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Cialis Withdrawn — Gutted !

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User
Posted 26 May 2018 at 13:19

So here I am 3 yrs post op and despite being told I’m incurable and have further treatment to come my life is essentially perfectly normal. I work hard and have recovered near perfectly re continence and ED. Yes I take daily 5mg Cialis and use a ring but essentially we can have full sex on tap. So now I get a letter telling me despite Cialis now being available generically and cheaper than ever , that I’m not allowed daily Cialis anymore and will be given 4x 10 mg per month for “ occasions “. I’m simply utterly distraught that this is going to mix my life up again. They also claim there is STILL no evidence that daily dose is better than occasion dosage. Feel like crying after working so hard to get back to normal :-(( 

User
Posted 06 Jun 2018 at 10:55
Just come off the phone to GP who says he is more than happy to keep me on daily dose 5mg Tadalafil. Such a great result and given I may only need it a few more months before further treatment happens possibly negating my need for it ........ Anyway a happy bunny today.
User
Posted 06 Jun 2018 at 11:46

Great news Chris - so pleased for you. I thought I was already having a good as the bike flew through it's MOT this morning, it's a glorious day and now your news as well.

All the best

Kevan 

User
Posted 06 Jun 2018 at 16:59
Enjoy!!
We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails
User
Posted 04 Jul 2018 at 13:17
Hi Bill it was over a year before I was given Cialis 5mg post op. I’d tried the other event doses of Viagra , Spedra, Levitra etc with no luck. I used Caverject injections which sometimes gave me an erection but ALWAYS gave me intense throbbing. I tried Invicorp25 injections which are amazing. My post code wouldn’t let me have daily Cialis 5mg so I bought generic on line 20 mg and cut them up. Self funded for 3 months. I noticed a much fuller warmer swollen penis each morning after only a week and it has gone from strength to strength and now I have a full erection at will although 2” smaller than it used to be tbh. Sometimes the addition of a rubber ring makes ALL the difference. We are all different mind. !! Take care and good luck
User
Posted 04 Jul 2018 at 18:35
Hi Chris,

what's the best price you've found for the Cialis brand equivalent online?

I found MedExpress, seems reasonable.

dave

All we can do - is do all that we can.

So, do all you can to help yourself, then make the best of your time. :-)

I am the statistic.

User
Posted 04 Jul 2018 at 19:00
Hi Bill63,

I hope you continue to get improvements with your meds.

Early in my recovery I found that mixing and matching meds worked best for me. Probably will not work for anyone

else, so I would not try it. But I was pro-acrtivce in my recovery try and prepared to experiment and push the boundary to achieve the chance of progress, or fail, knowing that at least I had tried.

My prescription started with 28 x 5mg Tadalafil (Cialis), so 1 tablet a day for 28 days. And 8 x 50mg Sildenafil (Viagra) for "events".

The Cialis gave me, what I thought at the time were, terrible leg aches, bad enough to keep me awake or wake me for all the wrong reasons for about 2 months. Really very painful and uncomfortable, but having read about the potential gains, I stuck with them. Took loads of Paracetamol and Ibuprofen. Didn't do a lot of good, but helped a bit. So pleased that I did. Looking back, those leg ache's were not that bad at all, completely bearable considering the gains I achieved.

I do understand the irritation of having or needing to pay for meds that others may get on prescription depending on where they live, and how supportive their GP is. But, needs must.

Have you considered buying meds from a reputable site and seeing what effect you get?

What is still bizarre to me is that I can drink copiously, have a very enjoyable evening which, due to the drink I can not remember the next morning. But I am happy.

My GP explained to me that a degree of ED may be due to anxiety, and once you are sufficiently intoxicated, you cease to be anxious.

Won't work for everyone. But if it works for just ONE other, it is worth a try, maybe?

atb

dave

All we can do - is do all that we can.

So, do all you can to help yourself, then make the best of your time. :-)

I am the statistic.

