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Side affects from tadalafil

User
Posted 18 May 2025 at 13:55

Hello Everyone,

My husband has just had his 6 week check with his surgeon post RALP at the end of March. His prostrate was successfully removed, Gleason 3+ 4 and he doesn’t need any other treatment. Which is a relief. 
He has been prescribed low dose tadalafil to be taken daily to help with erections. He is currently feeling uncomfortable muscle aches in his legs after starting on the tablets. Is this a normal side effect? How do people manage with the pains?

I also wondered if anyone has a recommendation for a pump. The consultant was meant to give us a name of a recommended one in his letter but obviously forgot!

Many thanks to you all for your words of wisdom.

Fernie

User
Posted 23 May 2025 at 16:45

I don't like using tadalafil, but not because of pain, but because I end up massively hot and flushed.

As far as pumps, I think the best one is the Primus Med, which is battery operated. I tried one that was using a hand pump and found it a real faff, whereas the battery pumps are really easy to use. 

User
Posted 23 May 2025 at 17:51

Muscle pain is a potential side effect of Tadalafil, although not that common.

The low dose is more about improving blood flow to help with healing nerves and protecting penile tissue in the absence of regular erections. There is a 2.5mg dose for the case where 5mg generates unacceptable side effects. Unless you're very lucky, you'll need something more powerful than the 5mg Tadalafil to achieve erections at this point in any case.

There isn't another option for continuous dose healing, because all the other PDE5 inhibitors are too short lasting to be able to achieve continuous dosing. You could ask to try Sildenafil (Viagra) for erections, but it doesn't have any equivalent of the daily low dose Tadalafil, just the event doses which you'd be lucky to get twice a week. Sildenafil doesn't normally cause muscle pain.

Edited by member 23 May 2025 at 17:52  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 23 May 2025 at 18:11

I'm 6 weeks post RARP

Had a weird response to Tadadafil - it literally stopped my bowel and left me with chronic constipation which had to be relived with large doses of Movicol. Unfortunately I didn't connect starting it with the constipation 4 days later and it was only on a routine call to the urology nurse on the day my 7-day course ended that the connection was made! 

With regard to pumps I opted for https://www.lovehoney.co.uk/sex-toys/male-sex-toys/penis-pumps/p/tracey-cox-edge-ultimate-performance-stamina-penis-pump-8-inch/a28656g46571.html which works well and costs £40. I've just started with viagra every other day as an alternative to Tadadafil so we'll see what occurs!

Good luck to you both on the journey.

Cheers, Adam

User
Posted 03 Dec 2025 at 10:57

Hi Fernie,

speaking as a guy who also takes Cialis (tadalafil) daily, I can say that leg and lower-back muscle aches are actually one of the more common side effects, especially in the first couple of weeks. I had a bit of that too when I first started, mostly a dull soreness in my thighs. For me it settled down on its own once my body adjusted, and now everything works really well with no major issues. Some people manage the aches with light stretching, staying well-hydrated, or taking the dose in the evening so they sleep through the worst of it. But if the pain is strong or doesn’t improve after a couple of weeks, it’s worth checking back with the doctor to adjust the dose.

As for pumps, a simple, good-quality vacuum erection device is usually enough - something medically approved rather than the cheap online versions. Many men after RALP use them to support recovery and improve blood flow. A urologist or specialist nurse can give you a proper brand name and size recommendation, because the right fit matters more than anything else.

Hope your husband continues to recover smoothly, you’re both doing everything right so far!

User
Posted 03 Dec 2025 at 11:16
Gave me eye issues too - no jokes about making you blind!
 
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