Brand-name Cialis (tadalafil): what Spanish pharmacies give you and how to read the box
| Availability: | Yes |
| Delivery: | 4-7 days |
| Payment: | credit cards, bank transfer |
 |
Cialis is Lilly's original brand of tadalafil. In Spain it's prescribed for erectile dysfunction and, at 5 mg a day, for the urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Pharmacies stock 5, 10 and 20 mg tablets, on prescription only.
Below the price table we cover what a Spanish pharmacy may hand you when you ask for Cialis, what the Spanish wording on the box means, how to take it and when not to. This page offers 20 mg only, the maximum dose, and the source isn't stated. In Spain, prescription-only medicines may not be sold online, and customs can hold a parcel that contains them. We do not check prescriptions: talk to your doctor before you order.
| What it is | A brand-name PDE5 inhibitor for erectile dysfunction and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). |
|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Tadalafil (tadalafilo on Spanish packs). |
| Licence holder | Eli Lilly Nederland B.V.; marketed in Spain by Lilly S.A. Licensed in the EU since 2002. |
| Packs in Spanish pharmacies | 5 mg (28 tablets), 10 mg (4) and 20 mg (4, 8 or 12), per CIMA, plus some parallel-imported packs. |
| Prescription? | Yes. Not funded by the Spanish public health system. |
| Dose | As needed: 10 mg, or 20 mg if that isn't enough. Daily: 5 mg. Never more than one tablet a day. |
| Appearance | Yellow almond-shaped tablet stamped «C 20» (20 mg). Contains lactose. |
| In this shop | «Cialis Brand» 20 mg, 4 to 120 tablets (up to 8 extra free). No supplier, batch or origin given. |
Three things you might be given
Hand a Spanish pharmacist a prescription for tadalafil and you could leave with any of these, all legal:
- Lilly's Cialis in its Spanish packaging.
- Parallel-imported Cialis: the same medicine, bought in another EU country by a licensed importer and relabelled in Spanish. CIMA lists these with «IP» at the end of the registration number.
- Generic tadalafil, marked EFG, sold in Spain since 2017. The AEMPS only approves a generic once it's shown to be absorbed just like Cialis.
If you want the brand, say so; otherwise ask what the generics cost, as they're usually much cheaper. Neither is stronger: 20 mg is 20 mg.
Reading a Spanish box
The labelling is all in Spanish, which can be confusing if it isn't your first language. Pick an item to see what it means.
What does this bit of the box mean?
None of this beats a good fake. The real safeguard is the legal supply chain and the barcode scan when the pharmacy dispenses, and a parcel sent by post never goes through that.
The 20 mg tablet in context
| Strength | Use in the Spanish product information | Sold here |
|---|---|---|
| 5 mg | Daily regimen and BPH | No |
| 10 mg | Starting dose when needed | No |
| 20 mg | Maximum dose when needed, if 10 mg isn't enough | Yes |
In Spain the biggest box of Cialis 20 mg holds 12 tablets; the lots on this page go up to 128 (120 plus 8 free), which matches no Spanish pack. And 20 mg isn't meant as a daily tablet: the product information advises against taking 10 or 20 mg every day on an ongoing basis. Men who need tadalafil daily take 5 mg, prescribed and reviewed by a doctor.
How to take it
- With water, with or without food; meals don't affect absorption.
- As needed, at least 30 minutes before sex. It can work for up to 36 hours, but only when you're aroused.
- One tablet in 24 hours at most, even if the last one didn't work.
- Severe kidney disease: 10 mg at most. Liver problems: 10 mg.
The difference between as-needed and daily use is explained on our generic Cialis page.
Who shouldn't take it
- Anyone using nitrates (GTN, isosorbide), poppers or riociguat.
- Anyone who's had a heart attack in the last 90 days or a stroke in the last 6 months.
- Men with unstable angina, chest pain during sex, heart failure (NYHA class II or worse) in the last 6 months, uncontrolled arrhythmia or high blood pressure, or blood pressure under 90/50.
- Anyone who has lost sight in one eye through NAION.
- Anyone allergic to tadalafil or the other ingredients.
Check with a doctor first if you have Peyronie's disease, sickle cell anaemia, myeloma, leukaemia, kidney or liver problems or lactose intolerance, or take an alpha-blocker.
Side effects
The usual ones are headache, indigestion, back or muscle pain, flushing and a stuffy nose. Because tadalafil lasts longer than sildenafil, back or leg aches may only start hours after the dose. They're generally mild.
- you have chest pain, breathlessness or feel faint; say you've taken tadalafil and when, because it changes what doctors can give you;
- an erection lasts 4 hours or more;
- your sight or hearing goes suddenly;
- your face, lips or throat swell.
You can report side effects to the Spanish pharmacovigilance system at notificaRAM.es.
Interactions
| Taken with | Result |
|---|---|
| Nitrates, poppers, riociguat | Severe low blood pressure. Must not be combined; if a nitrate is ever needed, at least 48 hours should pass after tadalafil. |
| Doxazosin | Prolonged drops in blood pressure. Not recommended. |
| Ketoconazole, ritonavir and other strong CYP3A4 inhibitors | Tadalafil levels can double or quadruple. |
| Rifampicin and other inducers | Far less tadalafil; it may not work. |
Other options
- Generic Cialis: the same tadalafil, also in 5 and 10 mg.
- Original Viagra (sildenafil): works for a few hours; fatty food slows it.
- Original Levitra (vardenafil): similar to Viagra in timing.
Prescriptions for residents and visitors
With a tarjeta sanitaria you can ask your médico de familia at the centro de salud; private GPs and urologists prescribe it too. A prescription from another EU country can be dispensed in Spain if it has the required details; a UK one can't. In every case you'll pay the full price, as the public system doesn't fund tadalafil for erectile dysfunction or BPH.
Delivery
We don't sell from a shop or offer order collection; orders are sent by post or courier. See our delivery conditions.
Common questions
Can I buy original Cialis without a prescription in Spain?
No. Cialis and every generic tadalafil need a prescription in Spain, and only pharmacies may sell them.
What's the difference between Cialis and generic tadalafil?
Name, appearance, inactive ingredients and price. The active ingredient, dose and effect are the same.
Is parallel-imported Cialis legitimate?
Yes. It's Lilly's Cialis made for another EU market, bought by a licensed importer and relabelled in Spanish. It's listed on CIMA like any other pack.
How long does Cialis last?
Up to 36 hours after a dose. It isn't a constant erection: during that time you get one when you're aroused.
Can I take Cialis 20 mg every day?
That isn't the recommended use. The licensed daily dose is 5 mg, and the product information advises against taking 10 or 20 mg daily on an ongoing basis.
Can I drink alcohol with Cialis?
In moderation. Heavy drinking lowers blood pressure and makes erections harder; together with tadalafil it can leave you dizzy.
Sources: Cialis product information and patient leaflet (CIMA, AEMPS); Cialis EPAR (European Medicines Agency); Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/161; BIFIMED, Spanish Ministry of Health; Royal Decree 81/2014. General information only, not a substitute for medical advice. In Spain, prescription-only medicines may not be sold online, and customs can hold a parcel that contains them. We do not check prescriptions: talk to your doctor before you order.