User
Posted 04 Jul 2018 at 20:13
Dave , I used the various Kamagra UK sites. They were all fine generic meds mostly made by Ajanta in India. Yes you take the risk but it all seemed to work for me. I’m sure I was getting 8 x 20mg for roughly £20 , so that was a month if you chopped them up.
User
Posted 06 Jul 2018 at 20:59
Bill, don’t be frightened of stopping viagra to try something else. There is no scientific evidence that viagra aids recovery in any way (it works differently to Cialis) so not taking it will do no harm. Perhaps ask for a prescription for Levitra tablets or Muse pellets instead - we found that Levitra works slightly better for John.

Also, are you definitely taking the viagra correctly? On an empty stomach? And with enough hours for it to take effect? If John takes a viagra in the afternoon it will work in the evening - if he takes it at bedtime he will have an erection the next morning.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 09 Jul 2018 at 08:39

Thanks Lyn

Yes I know about the full\empty stomach. I do get some slight result from the Viagra but nothing of any use and the only difference I find is that it takes about 30 minutes to have an effect on an empty stomach and 90 minutes on a full stomach. This is also obvious from the side effects, face flush and feeling of a head cold etc.

Interestingly my Uro prescribed 1x100mg per week and said that is plenty. "Its not to give you a raging hard on just to aid your recovery". It was my GP that said "use it or lose it" and prescribed 16 per month. The same Uro was very casual about the pump. Saying some use it and some dont and there is no real evidence that it is of any benifet with regard to recovery but is useful for getting an erection for sex! He never gave any advice on frequency and method etc!

All my info and advice on penile rehab has come from this site and the web and yourself and Chris J in particular. So a big thanks to you both and all others who contrabute to this site.

From my whole experience leading up to and after diagnosis I have learned not to just put my trust in the medical professionals, as they are influenced by policy, budget and personal opinion etc. But that we must all take responsibility for our own health, do our own research and fight for what we believe to be the best for our particular circumstances.

Thanks again and good luck to all.

Cheers
Bill

Edited by member 09 Jul 2018 at 11:04  | Reason: Added info

Show Most Thanked Posts
User
Posted 26 May 2018 at 15:42

hey Chris, 

 

that really sucks, I can imagine how you are feeling. 

does this mean that Cialis 5mg as a drug is being discontinued?

User
Posted 26 May 2018 at 17:55
No not at all mate. And the actual drug Tadalafil has just come off patent. My last two lots have not been branded Cialis. So on one hand they telling me it’s cheaper , and then telling me they’re taking it away. All I’ll get is 4 x 10 mg and will then be into the whole when to take it and at what dose and at what time etc.

Begging letter on the way and also see if I can make up the deficit by paying at my pharmacy

User
Posted 26 May 2018 at 19:45
There's logic for you!!
Barry
User
Posted 26 May 2018 at 22:46

Well,

 

living on Scotland, I have been being prescribed Cislis 5mg since my RP 3 years ago. like you Chris, sex life is like normal and on tap with it, although I take it every other day and sometimes more infrequently - so the psychological aspect is part of it 

But I would be devastated if the 5mg prescription was stopped 

 

 

User
Posted 27 May 2018 at 00:30
No-one gets it forever Chris - the NICE rationale is for nerve repair post op, and this long after the op your nerves are as repaired as anyone's. Plus it is rather more expensive than the event dose. You have done well to get it on prescription for this long; I think John had it for about 3 years but then it stopped.

See how you go with the event dose - you could cut the tablets in half and take twice a week or just get used to taking a tablet when you think your luck is in. Yes it is a blow but we all have to deal with it and many men can't even get the daily dose so you gave been very fortunate.

When you eventually start treatment you will perhaps be eligible again?

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 27 May 2018 at 04:30

Eli Lilly’s patent on Cialis expired late last year and the generic version of Tadalafil is now made by Teva, Sanofi and my last lot by another firm whose names escapes me. With competition the price should come down eventually.

I travel widely and would often pick up over-the-counter generic Cialis in other countries such as India (Megalis) for next to nothing. I didn’t buy from dodgy back street chemists - Wal-Mart in Acapulco, Boots in Thailand, etc.

