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Talking to your doctor or healthcare provider about erectile dysfunction (ED) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

It may not be easy for you to talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about certain issues. But the more information you are able to share about yourself, the easier it will be for your doctor to properly diagnose your condition. In the sections below, you'll find tools and resources that can help you start a discussion with your doctor about ED and BPH.

Download the Doctor Discussion Guides

Stick to the facts

Share your medical history

Report all the medicines you take

Download the Doctor Discussion Guides

Whether you have ED, or ED and the signs and symptoms of BPH, your healthcare provider needs to know what you are experiencing. Here's a way to organize your thoughts for the conversation with your doctor.

From the tabs below, select the types of questions you want to discuss with your healthcare provider. Click the button to download the questions to your computer. You can print and fill out your questionnaire before your next doctor's appointment to help start the discussion.

No identifiable personal information will be saved or stored concerning your responses.

Questions about ED - Download PDF
Questions about the signs and symptoms of BPH - Download PDF

Talking about ED

The main problem I am having is:
___ Getting an erection
___ Keeping an erection
___ The firmness of erections

I started to notice a change:
___ Less than 1 month ago
___ 1 to 2 months ago
___ 2 to 6 months ago
___ 6 months to 1 year ago
___ More than 1 year ago

The change was:
___ Gradual
___ Sudden

The problem happens:
___ Rarely
___ Sometimes
___ Frequently
___ Almost always

About my erections:
___ I have been able to get and keep erections in the past
___ I have erections when I sleep
___ I have erections early in the morning

To help you start the discussion with your doctor, print this guide, fill it out, and bring it to your next appointment. Only your healthcare provider can determine which treatment may be right for you. Remember, the information you print may be sensitive.

Talking about the signs and symptoms of BPH*

About my urination problems over the past month:
___ I have experienced a frequent or urgent need to urinate
___ After urinating, I have the sensation of not emptying my
___ bladder completely
___ I have a weak urine stream or a stream that stops and starts
___ I feel the need to push or strain during urination
___ I urinate frequently at night

I started to notice a change:
___ Less than 1 month ago
___ 1 to 2 months ago
___ 2 to 6 months ago
___ 6 months to 1 year ago
___ More than 1 year ago

The problem happens:
___ Rarely
___ Sometimes
___ Frequently
___ Almost always

* Treatment of individual symptoms may vary.

To help you start the discussion with your doctor, print this guide, fill it out, and bring it to your next appointment. Only your healthcare provider can determine which treatment may be right for you. Remember, the information you print may be sensitive.

 

Stick to the facts

Even if you've already tried other ED treatments, talking to your doctor is the key to getting the treatment you need for your ED.

You may feel uncomfortable if your doctor or healthcare provider asks you some personal questions. Just remember that these questions are meant to help your doctor diagnose your problem and prescribe the right treatment for it. It's important to be open and honest with your healthcare provider so he or she can help determine the best treatment option for you.

Be open and honest in your conversation. Let your healthcare provider know when you first started experiencing ED, and be sure to mention any treatments or medications that you have tried or are currently taking.

Share your medical history

If your doctor thinks you have ED, it's important to give your medical history to him or her. Ask your healthcare provider if your heart is healthy enough for you to have sexual activity. You should not take CIALIS if your healthcare provider has told you not to have sexual activity because of your health problems. Before taking CIALIS, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical problems, particularly if you have or ever had:

  • Heart problems such as chest pain (angina), heart failure, irregular heartbeats, or a heart attack
  • High or low blood pressure or high blood pressure that is not controlled
  • Stroke
  • Liver problems or kidney problems, or require dialysis
  • Retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic (runs in families) eye disease
  • Severe vision loss, including a condition called NAION
  • Stomach ulcers
  • A bleeding problem
  • A deformed penis shape or Peyronie's disease
  • An erection that lasted more than 4 hours
  • Blood cell problems such as sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or leukemia

Report all the medicines you take

It’s very important to tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. CIALIS and other medicines may affect each other. Always check with your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any medicines. Especially tell your healthcare provider 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. Do not take CIALIS if you take nitrates such as isosorbide dinitrate or isosorbide mononitrate, or if you use recreational drugs called "poppers" such as amyl nitrite or butyl nitrite, as this may cause an 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), Uroxatral® (alfuzosin HCl), Jalyn® (dutasteride and tamsulosin HCl), and Rapaflo® (silodosin)
  • Other medicines used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Medicines called human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitors, such as ritonavir (Norvir®) or lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra®)
  • Some types of oral antifungals such as ketoconazole (Nizoral®) or itraconazole (Sporanox®)
  • Some types of antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin®), telithromycin (Ketek®), and erythromycin (several brand names exist; please consult your healthcare provider to determine if you are taking this medicine)
  • 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

And before you take CIALIS, be sure to ask your healthcare provider if your heart is healthy enough for you to have sexual activity. You should not take CIALIS if your healthcare provider has told you not to have sexual activity because of your health problems. Please see full Patient Information.

