Special Warning : אזהרת שימוש

4.4     Special warnings and precautions for use

Before treatment with CIALIS
A medical history and physical examination should be undertaken to diagnose erectile dysfunction or benign prostatic hyperplasia and determine potential underlying causes, before pharmacological treatment is considered.


Prior to initiating any treatment for erectile dysfunction, physicians should consider the cardiovascular status of their patients, since there is a degree of cardiac risk associated with sexual activity. Tadalafil has vasodilator properties, resulting in mild and transient decreases in blood pressure (see section 5.1) and as such potentiate the hypotensive effect of nitrates (see section 4.3).

Prior to initiating treatment with tadalafil for benign prostatic hyperplasia patients should be examined to rule out the presence of carcinoma of the prostate and carefully assessed for cardiovascular conditions (see section 4.3).

The evaluation of erectile dysfunction should include a determination of potential underlying causes and the identification of appropriate treatment following an appropriate medical assessment. It is not known if CIALIS is effective in patients who have undergone pelvic surgery or radical non-nerve-sparing prostatectomy.

Cardiovacular

Serious cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac death, unstable angina pectoris, ventricular arrhythmia, stroke, transient ischemic attacks, chest pain, palpitations and tachycardia, have been reported either post marketing and/or in clinical trials. Most of the patients in whom these events have been reported had pre-existing cardiovascular risk factors. However, it is not possible to definitively determine whether these events are related directly to these risk factors, to CIALIS, to sexual activity, or to a combination of these or other factors.

In patients receiving concomitant antihypertensive medicinal products, tadalafil may induce a blood pressure decrease. When initiating daily treatment with tadalafil, appropriate clinical considerations should be given to a possible dose adjustment of the antihypertensive therapy.

In patients who are taking alpha1 blockers, concomitant administration of CIALIS may lead to symptomatic hypotension in some patients (see section 4.5). The combination of tadalafil and doxazosin is not recommended.

Vision

Visual defects, including Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSCR), and cases of NAION have been reported in connection with the intake of CIALIS and other PDE5 inhibitors. Most cases of CSCR resolved spontaneously after stopping tadalafil. Regarding NAION, analyses of observational data suggest an increased risk of acute NAION in men with erectile dysfunction following exposure to tadalafil or other PDE5 inhibitors. As this may be relevant for all patients exposed to tadalafil, the patient should be advised that in case of sudden visual defect, visual acuity impairment and/or visual distortion, he should stop taking CIALIS and consult a physician immediately (see section 4.3).

Decreased or sudden hearing loss

Cases of sudden hearing loss have been reported after the use of tadalafil. Although other risk factors were present in some cases (such as age, diabetes, hypertension and previous hearing loss history) patients should be advised to stop taking tadalafil and seek prompt medical attention in the event of sudden decrease or loss of hearing.

Renal and hepatic impairment

Due to increased tadalafil exposure (AUC), limited clinical experience and the lack of ability to influence clearance by dialysis, once-a-day dosing of CIALIS is not recommended in patients with severe renal impairment.

There is limited clinical data on the safety of single-dose administration of CIALIS in patients with severe hepatic insufficiency (Child-Pugh Class C). Once-a-day administration either for the treatment of  erectile dysfunction or benign prostatic hyperplasia has not been evaluated in patients with hepatic insufficiency. If CIALIS is prescribed, a careful individual benefit/risk evaluation should be undertaken by the prescribing physician.

Priapism and anatomical deformation of the penis

Patients who experience erections lasting 4 hours or more should be instructed to seek immediate medical assistance. If priapism is not treated immediately, penile tissue damage and permanent loss of potency may result.

CIALIS, should be used with caution in patients with anatomical deformation of the penis (such as angulation, cavernosal fibrosis or Peyronie’s disease), or in patients who have conditions which may predispose them to priapism (such as sickle cell anaemia, multiple myeloma or leukaemia).

Use with CYP3A4 inhibitors

Caution should be exercised when prescribing CIALIS to patients using potent CYP3A4 inhibitors (ritonavir, saquinavir, ketoconazole, itraconazole, and erythromycin) as increased tadalafil exposure (AUC) has been observed if the medicinal products are combined (see section 4.5).

CIALIS and other treatments for erectile dysfunction

The safety and efficacy of combinations of CIALIS and other PDE5 inhibitors or other treatments for erectile dysfunction have not been studied. The patients should be informed not to take CIALIS in such combinations.

Lactose

CIALIS contains lactose. Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, total lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.

Sodium

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.

Effects on Driving

4.7         Effects on ability to drive and use machines

CIALIS has negligible influence on the ability to drive or use machines. Although the frequency of reports of dizziness in placebo and tadalafil arms in clinical trials was similar, patients should be aware of how they react to CIALIS, before driving or using machines.