My GP recently said I was entitled to 2 x four packs of 20mg Tadalafil or 28 x 5mg per month on the NHS. Before I was diagnosed with cancer I had a deal with my local chemist and paid £53 for 28 x 5mg Cialis - normal price £78.

 

Edited by member 27 May 2018 at 04:42  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 27 May 2018 at 07:32
Thanks guys.

Nowhere in the letter at all did this explain that it was time related. It was about prescribing Cialis/Tadalafil and cost , and then went on to say research in our area shows it to be no more effective than event dosing.

I’ve put my toys back in my pram now and will see if I can buy from pharmacy. Alternatively they are pretty cheap on the internet and they work as I self-trialled if you remember.

Lyn I’m desperate to keep things stable , as it’s exactly the opposite of what you say —- when I next start treatment Cialis will be useless. They’d be better prescribing a library ticket :-(

User
Posted 27 May 2018 at 09:31

Good for you Chris 👍

User
Posted 27 May 2018 at 10:07
Chris, have you tried stopping taking them for a while to see if doing so actually does have an adverse effect? Might be worth checking that they are still required before spending money on private prescriptions!

Hope all goes well for you,

Chris

User
Posted 27 May 2018 at 11:00
Thanks Chris. I admit I’ve not tried stopping tbh. Just don’t want to rock the boat and make use of it while I can. But it’s an idea !!
User
Posted 27 May 2018 at 11:58

CJ

In last year's version of the NICE guidelines there was a limit of two years for PE5 medication if it was NOT working. My daily sildenafil is still on my repeat prescription over three years on although I have not  actually requested it for a long time.

Thanks Chris

User
Posted 27 May 2018 at 16:31

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Lyn I’m desperate to keep things stable , as it’s exactly the opposite of what you say —- when I next start treatment Cialis will be useless. They’d be better prescribing a library ticket :-(

 

You don't know that although you are doing such a good job of convincing yourself it is going to happen, it will become a self fulfilling prophesy if you are not careful. 

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 27 May 2018 at 16:45
Haha well it has to be said even seven pints of lager never stopped me in the past , but there’s only one man you have named who retained his EF whilst on castration level HT. Maybe I’ll be number two. Here’s hoping. I’m ready for it
User
Posted 27 May 2018 at 18:22
Lager? I didn’t realise you were a footballer
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 27 May 2018 at 18:43
Hi Chris,

Sorry to read about that decision. You've worked so hard at your recovery and you have done so well.

You mention sending a begging letter? If it were me, I'd consider sending a letter outlining the business case for you to be continue being prescribed.

I dont know who "they" are? Or what evidence they have to suggest that the medication is of little or no use? If yliu find that evidence you may be able to refute it as meaningless in your case?

For example, if "they" say 90% of men don't benefit, or it's of no benefit in 90% of cases, you could point out that you are obviously in the 10% that does benefit. If you have ever stopped talking the tablets, for whatever reason, and suffered a negative impact you could use that to demonstrate that there is a need for them?

And you could consider mentioning the increased costs likely to be incurred later in of other treatments, pumps, inserts, gadgets if your recovery is interrupted at this critical stage.

Happy to help drafting something for you if you wish?

atb

dave

All we can do - is do all that we can.

So, do all you can to help yourself, then make the best of your time. :-)

I am the statistic.

User
Posted 27 May 2018 at 18:53
Thank you Lyn— no not a footballer. A Northerm boy who drank Boddingtons then found himself abroad in the Merchant Navy for 7 years where bitter simply didn’t exist!! So I got the taste. I like a cider and Guiness occasionally ( not mixed ).

Dave thanks for your message. It’s the South West NHS area that have done the research and claiming not enough evidence of daily dose and that the money could be used elsewhere. I’m not going to dispute that as the NHS is massively stretched. My GP may come up trumps after my email. He’s very good to me normally. Thank you for your offer. I’m opening the red now !

