Short answer: The Cialis label has two ways to take it for ED: as needed, starting at 10 mg before sexual activity (5 mg to 20 mg, at most once per day in most patients), or once daily, starting at 2.5 mg and up to 5 mg. For BPH, and for ED with BPH, the dose is 5 mg once daily. Lower limits apply with kidney or liver impairment and some medicines.
This is what the FDA label says. Follow your prescriber. Your prescriber may use a different dose or pace than the label's standard schedule.
What Cialis is approved for: Cialis is approved to treat erectile dysfunction (ED), the signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and ED with BPH together. When started with finasteride for BPH, use is recommended for up to 26 weeks (section 1).
Source
CIALIS (tadalafil) tablets, prescribing information and Patient Information. Eli Lilly. DailyMed, version published June 10, 2026. DailyMed setid bcd8f8ab-81a2-4891-83db-24a0b0e25895
Cialis is a tablet taken by mouth, with or without food (section 2.5). The label says not to split tablets; the entire dose should be taken (section 2). It comes in 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg tablets (section 3).
For use as needed, one tablet is taken at least 30 minutes before anticipated sexual activity, and in most patients the ability to have intercourse is improved for up to 36 hours (section 17.11).
For once daily use, one tablet is taken at about the same time every day; for ED and ED with BPH, without regard to the timing of sexual activity (sections 2.2 to 2.4).
The table below is the label's schedule, from the Dosage and Administration section. Numbers are copied exactly; the section is in brackets.
| Use | Starting dose | Dose changes the label allows | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| As needed for ED | 10 mg, taken prior to anticipated sexual activity | May be increased to 20 mg or decreased to 5 mg, based on efficacy and tolerability | Maximum recommended frequency is once per day in most patients |
| Once daily for ED | 2.5 mg | May be increased to 5 mg, based on efficacy and tolerability | Once daily at about the same time, without regard to timing of sexual activity |
| Once daily for BPH | 5 mg | None given; when started with finasteride, 5 mg for up to 26 weeks | Once daily at about the same time |
| Once daily for ED and BPH | 5 mg | None given | Once daily at about the same time, without regard to timing of sexual activity |
| Situation | Cialis for use as needed | Cialis for once daily use |
|---|---|---|
| Creatinine clearance 30 to 50 mL/min | Start 5 mg not more than once per day; maximum 10 mg not more than once in every 48 hours | BPH and ED/BPH: start 2.5 mg; an increase to 5 mg may be considered based on individual response |
| Creatinine clearance less than 30 mL/min or on hemodialysis | Maximum 5 mg not more than once in every 72 hours | Not recommended |
| Mild or moderate liver impairment (Child Pugh A or B) | Dose should not exceed 10 mg once per day | Not extensively evaluated; caution is advised |
| Severe liver impairment (Child Pugh C) | Not recommended | Not recommended |
| Potent CYP3A4 inhibitors (such as ketoconazole or ritonavir) | Maximum 10 mg, not to exceed once every 72 hours | Maximum 2.5 mg |
| Alpha-blockers, treating ED | Be stable on the alpha-blocker first; start Cialis at the lowest recommended dose | Be stable on the alpha-blocker first; start Cialis at the lowest recommended dose |
| Alpha-blockers, treating BPH | Not recommended in combination for BPH | Not recommended in combination for BPH |
| Nitrates in any form | Contraindicated | Contraindicated |
As needed for ED, the starting dose in most patients is 10 mg before anticipated sexual activity. It may go up to 20 mg or down to 5 mg, and the maximum recommended frequency is once per day in most patients. Cialis as needed improved erectile function compared with placebo for up to 36 hours after dosing.
Once daily for ED, the starting dose is 2.5 mg at about the same time every day, and it may be increased to 5 mg based on efficacy and tolerability.
For BPH the dose is 5 mg once daily. When BPH treatment is started with Cialis and finasteride together, the dose is 5 mg once daily for up to 26 weeks; the label says the added benefit of Cialis decreases from 4 weeks to 26 weeks and is unknown beyond 26 weeks (section 1.4).
With kidney impairment, as-needed use at creatinine clearance 30 to 50 mL/min starts at 5 mg not more than once per day with a maximum of 10 mg not more than once in every 48 hours. Below 30 mL/min or on hemodialysis, the maximum is 5 mg not more than once in every 72 hours, and once daily use is not recommended.
With mild or moderate liver impairment, the as-needed dose should not exceed 10 mg once per day, and caution is advised with once daily use. Cialis is not recommended in severe liver impairment.
With potent CYP3A4 inhibitors such as ketoconazole or ritonavir, the maximum as-needed dose is 10 mg, not to exceed once every 72 hours, and the maximum once daily dose is 2.5 mg.
Men taking an alpha-blocker for BPH stop it at least one day before starting Cialis once daily for BPH.
Cialis tablets are not split; the entire dose should be taken.
For once daily use for BPH, the Patient Information says: if you miss a dose, you may take it when you remember, but do not take more than one dose per day. The prescribing information gives no separate missed-dose rule for the other uses.
More on this: missed a dose of Cialis.
Cialis is also marketed as ADCIRCA. The label says not to take Cialis with other PDE5 inhibitors, including ADCIRCA; the Patient Information adds not to take sildenafil citrate (Revatio) with Cialis.
In Dose Track you set up Cialis as a protocol with the dose and schedule your prescriber gave you. A protocol can hold dose steps, each with its own dose and length in days or weeks, so a step-up plan like the one on the label can be entered once and the app moves to the next step on its own. Reminders follow the schedule, and every dose is logged with the date and time, so you can see which step you are on and when your last dose was. The app follows what you enter; it does not choose or change a dose.
This page is what the FDA label says, in plain words. It is not medical advice. Follow your prescriber, and ask them or your pharmacist about anything here.