another study that an 8-oz serving of grapefruit juice affects the intestines for 24 to 72 hours.

These studies suggest that you should wait at least 72 hours (3 days) after ingesting grapefruit before taking tadalafil - so that's what we'd recommend if you don't have to take it daily. If you're taking daily tadalafil, you won't be able to consume grapefruit at any point between pills - you're going to have to cut it out altogether.

Are there other drinks or fruits I should avoid while taking Cialis?

Grapefruit is not the only thing you should avoid consuming while you're taking tadalafil - here's a quick list of what you should steer clear of if you're currently on the medication.

Certain drugs

Tadalafil has chemical interactions with quite a few medications, so if you're taking them you may need to speak to a doctor about an alternative treatment for erectile dysfunction. Nitrates, which are often used to treat angina, are one of the big ones; combining nitrates with tadalafil can result in dangerously low blood pressure, as can combining nitrates with alpha-blockers and beta-blockers, common hypertension medications.

Quite a few other medications can interact with tadalafil and alter its effectiveness. These drugs include certain antibiotics, certain antifungal medications, certain antiseizure medications, and certain medications used to treat HIV/AIDS such as ritonavir. We'd suggest speaking to a doctor about the medication you're currently taking before starting taking tadalafil.

Alcohol

Drinking small to moderate amounts of alcohol while taking tadalafil might reduce its effectiveness, making it harder for you to get an erection, but you probably won't experience any serious side effects. Generally, you'll be fine if you have a glass of wine or a beer. Fewer than 3 alcoholic drinks is usually considered the upper limit, but we'd recommend sticking to one to be on the safe side.

Issues can arise if you drink an excessive amount of alcohol while taking tadalafil.

Drinking excessively can lead to experiencing more of the side effects we listed earlier, the main danger being hypotension - lower blood pressure. Both tadalafil and alcohol widen your blood vessels, so combining them may cause a dramatic pressure drop that could, in severe cases, damage your organs by depriving them of oxygen usually provided by a healthy blood flow.

Heavy meals

If you're taking tadalafil as and when you need to for sex, avoid taking it with a large or heavy meal, or a meal high in fat. Heavy and high-fat foods can cause tadalafil to take longer to kick in and can reduce its effectiveness, all due to how they slow down the absorption of the drug.

Though you're generally better off taking tadalafil on an empty stomach, taking it after you've had a light, low-fat snack - such as a piece of fruit - probably won't give you any issues.

If you're taking tadalafil as and when you need to for sex, avoid taking it with a large or heavy meal, or a meal high in fat.

If you're prescribed tadalafil and are taking it every day, you may need to alter your diet or your meal times around when you plan on taking the medicine.

Tips To Make Cialis More Effective

While tadalafil is often a fantastic treatment for erectile dysfunction, certain choices and lifestyle factors can reduce its effectiveness, leaving you struggling to maintain a hard-on. Here are some things you should definitely consider doing if you're interested in taking the medication:

1. Talk to a doctor before taking Cialis

Talking to a doctor before you start taking tadalafil is the best way to ensure your safety. They'll be able to assess your situation and decide whether it's the right ED treatment for your specific circumstances. A doctor will help you avoid any harmful drug interactions between medication you're already taking, and discuss any potential concerns you have.

Talking to a doctor before you start taking tadalafil is the best way to ensure your safety. 

You should tell your doctor if you might take any recreational drugs while taking tadalafil. The medicine hasn't been fully tested for interactions with many recreational drugs, but it can be dangerous when combined with stimulants including cocaine and ecstasy, psychoactive drugs like mephedrone, hallucinogens like LSD, and amyl nitrate - poppers. You should avoid these substances if you're taking tadalafil, alongside what we mentioned earlier.

2. Find ways to improve your arousal

Cialis (tadalafil), like Viagra (sildenafil), works by preventing your body from stopping erections. You still need to be able to get an erection for it to work properly - if you can't get erections, tadalafil won't give you one. If you can get erections, but struggle to maintain them, it should work fine - but you'll still need to be aroused so your hard-ons can reach their fullest potential.

