Exploring the Effects of Tadalafil on Athletic Performance
You may know tadalafil by the brand names Cialis or Adcirca. It's commonly taken to treat erectile dysfunction, but is also used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate) and high blood pressure in the lungs (known as pulmonary arterial hypertension).
Tadalafil is a type of phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor (PDE5i), which means it works by blocking an enzyme in the body called phosphodiesterase 5. By blocking this enzyme, tadalafil helps to relax the muscles in the blood vessel walls. This opens up the blood vessels and improves blood flow.
Relaxing the smooth muscle in the blood vessels (and other places) helps improve the symptoms of various conditions. Increasing blood flow to the penis improves the symptoms of erectile dysfunction. Opening up the blood vessels in the lungs reduces high blood pressure. Finally, relaxing smooth muscle in the prostate and bladder helps to improve the symptoms of BPH.
The beneficial effects of tadalafil can also extend to other areas of the body, and tadalafil is sometimes used alongside nutritional supplements to improve exercise performance.
Tadalafil in the Context of Athletic Performance
Some people decide to take tadalafil as a pre-workout supplement to enhance their athletic performance, despite the fact that it is not licensed for this use. They feel it can improve their muscle growth and/or their performance during workouts and sports.
Let's find out more about the impact tadalafil has on the body, and whether it actually has performance enhancing effects.
How Tadalafil Influences Blood Flow and Muscle Function
To understand how tadalafil may improve exercise performance, we need to talk about one way that the body controls blood flow.
Nitric oxide is a molecule that's released by the body to relax the blood vessels, allowing more blood to flow through. This can be helpful, as increased blood flow means more nutrients and oxygen are delivered to the tissues in your body.
But how does nitric oxide cause the blood vessels to relax? This is achieved by the release of a chemical called cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). High levels of cGMP lead to blood vessel relaxation through a series of complicated steps that we won't explore right now.
Taking tadalafil blocks an enzyme called PDE5 that breaks down cGMP. By keeping cGMP levels higher for longer, tadalafil helps maintain good blood flow within the penis, lungs, prostate, and even your muscles. This can improve disease symptoms, but may improve nutrient and oxygen delivery to the muscles, delaying fatigue and resulting in better athletic performance.
The Role of Tadalafil as a Pre-Workout
Tadalafil is gaining popularity as a pre-workout supplement. Users feel that tadalafil gives them more energy and stamina to work out, especially when coming off of a steroid cycle. Let's review the evidence behind these claims.
Research Findings on Tadalafil and Athletic Performance
A review article in the Current Sports Medicine Reports journal investigated the impact that tadalafil (and other PDE5 inhibitors) can have on athletes' bodies. They found that these drugs can improve sports performance. Improvements were greater when athletes were hypoxic (low on oxygen), such as during running, cycling, rowing, and endurance events.
Interestingly, another study in the International Journal of Sports Medicine found that tadalafil does not improve exercise tolerance and other fitness-related parameters. However, this was a small study that involved 14 young, male, healthy athletes with normal oxygen levels. These findings might not apply to all groups of people or types of exercise, as this study only involved static cycling.
An article in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that, while tadalafil didn't significantly improve most anaerobic performance indices (such as fatigue index and total power), it did decrease the time to peak power. This could suggest that taking tadalafil may be more useful for sports that require a quick burst of maximum strength.
We know tadalafil can target the cardiovascular system, but it may also impact other exercise-related body systems. Several studies have found that tadalafil use can increase the amount of various hormones, including testosterone levels. As increased testosterone can increase muscle mass and power, this may be another way that tadalafil can positively impact exercise performance.
Finally, there's some evidence that PDE5i's like tadalafil can change how muscle cells use energy and improve how effectively they use glucose. However, this study involved mice rather than humans so should be interpreted with caution.
Considering all the evidence, it seems likely that tadalafil can impact exercise performance in a positive way. The effects of this drug are likely to vary between individuals and for different types of exercise. It's also important to note that most studies have been completed in men (or animals). There's limited data on PDE5i use in women.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
Despite not being banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), tadalafil and other phosphodiesterase inhibitors may give athletes a competitive advantage over other athletes. As it's not banned by WADA, tadalafil is not tested for during routine drug tests. This means athletes won't get disqualified from competitions for taking tadalafil.
