Key Facts
- Drug Class
- PDE5 inhibitor
- Prescription
- Required
- NAFDAC Status
- NAFDAC Registered
- Forms
- Tablet
- Online price
- ~₦98,090see prices
What is Tadalafil?
Tadalafil — best known as Cialis — is a treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) in the same family as sildenafil (Viagra), the PDE5 inhibitors. Its distinctive feature is how long it lasts: up to about 36 hours, which is why it is nicknamed the 'weekend pill'. In Nigeria it is sold as branded Cialis and as many cheaper generics, and — like sildenafil — it is a major target for counterfeiters.
Tadalafil works by relaxing blood vessels so that, with sexual stimulation, more blood flows into the penis to produce and maintain an erection. It does not create desire. Because it stays active far longer than sildenafil, it can be taken well ahead of sex without careful timing, and food and moderate alcohol affect it less. It can also be used as a small daily dose, which keeps it in the system so sex can be more spontaneous — and that low daily dose is also used to ease the urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
The same cautions as for all ED drugs apply, and strongly. Tadalafil must never be combined with nitrate heart medicines or recreational 'poppers', as the blood-pressure drop can be fatal. Erectile dysfunction is often an early sign of heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure, so a doctor's check is wise rather than just treating the symptom. And because it is expensive as a brand and easy to fake, counterfeit 'Cialis' is widespread in markets and online — buy only from a licensed pharmacy and verify the NAFDAC number.
What is Tadalafil used for?
In Nigeria, Tadalafil is commonly used for:
- Erectile dysfunction — a long-acting option (up to ~36 hours)
- Daily low-dose use for men who want spontaneity rather than timed dosing
- Symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate), sometimes alongside ED
- An alternative for men who find sildenafil too short-acting or poorly tolerated
Dosage
IMPORTANT
Always follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions. The information below is for general reference only.
Adults
For on-demand erectile dysfunction, the usual dose is 10mg taken at least 30 minutes before sex, adjustable to 5mg or 20mg, and no more than once a day. For more spontaneity, a low daily dose (2.5mg or 5mg) can be taken at the same time each day instead. Sexual stimulation is still needed. Its effect can last up to 36 hours, so it does not need precise timing before sex.
Children
Not used in children.
Elderly
Older men, and those with liver, kidney, or heart conditions, should be assessed by a doctor and may start at a lower dose.
Do not take more than one dose in 24 hours. Do not combine with nitrate medicines or 'poppers'. Because it lasts a long time, remember it is still active the next day when considering other medicines or alcohol. If ED persists, see a doctor to check for underlying causes rather than simply repeating the tablet.
Side Effects
Common side effects
- •Headache
- •Indigestion or reflux
- •Back pain or muscle aches (more characteristic of tadalafil, usually 12-24 hours after the dose)
- •Facial flushing
- •Stuffy or runny nose
Serious side effects — seek medical help immediately
- An erection that is painful or lasts more than 4 hours (priapism) — seek emergency care
- Sudden loss or decrease of vision in one or both eyes
- Sudden loss or reduction of hearing
- Chest pain, fainting, or a very fast or irregular heartbeat during sex — stop and seek urgent care
- Signs of a serious allergic reaction: swelling of the face or throat, difficulty breathing
When to see a doctor
Seek emergency care for an erection lasting over 4 hours, sudden vision or hearing loss, or chest pain and fainting. See a doctor before use if you have heart disease or take heart/blood-pressure medicines, and see one anyway for ongoing ED, since it can be an early sign of a treatable heart or metabolic condition.
Warnings & Precautions
Do not take Tadalafil if you have:
- Never take with nitrate heart medicines (e.g. GTN) or recreational 'poppers' (amyl nitrite) — risk of a fatal blood-pressure drop
- Do not use with riociguat or other guanylate cyclase stimulators
- Avoid after a recent heart attack or stroke, with unstable angina, or with very low or uncontrolled high blood pressure — seek medical advice first
- Use cautiously with severe liver or kidney disease, or a history of the eye condition NAION
- Do not use if you are allergic to tadalafil
Drug interactions
- •Nitrates and poppers — absolutely contraindicated
- •Alpha-blockers (blood-pressure and prostate medicines) — added blood-pressure lowering; care with timing and dose
- •Some antifungals, certain antibiotics, and HIV protease inhibitors raise tadalafil levels — a lower dose may be needed
- •Alcohol adds to blood-pressure lowering and worsens erections
- •Do not combine with other ED medicines
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tadalafil for erectile dysfunction is a men's medicine and does not apply to pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Brands of Tadalafil in Nigeria
The NAFDAC registry holds 28 Tadalafil products from 19 manufacturers, including combination products and older listings whose status you can check in the full list. Below are some of the most common brands — see the full, searchable list for all of them.
How to Verify Your Tadalafil is Genuine
- 1Buy only from a licensed pharmacy — counterfeit 'Cialis' and tadalafil are widespread in Nigerian markets and on social media
- 2Check the NAFDAC registration number and verify it on the NAFDAC Green Book or app
- 3Reject tablets sold loose or in unlabelled sachets, or packs with spelling errors, blurry printing, or missing batch/expiry details
- 4For genuine Cialis (Eli Lilly), check the yellow almond-shaped tablet and Lilly's branding; be wary of odd colours, shapes, or crumbly tablets
- 5Be very cautious of unlabelled 'strong man' capsules and herbal mixtures, which are unverified and may hide harmful ingredients
- 6Assume suspiciously cheap or aggressively marketed online offers are fake
Tadalafil Price in Nigeria
As of July 2026, Tadalafil sells for about ₦98,090 online in Nigeria (₦77,000–₦108,000) across HealthPlus and MedPlus. Open-market prices (e.g. Idumota, Ogbogwu) are often lower.
Online retail (sampled)
HealthPlus + MedPlus₦77,000 – ₦108,000median ₦98,090
From 3 listings across HealthPlus + MedPlus — brands and pack sizes vary · updated July 2026.
Price trend
We've tracked Tadalafil online prices since July 2026 — median ₦98,090 (range ₦77,000–₦108,000, from 3 listings). This updates monthly, and the month-on-month trend will appear here — see the Nigerian Medicine Price Index for prices across all tracked drugs.
Where to Buy
Purchase Tadalafil only from licensed pharmacies and verified distributors. Avoid buying medicines from unverified sources, roadside vendors, or unregistered market stalls.
Before you buy, verify the product's NAFDAC registration and check the current online prices above so you know a fair price before you pay.
Buying Tadalafil in bulk or for resale? Our guide on how to buy medicines in bulk in Nigeria safely covers verifying a supplier and spotting fakes before a large order.
Need Tadalafil in bulk, or can't find it near you?
Tell us what you need and we'll connect you with a verified, NAFDAC-registered source.
Related Resources for Tadalafil
Guides, articles, and tools related to Tadalafil and other sexual health medicines in Nigeria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- •NAFDAC Greenbook — the official database of all products registered with Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. Brand-level NAFDAC numbers for Tadalafil on this page were cross-referenced against the Greenbook.
- •British National Formulary (BNF) dosing and interaction guidance for Tadalafil.
- •Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health).