User
Posted 06 Jun 2018 at 10:55
Just come off the phone to GP who says he is more than happy to keep me on daily dose 5mg Tadalafil. Such a great result and given I may only need it a few more months before further treatment happens possibly negating my need for it ........ Anyway a happy bunny today.
User
Posted 06 Jun 2018 at 11:46

Great news Chris - so pleased for you. I thought I was already having a good as the bike flew through it's MOT this morning, it's a glorious day and now your news as well.

All the best

Kevan 

User
Posted 06 Jun 2018 at 16:59
Enjoy!!
We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails
User
Posted 04 Jul 2018 at 12:07

Hi Chris

Do you mind me asking, when you changed to 5mg cialis daily how long before you had improvement. Were you on viagra before?

I take 100mg viagra roughly every second day or sometimes miss a couple and then take on consecutive days. I have some slow improvement 17 months post op but no where near anything useful yet and l'm getting impatient.

As mentioned before I cant get free cialis but nurse will prescribe it if I pay (about £9 per pill). I have seen it on line from a Canadian company for less than 1dollar per 5mg.
Also im not sure whether or not to change anyway for fear of halting my current slow improvement.


Cheers

Bill

Edited by member 04 Jul 2018 at 12:08  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 04 Jul 2018 at 13:17
Hi Bill it was over a year before I was given Cialis 5mg post op. I’d tried the other event doses of Viagra , Spedra, Levitra etc with no luck. I used Caverject injections which sometimes gave me an erection but ALWAYS gave me intense throbbing. I tried Invicorp25 injections which are amazing. My post code wouldn’t let me have daily Cialis 5mg so I bought generic on line 20 mg and cut them up. Self funded for 3 months. I noticed a much fuller warmer swollen penis each morning after only a week and it has gone from strength to strength and now I have a full erection at will although 2” smaller than it used to be tbh. Sometimes the addition of a rubber ring makes ALL the difference. We are all different mind. !! Take care and good luck
User
Posted 04 Jul 2018 at 18:35
Hi Chris,

what's the best price you've found for the Cialis brand equivalent online?

I found MedExpress, seems reasonable.

dave

All we can do - is do all that we can.

So, do all you can to help yourself, then make the best of your time. :-)

I am the statistic.

User
Posted 04 Jul 2018 at 19:00
Hi Bill63,

I hope you continue to get improvements with your meds.

Early in my recovery I found that mixing and matching meds worked best for me. Probably will not work for anyone

else, so I would not try it. But I was pro-acrtivce in my recovery try and prepared to experiment and push the boundary to achieve the chance of progress, or fail, knowing that at least I had tried.

My prescription started with 28 x 5mg Tadalafil (Cialis), so 1 tablet a day for 28 days. And 8 x 50mg Sildenafil (Viagra) for "events".

The Cialis gave me, what I thought at the time were, terrible leg aches, bad enough to keep me awake or wake me for all the wrong reasons for about 2 months. Really very painful and uncomfortable, but having read about the potential gains, I stuck with them. Took loads of Paracetamol and Ibuprofen. Didn't do a lot of good, but helped a bit. So pleased that I did. Looking back, those leg ache's were not that bad at all, completely bearable considering the gains I achieved.

I do understand the irritation of having or needing to pay for meds that others may get on prescription depending on where they live, and how supportive their GP is. But, needs must.

Have you considered buying meds from a reputable site and seeing what effect you get?

What is still bizarre to me is that I can drink copiously, have a very enjoyable evening which, due to the drink I can not remember the next morning. But I am happy.

My GP explained to me that a degree of ED may be due to anxiety, and once you are sufficiently intoxicated, you cease to be anxious.

Won't work for everyone. But if it works for just ONE other, it is worth a try, maybe?

atb

dave

All we can do - is do all that we can.

So, do all you can to help yourself, then make the best of your time. :-)

I am the statistic.

User
Posted 04 Jul 2018 at 20:13
Dave , I used the various Kamagra UK sites. They were all fine generic meds mostly made by Ajanta in India. Yes you take the risk but it all seemed to work for me. I’m sure I was getting 8 x 20mg for roughly £20 , so that was a month if you chopped them up.
User
Posted 04 Jul 2018 at 21:16

Chris\Dave
Thank you both for your thoughts and advice.