*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.

CIALIS is indicated for the treatment of men with erectile dysfunction (ED), men with the signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and men with both ED and the signs and symptoms of BPH. CIALIS is not indicated for women or children.

Important Safety Information for CIALIS® (tadalafil) tablets

What Is The Most Important Information I Should Know About CIALIS?

Do not take CIALIS if you:

  • take medicines called “nitrates” such as isosorbide dinitrate or isosorbide mononitrate which are often prescribed for chest pain as the combination may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure
  • use recreational drugs called “poppers” like amyl nitrite and butyl nitrite
  • are allergic to CIALIS or ADCIRCA® (tadalafil), or any of its ingredients. Call your healthcare provider or get help right away if you experience any symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as rash, hives, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing or swallowing

After taking a single tablet, some of the active ingredient of CIALIS remains in your body for more than 2 days. The active ingredient can remain longer if you have problems with your kidneys or liver, or you are taking certain other medications.

Stop sexual activity and get medical help right away if you get symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness, or nausea during sex. Sexual activity can put an extra strain on your heart, especially if your heart is already weak from a heart attack or heart disease.

What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Taking CIALIS?

CIALIS is not right for everyone. Only your healthcare provider and you can decide if CIALIS is right for you. Ask your healthcare provider if your heart is healthy enough for you to have sexual activity. You should not take CIALIS if your healthcare provider has told you not to have sexual activity because of your health problems. Before taking CIALIS, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical problems, particularly if you have or ever had:

  • heart problems such as chest pain (angina), heart failure, irregular heartbeats, or have had a heart attack
  • high or low blood pressure or have high blood pressure that is not controlled
  • stroke
  • liver or kidney problems or require dialysis
  • retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic (runs in families) eye disease
  • severe vision loss, including a condition called NAION
  • stomach ulcers or a bleeding problem
  • a deformed penis shape or Peyronie's disease
  • an erection that lasted more than 4 hours
  • blood cell problems such as sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or leukemia

Can Other Medicines Affect CIALIS?

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take especially if you take:

  • medicines called “nitrates” which are often prescribed for chest pain
  • alpha-blockers often prescribed for prostate problems
  • blood pressure medications
  • medicines for HIV or some types of oral antifungal medications
  • some types of antibiotics such as clarithromycin, telithromycin, erythromycin (several brand names exist, please contact your healthcare provider to determine if you are taking this medicine)
  • other medicines or treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED)
  • CIALIS is also marketed as ADCIRCA for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Do not take both CIALIS and ADCIRCA. Do not take sildenafil citrate (Revatio®)* with CIALIS.

What Should I Avoid While Taking CIALIS?

  • Do not use other ED medicines or ED treatments while taking CIALIS.
  • Do not drink too much alcohol when taking CIALIS (for example, 5 glasses of wine or 5 shots of whiskey). Drinking too much alcohol can increase your chances of getting a headache or getting dizzy, increasing your heart rate, or lowering your blood pressure.

What Are The Possible Side Effects Of CIALIS?

The most common side effects with CIALIS are: headache, indigestion, back pain, muscle aches, flushing, and stuffy or runny nose. These side effects usually go away after a few hours. Men who get back pain and muscle aches usually get it 12 to 24 hours after taking CIALIS. Back pain and muscle aches usually go away within 2 days. Call your healthcare provider if you get any side effect that bothers you or one that does not go away.

Uncommon but serious side effects include:

An erection that won't go away: If you get an erection lasting more than 4 hours, seek immediate medical help to avoid long-term injury.

In rare instances, men taking prescription ED tablets, including CIALIS, reported a sudden decrease or loss of vision or hearing (sometimes with ringing in the ears and dizziness). It's not possible to determine if these events are related directly to the ED tablets or to other factors. If you have a sudden decrease or loss of vision or hearing, stop taking any ED tablet, including CIALIS and call a healthcare provider right away.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

CIALIS does not:

  • cure ED
  • increase a man’s sexual desire
  • protect a man or his partner from sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV
  • serve as a male form of birth control

CIALIS is available by prescription only. For additional information, talk to your healthcare provider and see full Patient and Prescribing Information.