Although it's technically not illegal to use tadalafil in this way, there's some disagreement as to whether using a performance-enhancing drug is ethically wrong, even if it is legal.
Potential Risks and Adverse Effects
Tadalafil is licensed to treat an enlarged prostate, high blood pressure in the lungs, and erectile dysfunction, but not as an exercise-enhancing supplement. This means taking tadalafil to improve your exercise performance is off-license, and most healthcare professionals won't prescribe it for this purpose.
Whilst a high dose of tadalafil requires a prescription, the product Cialis together is available over the counter from a pharmacy. This medication contains 10mg of tadalafil and is available after a discussion with a pharmacist.
Side Effects
Tadalafil may cause side effects, especially if taken with other medications or without first seeking medical advice.
Common side effects include:
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Flushing
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Stomach pain or discomfort
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Headaches
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Muscle pain
More serious side effects are rarer, but include things like heart palpitations, chest pain, eye problems, nausea/vomiting, dizziness, and skin reactions. If you experience these symptoms, make sure to discuss them with your health provider.
Rarely, tadalafil can cause seizures, severe skin reactions, heart attacks, or an erection that won't go down. In these cases, seek medical attention immediately.
Risks
Tadalafil should not be taken with a long list of medications (unless you're explicitly told otherwise by a doctor), including:
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Alfuzosin, doxazosin, prazosin, or terazosin
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Chemotherapy drugs and anti-cancer agents
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Some antifungal medications like fluconazole
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Certain antibiotics like clarithromycin
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Some anti-seizure medications like carbamazepine
Many medicines to reduce your blood pressure may increase the chance of side effects if taken with tadalafil.
If you've had a recent heart attack or stroke, this medication is unlikely to be suitable for you. People with uncontrolled low or high blood pressure, an eye condition called non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy, unstable angina, or an uncontrolled heart arrhythmia also probably can't take tadalafil.
You should discuss your medical history and medications with a healthcare professional before taking any medication.
Consulting Healthcare Professionals
Everyone should discuss their medical history with a healthcare professional before taking tadalafil, including people who choose to buy it over the counter. There are various medications and health conditions that may make tadalafil unsafe for you.
Without all the information, a healthcare professional can't advise you whether tadalafil is safe for you to take (for any reason), so it's important to be truthful.
Start a ConsultationConclusion
Tadalafil can seem like an appealing pre-workout supplement, especially when there are several studies that suggest it can improve sports performance. Despite these benefits, tadalafil is not licensed for use in athletic contexts.
If you do decide to take tadalafil for this reason, make sure to discuss your health with a medical professional first.
FAQs
Does tadalafil actually improve athletic performance?
Several studies suggest that tadalafil may improve sports performance, especially in low-oxygen conditions and for sports that require rapid bursts of maximum strength. However, other studies have found no performance benefits from taking the drug.
As this medication is not licensed for use as a sports supplement, it's important to consider carefully whether you want to take it and be aware of the possible side effects. Make sure to discuss your medical history with a healthcare professional before taking tadalafil.
Does tadalafil boost testosterone levels?
Yes, research suggests that tadalafil and other phosphodiesterase inhibitors can increase testosterone levels in healthy men. This may be one of the reasons that tadalafil is effective at treating erectile dysfunction.
Is it safe to use tadalafil as a pre-workout supplement?
Using tadalafil as a pre-workout supplement is an off-label use. This means that the drug has been tested in animals and humans for several rounds and has been deemed safe to take under certain conditions. However, tadalafil has been tested as a treatment for medical conditions like erectile dysfunction, not for sport performance.
If you decide to take tadalafil as a sports supplement, make sure to consult a healthcare professional first and be aware of the possible side effects.
Can tadalafil be legally used for sports performance?
Tadalafil is not banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency and will not lead to disqualification from any sporting events if it is identified during drug testing. The medication is available over the counter to treat erectile dysfunction, but is not licensed as a performance-enhancing drug.
What are the main health risks of using tadalafil without medical supervision?
Whilst serious side effects are uncommon, tadalafil can lead to serious heart problems, very low blood pressure, dizziness, skin conditions, and stomach issues. Without medical advice, you may not realise that symptoms are related to taking the medication or when to seek medical attention.
Without medical supervision, you may not know that tadalafil is unsafe to take with your current medications or medical condition. For these reasons, you should discuss your medical history with a health professional before taking tadalafil.