I am seeing my Uro in three weeks for next follow up psa so will discuss it with him then.

I found this site selling 56 x 5mg for £40 which seems a good deal if anyones interested.


https://www.ukmeds.co.uk/treatments/erectile-dysfunction/cialis/

All the best to both of you

BTW when pasting a web adress into a post how do you make it a link (using android phone)

Cheers

Bill

Edited by member 05 Jul 2018 at 07:42  | Reason: Added text

User
Posted 06 Jul 2018 at 20:59
Bill, don’t be frightened of stopping viagra to try something else. There is no scientific evidence that viagra aids recovery in any way (it works differently to Cialis) so not taking it will do no harm. Perhaps ask for a prescription for Levitra tablets or Muse pellets instead - we found that Levitra works slightly better for John.

Also, are you definitely taking the viagra correctly? On an empty stomach? And with enough hours for it to take effect? If John takes a viagra in the afternoon it will work in the evening - if he takes it at bedtime he will have an erection the next morning.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 09 Jul 2018 at 08:39

Thanks Lyn

Yes I know about the full\empty stomach. I do get some slight result from the Viagra but nothing of any use and the only difference I find is that it takes about 30 minutes to have an effect on an empty stomach and 90 minutes on a full stomach. This is also obvious from the side effects, face flush and feeling of a head cold etc.

Interestingly my Uro prescribed 1x100mg per week and said that is plenty. "Its not to give you a raging hard on just to aid your recovery". It was my GP that said "use it or lose it" and prescribed 16 per month. The same Uro was very casual about the pump. Saying some use it and some dont and there is no real evidence that it is of any benifet with regard to recovery but is useful for getting an erection for sex! He never gave any advice on frequency and method etc!

All my info and advice on penile rehab has come from this site and the web and yourself and Chris J in particular. So a big thanks to you both and all others who contrabute to this site.

From my whole experience leading up to and after diagnosis I have learned not to just put my trust in the medical professionals, as they are influenced by policy, budget and personal opinion etc. But that we must all take responsibility for our own health, do our own research and fight for what we believe to be the best for our particular circumstances.

Thanks again and good luck to all.

Cheers
Bill

Edited by member 09 Jul 2018 at 11:04  | Reason: Added info

User
Posted 09 Jul 2018 at 11:29
Before I had PCa I had some ED, and bought some genuine Viagra over the counter from Wal-Mart in Acapulco. It made me feel nauseous. My friend in his seventies went to his doctor in America for some Viagra for the first time.

Doctor: “How many do you need?”

Friend: “Give me three month’s supply. A hundred should do it.....”

He was ill after the first one and he gave the other 99 away!

As far as I know, we have both been fine with Tadalafil 5mg daily, until my recent op five weeks ago, that is. But that’s another story still to be written!

I used to buy 20mg Megalis, generic Tadalafil, made by a reputable Indian pharmaceutical company, for next to nothing when visiting the Indian sub-continent or Sri Lanka.

User
Posted 16 Jul 2018 at 20:18

Hi chris,

 

How you doing bud? ref Cialis, I am in Worcestershire, i was told last year it would no longer be issued in my area simply because of cost. I can get Viagra like smarties apparently and to be fair they work great. I would have loved to be given a chance with the other meds though! 

User
Posted 16 Jul 2018 at 21:49
Hello mate long time no hear. Text me sometime ok. Been wondering about you. My letter was about cost and effectiveness and proof / data etc but I just threw a wob and hey presto I’m back on 5 mg daily Cialis. I guess the others would work now with my recovery , but it’s nice to have it immediately when I want it. No planning etc , just there like in the old days. Maybe worth arguing over given your age ?? Take care !
User
Posted 17 Jul 2018 at 06:26
Funny, after our discussions here, my local chemist buggered me about for about three weeks saying generic Tadalafil was out of stock at their suppliers. I got them to cancel the prescription and got a new paper one from the doctor.

I phoned loads of chemists who also were out of stock, although a couple asked ‘is Tadalafil what’s written your prescription?’, meaning ‘does it say Cialis?’