*The brand listed is a trademark of its respective owner and is not a trademark of Eli Lilly and Company. The maker of this brand is not affiliated with and does not endorse Eli Lilly and Company or its products.

TD Con-F ISI 03FEB2012

CIALIS is indicated for the treatment of men with erectile dysfunction (ED), men with the signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and men with both ED and the signs and symptoms of BPH. CIALIS is not indicated for women or children.

Important Safety Information for CIALIS® (tadalafil) tablets

What Is The Most Important Information I Should Know About CIALIS?

Do not take CIALIS if you:

  • take medicines called “nitrates” such as isosorbide dinitrate or isosorbide mononitrate which are often prescribed for chest pain as the combination may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure
  • use recreational drugs called “poppers” like amyl nitrite and butyl nitrite
  • are allergic to CIALIS or ADCIRCA® (tadalafil), or any of its ingredients. Call your healthcare provider or get help right away if you experience any symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as rash, hives, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing or swallowing

After taking a single tablet, some of the active ingredient of CIALIS remains in your body for more than 2 days. The active ingredient can remain longer if you have problems with your kidneys or liver, or you are taking certain other medications.

Stop sexual activity and get medical help right away if you get symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness, or nausea during sex. Sexual activity can put an extra strain on your heart, especially if your heart is already weak from a heart attack or heart disease.

What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Taking CIALIS?

CIALIS is not right for everyone. Only your healthcare provider and you can decide if CIALIS is right for you. Ask your healthcare provider if your heart is healthy enough for you to have sexual activity. You should not take CIALIS if your healthcare provider has told you not to have sexual activity because of your health problems. Before taking CIALIS, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical problems, particularly if you have or ever had:

  • heart problems such as chest pain (angina), heart failure, irregular heartbeats, or have had a heart attack
  • high or low blood pressure or have high blood pressure that is not controlled
  • stroke
  • liver or kidney problems or require dialysis
  • retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic (runs in families) eye disease
  • severe vision loss, including a condition called NAION
  • stomach ulcers or a bleeding problem
  • a deformed penis shape or Peyronie's disease
  • an erection that lasted more than 4 hours
  • blood cell problems such as sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or leukemia

Can Other Medicines Affect CIALIS?

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take especially if you take:

  • medicines called “nitrates” which are often prescribed for chest pain
  • alpha-blockers often prescribed for prostate problems
  • blood pressure medications
  • medicines for HIV or some types of oral antifungal medications
  • some types of antibiotics such as clarithromycin, telithromycin, erythromycin (several brand names exist, please contact your healthcare provider to determine if you are taking this medicine)
  • other medicines or treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED)
  • CIALIS is also marketed as ADCIRCA for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Do not take both CIALIS and ADCIRCA. Do not take sildenafil citrate (Revatio®)* with CIALIS.

What Should I Avoid While Taking CIALIS?

  • Do not use other ED medicines or ED treatments while taking CIALIS.
  • Do not drink too much alcohol when taking CIALIS (for example, 5 glasses of wine or 5 shots of whiskey). Drinking too much alcohol can increase your chances of getting a headache or getting dizzy, increasing your heart rate, or lowering your blood pressure.

What Are The Possible Side Effects Of CIALIS?

The most common side effects with CIALIS are: headache, indigestion, back pain, muscle aches, flushing, and stuffy or runny nose. These side effects usually go away after a few hours. Men who get back pain and muscle aches usually get it 12 to 24 hours after taking CIALIS. Back pain and muscle aches usually go away within 2 days. Call your healthcare provider if you get any side effect that bothers you or one that does not go away.

Uncommon but serious side effects include:

An erection that won't go away: If you get an erection lasting more than 4 hours, seek immediate medical help to avoid long-term injury.

In rare instances, men taking prescription ED tablets, including CIALIS, reported a sudden decrease or loss of vision or hearing (sometimes with ringing in the ears and dizziness). It's not possible to determine if these events are related directly to the ED tablets or to other factors. If you have a sudden decrease or loss of vision or hearing, stop taking any ED tablet, including CIALIS and call a healthcare provider right away.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

CIALIS does not:

  • cure ED
  • increase a man’s sexual desire
  • protect a man or his partner from sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV
  • serve as a male form of birth control

CIALIS is available by prescription only. For additional information, talk to your healthcare provider and see full Patient and Prescribing Information.

*The brand listed is a trademark of its respective owner and is not a trademark of Eli Lilly and Company. The maker of this brand is not affiliated with and does not endorse Eli Lilly and Company or its products.

TD Con-F ISI 03FEB2012

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