Does Cialis Expire? Know about its shelf life

Does Cialis Expire? Know about its shelf life
Alex Perry Published : Feb 04, 2024 Last Updated : Feb 29, 2024

Cialis is one of the most popular drugs among medications used to treat erectile dysfunction(Ed). It contains Tadalafil as its active ingredient, which lasts longer than any other compound of Ed drugs.

On average, a single dose of Tadalafil can help prevent erectile dysfunction for 36 hours. While other ED drugs like Sildenafil and Avanafil may show their effects for up to 4 to 6 hours. With such long-lasting results, it boosts your erectile function and provides you with overall sexual satisfaction with your performance.

If you want an answer to a question like Does Cialis expire, here is the answer. Like any other medicine, Cialis(Tadalafil) can also expire over time. In this article, we gathered information like how long Cialis expires and how to store Cialis and other Ed drugs. 

What Is Cialis?

Cialis is a prescription-based drug you can start taking if a healthcare provider finds it helpful. It helps to treat and prevent the effects of Erectile dysfunction in men of all ages and those who engage in sexual activities. 

Tadalafil is an active ingredient of Cialis and is available in different dosages. You need to take a Cialis tablet half an hour before you have sex. 

Like any other Erectile dysfunction medication, Tadalafil also belongs to a class of PDE5 inhibitors. It improves blood circulation or blood flow in vessels around the penis. Tadalafil does it by relaxing these blood vessels and inhibiting the PDE5 enzyme in our body. And when a man is sexually excited, the blood flow rushes into these blood vessels and makes it easier to help the penis get erect.

To trigger an erection, you need sexual stimulation on your own after you take Cialis or any other Ed drug. Cialis and other popular medications like Viagra(Sildenafil), Levitra(Vardenafil), and Stendra(Avanafil) also work in the same way. However, each Drug has its effectiveness, action, and response levels.

Because Cialis and other Ed medications mainly come in oral tablets, they are convenient to use before sex. Once it kicks in, it allows multiple erections depending on your sexual urge. To use this Ed drug, it would be best to start taking it under professional medical advice.

How Long Does Cialis Take to Expire?

Cialis usually expires and may take two years after its manufacturing to pass. It has a similar expiry time as any other widely used erectile dysfunction (Ed) medication. 

According to the FDA, all its approved medications, including prescription or nonprescription medicine, should have an expiration date printed on their packaging. 

So, it's easy for anyone to know the expiration of their Cialis tablets by checking the medication's label. It might be short-denoted with the letter "EXP" or something similar on the pack.

And, in case you find Cialis or any other medications that have been left in its pack unused for several months, then check the expiration date before you use it. 

How can I determine drug expiration dates?

To identify the expiration period of a medication, you can evaluate it by stability testing using good manufacturing practices under FEMA standards. For example, Drug manufactured within the USA generally has a shelf life of 12 to 60 months from their manufacturers. However, after the opening of the original container by a patient or a physician when dispensing the medication, you can't follow the original expiration date given on the container. Thus, it can take longer to store than to stabilize, according to studies. So, in these cases, the date for the usage will be given by the customer's prescription at a pharmacy.

Why not use an Expired Cialis 

We take Cialis to improve our sexual activity even after being affected by Erectile dysfunction (Ed). It helps us to maintain a highly active sex life; however, using an expired medication ruins these expectations. Also, the FDA warns against the use of expired over-the-counter or prescription drugs for several reasons-

 Medications can be less effective after expiring- 

Over time, the chemical composition of the medication may break down, and they become less effective. Expired medicines may work with a different efficiency than they used to do before expiring. 

 Some expired medications can be risky-

Use of some medications can be unsafe to use after they expire. They may have the potential to cause side effects and other unwanted responses. The common side effects that can appear due to Cialis include-

  • Headache

  • Back pain

  • Indigestion

  • Nasal congestion

  • Muscle pain

  • Flushing

  • Chest pain

  • Body aches

If you experience any side effects after the expired Cialis, immediately consult your healthcare provider. Seek medical help if the symptoms persist or turn severe. 

What If I Take Expired Tadalafil (Cialis)?

Engaging in regular sexual activities is vital for maintaining a satisfying sexual life. Also, you may have heard that you can take Cialis without an active prescription. But, the FDA has warned against using it without a prescription. Also, the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) suggests not to use expired prescription medications as they might not work as well. Over time, these medications release certain chemicals that can reduce their effectiveness or even increase harm. So, you may notice that using an expired medication might not give you the same results. Also, expired drugs can be risky as they expire they are not to be safe to use. And, when you do it with expired Cialis, then you are more at risk of facing side effects that it may contain. Thus, using an expired Cialis and always checking for the expiration date will not be a good idea.

How to Store Cialis Properly

It is essential to store Cialis properly to maintain its shelf life. Stringing your medicine correctly will prevent it from breaking down and becoming less effective. It will also ensure that your treatment will work when you need it. 

 You can use the following ways to store Cialis and other prescription medications properly-

Store Cialis in a cool and dry atmosphere

The best place to store your Cialis tablet can be a bedside table or dresser drawer, in your closet, or other similar sites. These places will keep your medicine away from heat or water sources. But it would be best to avoid keeping your medication in an area with lots of natural light, heat, air, or moisture. Keeping medicines in such places can damage them and make them poor, crumbly tablets.

Keep Cialis out of reach of children and pets.

Cialis and other ED drugs are suitable for Children and are not even consumed by animals. If you live in a house with children, you must store Cialis and other medications out of their reach. You can keep your medicines in a separately locked combination or a medicine box.

Keep Cialis inside its original container.

Cialis comes in a strip that tightly seals every single tablet separately. You should avoid storing Cialis inside a pill organizer or any other dispenser; it is better to keep it packed in the packing strip. Take each tablet out when you need to take it, rest inside the strip, and keep them in a cool and dry area.

How to Dispose of Expired Cialis

If you find expired Cialis or any other Ed medication at your home, it would be best to dispose of them safely. Otherwise, you may mistake consume them and mix them with your unexpired medications. 

Also, a thing to note is that Cialis is not on the FDA's first list, which means you have to dispose of it in the trash and avoid flushing it in the toilet. 

You can dispose of Cialis and other expired medications by taking them to a drug take-back location or drop-off box at local pharmacies. 

If you do not find a drug take-back location, you can mix your expired medicines with dust, cat litter, and coffee grounds. It will prevent people from accessing them. Store the mixture in a tight container and dispose of the container in your household trash as usual. 

Summary

Like other medications, Cialis, or its generic versions like Vidalista and Tadacip, which are erectile dysfunction, prescription can also expire. Always check the expiration date before buying or using a pack. 

Using expired Cialis can be less effective or risky as it may lead to the risk of side effects. So, it is better to avoid using expired Cialis or generic tadalafil tablets. Safely dispose of expired medicines, and do not flush them into water bodies. 

When you buy Cialis or any other Ed medications, store them properly to maintain their shelf life till they expire. To buy Generic Cialis, Generic Viagra, and other ED medications, you can visit a reputed and online trusted. You can also choose our online drugstore from India, and we offer genuine quality ED medications online at the best price.