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Diagnosing ED

Your doctor won't be able to properly diagnose your condition without knowing all the facts and asking a few personal questions, so be honest and up front with your answers. Remind yourself that the more the doctor knows, the easier it will be to figure out what's causing your ED and the best way to treat it.

Some questions your doctor may ask include:

  • What is the main problem you're having? Getting an erection, keeping an erection, or the firmness of your erections?
  • When did you start to notice a change? Was the change gradual or sudden?
  • How often does the problem happen?
  • Have you been able to get and keep erections in the past?
  • Do you have erections when you sleep?
  • Do you have erections early in the morning?
  • How much desire do you have for sex now? In the past?
  • Have you been under a lot of stress, or are you feeling nervous or anxious about something?
  • Are you feeling less energetic? Having trouble sleeping? Feeling sad?

Give your doctor the facts.

Let your doctor know when you first started to have a problem with erections, and be sure to mention any treatments for ED that you might have tried. Your doctor may ask you some questions about your sex life and about the kind of problems you're having with erections. Don't be embarrassed. It's important to be open and honest with your doctor so he or she can determine the best treatment options for you.

Take the short ED Quiz before your visit so you can share your results with your doctor. It can be an easy way to start talking about ED.

Tell your doctor about all of your medical problems, especially if you have or have ever had any of these health issues:

It's also very important to tell your doctor about all of the prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements you are taking. The doctor needs this important information, as CIALIS and other medicines may affect each other. Specifically, you should let the doctor know if you take any of the following*:

  • Medicines called nitrates. Nitrates are commonly used to treat chest pain, which is a symptom of heart disease. You should not take CIALIS if you take nitrates because the combination can cause a sudden, unsafe drop in blood pressure.
  • Medicines called alpha blockers. Alpha blockers are sometimes prescribed for prostate problems or high blood pressure. If CIALIS is taken with certain alpha blockers, your blood pressure could suddenly drop, causing you to get dizzy or faint. These include Hytrin® (terazosin HCl), Flomax® (tamsulosin HCl), Cardura® (doxazosin mesylate), Minipress® (prazosin HCl), or Uroxatral® (alfuzosin HCl).
  • Other medicines used to treat high blood pressure
  • Medicines called HIV protease inhibitors, such as ritonavir (Norvir®) or lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra®)
  • Ketoconazole (Nizoral®)
  • Itraconazole (Sporanox®)
  • Erythromycin
  • Other medicines or treatments for ED
  • CIALIS is also marketed as ADCIRCA™ (tadalafil) for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. You should not take both CIALIS and ADCIRCA, nor should you take sildenafil citrate (Revatio™) with CIALIS.

Be sure to ask your doctor if it is safe for you to have sexual intercourse. You should not take CIALIS if your doctor has told you not to engage in sexual activity because of your health problems.

*The brands listed are trademarks of their respective owners and are not trademarks of Eli Lilly and Company. The makers of these brands are not affiliated with and do not endorse Eli Lilly and Company or its products.