Boosting arousal is a popular topic that has many angles. Before even getting to sex, you should try to maintain a healthy lifestyle - more on that later. Arousal happens in the brain, so it's important to keep your brain in good shape - which requires good sleep habits. Sleep disorders are linked to all kinds of sexual dysfunctions, so getting around 8 hours is essential.

Arousal happens in the brain, so it's important to keep your brain in good shape - which requires good sleep habits.

Some people swear by supplements such as ginkgo biloba, ginseng, maca, and horny goat weed, but most of these aren't backed up by scientific evidence - only personal anecdotes. Focusing back on relationships and the bedroom, try to improve communication with your partner to strengthen your emotional connection, don't let intimacy be pushed to one side, and never forget the foreplay

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3. Keep a healthy diet

Anything that benefits your erections will help you get better results from tadalafil - and one of those things is a good diet. Keeping a healthy diet is essential to consuming enough nutrients and calories for your body to function properly, and to maintain a body weight that is not detrimental to your general health. The Mediterranean diet is thought to improve your health and your erections, while not being too high in calories.

Examples of foods that are part of the Mediterranean diet.

 

While we believe you should eat all kinds of foods in moderation, it's also true that overconsumption of foods high in fat, sugar, and salt can contribute to cardiovascular and metabolic issues such as obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure, all of which can cause ED. As opposed to cutting out certain foods, we recommend making swaps where you can for lighter alternatives such as low-fat cheese or diet soda.

4. Quit smoking

Smoking is detrimental to your general health, and your reproductive health. The destructive habit can contribute to short-term, in-the-moment ED due to the nicotine, as well as long-term, clinical ED. Essentially, smoking, like a poor diet, can end up damaging your blood vessels including the vital arteries that supply blood to your erections, as well as other organs that could do without the damage.

Thankfully, a lot of the damage that smoking does to your body can be reversed if you kick the habit, as shown in the study linked above. This includes the damage done to your erections. Quitting smoking can be extremely difficult, but there are lots of options for modern smokers including nicotine inhalers, gum, and patches, phone apps that help you track progress, and support groups that can be very encouraging.

5. Engage in exercise

Exercise can also help with ED as it helps prevent all the cardiovascular and metabolic issues we've already mentioned in this article. As reported in Harvard Health, studies have found that a higher level of exercise was correlated to having a lower risk of developing erectile dysfunction in men aged between 40 and 75 - an age range where developing ED gets more and more common.

Harvard Health recommends getting around 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day, via either walking, jogging, running, cycling, or swimming. The American Heart Association has similar recommendations, suggesting at least 150 minutes per week (around 21 minutes per day of moderate aerobic activity, with the addition of strength training (e.g. weight lifting) two days a week.

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Summary

Grapefruit and Cialis (tadalafil) do not mix, so don't consume them in any form while you're taking the medication. Combining grapefruit and tadalafil increases your chance of experiencing side effects including dangerously low blood pressure, which can potentially cause organ damage in severe cases.

If you're taking it every day you should avoid grapefruit at all costs, but if you're taking it as and when you need it for sex, make sure you haven't consumed grapefruit for at least 72 hours. While taking tadalafil, you'll also want to avoid certain medications and recreational drugs, as well as alcohol and heavy meals - these can all cause side effects or alter its effectiveness.

Grapefruit and Cialis (tadalafil) do not mix, so don't consume them in any form while you're taking the medication.

Talking to a doctor before taking tadalafil will help ensure your safety, and help you get the best results. Your results should also improve by managing some other lifestyle factors including trying to boost your arousal, maintaining a healthy diet, regular exercise, as well as quitting smoking if you do smoke. Cialis is an ED solution that works for many - staying informed is the best way to get the results you want.

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