The big Boots in town said they could order it, but when I went in a different pharmacist said ‘Generic Tadalafil is not in stock at our supplier, leave it with me’. I called in next day and there was branded Cialis in the bag.

Not sure what’s going on.

User
Posted 18 Jul 2018 at 15:23

I have also recently encountered difficulties getting 5mg daily of Tadalifil from my Pharmacist.

He suggested that I go back to my Quack and ask 5mg daily of Cialis or 10mg Taladifil (readily available) which I could split.

24hrs later 10mg Tadalifil in my hand.

For what it's worth I've lucky and have been prescribed daily Cialis / Taladifil for a few months short of 3 years, long may it continue, it really does work for me!

Edited by member 18 Jul 2018 at 15:25  | Reason: amending a typo

User
Posted 18 Jul 2018 at 16:00
I’ll wait till my next prescription to see. I guess generic Tadalafil in this country is very very new ( Cialis coming off patent ) so demand will be high in the whole country to save costs on using genuine Cialis. It took me a whole year asking for Cialis daily before I got it. My Uro genuinely disputed claims it was any more effective than other tablets but cost a lot more. He suggested it was all in my mind which made me so bl*****y angry.

The letter I received also reiterated that , and that it was being withdrawn due to cost and unproven efficacy.

But one long email to my doc and he completely override the decision overnight.

My question is ....... Why are specialists , consultants and health authorities denying its worth. I guess in general the data says it doesn’t work. But as with my friend Pablo it has worked wonders for me , almost to the extent I may try dropping the weekly dose. Maybe our younger years are on our side , I don’t know.

User
Posted 19 Jul 2018 at 11:24

Hi Chris

Hope your well, I haven't posted for some time, but have been monitoring the posts.

I have beenon the one a day 5mg Tadalifil for just over a year, the reason I went onto this is I couldn't take the Viagra, due to side effects, burning face, headache and blurred vision, this morning I got my letter from my GP saying as Tadalafil was one of the NHS prescriptions which were being stopped, and as they didn't prescribe it initially, and this was done by my consultant, they have written to him to say if he wants to prescribe it from his budget, then that's his responsibility, but they will no longer prescribe it

I have tried the alternative, and I cant go back to that as the side effects were too great, I tried stopping the Tadalafil for 28 days and things significantly changed for the worse, therefore I am hoping my Consultant keeps the prescription going, just like they do for methadone for people who voluntarily walk themselves into a mess, I didn't ask for this and am sorely aggrieved at this proposal, I hear all the NHS cant pay for everything, but I even paid privately for my Da Vinci procedure, plus 47 years of NHS contributions, sorry, rant over

Happychappy

 

Edited by member 19 Jul 2018 at 11:44  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 19 Jul 2018 at 11:43
Stick with it. I voiced much the same rant but as politely as possible to my GP. It seems yet again dependent on post code that this was over ridden by my doc no fuss.

The alternative I guess is to but it privately from a kamagra site. It all seems to be the real deal but made in India and isn’t that expensive tbh. Best of luck

User
Posted 19 Jul 2018 at 11:46
Thanks Chris, I can do diplomacy ; ) but as life goes on, one gets a little weary.
User
Posted 19 Jul 2018 at 12:37

This is supposedly the full list of drugs the NHS will no longer pay for, and ED medicines are not mentioned!

Scroll to the bottom.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5932438/full-list-medicines-no-longer-free-nhs-prescriptions/

Edited by member 19 Jul 2018 at 13:49  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 28 Dec 2022 at 10:24

Cheap Cialis without a prescription - https://healthful-online.com/c2831/cialis.html I am in my early 50's and suffered with erectile dysfunction and benign prostatic hyperplasia the last few years. I love Cialis. After ONE WEEK, I was urinating normal, and not waking in the middle of the night to go! After two weeks I was getting erections like a teen again, middle of the night, mornings and when I wanted sex. I couldn't be happier, no more pain, more sex and a happier wife.

Edited by member 30 Jul 2023 at 05:28  | Reason: Not specified

 
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