Adcirca Uses

Adcirca (tadalafil) is used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), also called pulmonary hypertension. This is a condition in which there is high blood pressure in the main artery (pulmonary artery) that carries blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs. Taking Adcirca helps to improve the ability to exercise by improving PAH symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness, and fatigue.

There may be other uses of Adcirca (tadalafil). For example, the generic drug tadalafil is also available under the brand name Cialis, which is used to treat erectile dysfunction in men (the inability to get or keep an erection). In addition, tadalafil may be prescribed to treat symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is a non-cancerous enlarged prostate gland in men. Your doctor or pharmacist can give you further drug information.

Adcirca Mechanism of Action

In people with pulmonary hypertension, the blood vessels in the lungs are resistant to blood flow. This causes the heart to work harder to pump blood into the lungs. Adcirca (tadalafil) blocks the action of an enzyme called phosphodiesterase-5 or PDE5. This prevents a substance called cyclic guanosine monophosphate from being broken down. This, in turn, helps to relax blood vessels in the lungs and increase blood flow to the lungs, thereby reducing the workload of the heart and improving PAH symptoms.

Adcirca Doses

Adcirca comes as a 20 mg tablet. It is also available as a 20 mg/5 mL liquid suspension (brand name Tadliq). The recommended dose of Adcirca (tadalafil) to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension is 40 mg (two 20-mg tablets or 10 mL of the suspension) once daily by mouth, taken with or without food. Dividing the dose is not recommended.