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Head and body aches while taking Cialis??

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Posted 1/29/2011 12:45 AM (GMT 0)

Due to Prostate cancer I had my prostate removed (7 weeks ago). My Doctor told me to take Cialis twice weekly (20mg tablets on Tuesday and Friday) to try to get erectile function again.

On Tuesday I took the tablet at around 5pm after I got home from work. Tuesday evening I had a headache but didn’t think much of it. I also had a headache when I woke up Wednesday morning.  

Wednesday night I had a rough night. I had body aches and couldn’t sleep. The kind of aches you have if you have been in bed too long. The same thing happened Thursday night; but not as bad.

The body aches were not normal for me and I wondered if they were from the Cialis; but wasn’t sure.

I took my Friday dose at about 1PM. By 5PM my body and leg aches were pretty bad. I tried to lie down for a while, but the pain was too bad. It wasn’t as bad if I walked around. I was thinking I may need to go to the hospital. I took a couple of Ibuprofen and they seemed to help. It’s now 6:30 and the aches have subsided. I don’t know what it will be like to try to sleep tonight.

Anyway my question is this…. Will the aches and pains go away? The Cialis web site says they will go away within a couple of days, but does that mean after each tablet?  I spent $100 on 8 Cialis tablets plus the free samples the doctor gave me. Or should I just contact the Doctor and get something else.

Thanks.

 

Posted 1/29/2011 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome aboard Dave. Saturday Night Life had a great parody about ED meds and the side effects. I split Cialis and still get a slight headache. But you might ask your Dr for samples of Viagra and the other one, the name escpaes me. You might respond better to one versus the other. Others will give you some feedback on their experiences as well. It's a journey!

Michael

Posted 1/29/2011 1:59 AM (GMT 0)

Welcome to the forum Dave,

I had side effects with Lavitra. It made me feel very flush and everything was much brighter than usual.  It was as if someone had replaced all the light bulbs with 200 watt bulbs. It also gave me a serious headache. On top of that, it didn’t do anything for the ED. I only used it one time, but that was enough for me. I have taken Cialis and Viagra with no side effects. Of course, they didn’t work either. Trimix has been the only thing I have had success with.

Lynn

Posted 1/29/2011 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
Dave,

Welcome to HW.

I take 5mg of Cialis daily (I cut the 20's with a pill cutter, and take a quarter a day). Yes, there is a mild lower back pain that goes with it for me. Also a little stuffiness, but I'm usually on antihistamines for other issues, so they balance out.

Overall body aches may also have to do with getting over the surgery in general. I was not up to much at all in the way of physical activity for a couple of months. Getting my exercise up a little helped.

But has the ache gone away? Not really, but it is minimal for me. I did have to stop the Cialis during my RT, as what is uncomfortable normally was a problem when I had to be absolutely immobile for 10 minutes.

I have not tried the other options. My uro/surgeon perfers Cialis and Levitra (I have a couple of samples of Levitra to try). Viagra is the other option.

I'm really just taking this for blood flow - in theory, since they took the nerves, I'll not have any grand results, but I'll keep a bit of hope in reserve.

Posted 1/29/2011 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
Headaches and muscle pain is a known Cialis side effect. I have not had headaches, but do experience some muscle pain. Tylenol seems to work, but I usually just ignore the leg aches. Not too difficult since I also have can't always tell if it's Cialis or arthritis. I take 10mg twice a week and only experience the aches for a day or two.
Posted 1/29/2011 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
Out of surgery for 6 weeks, took first Cialis Wednesday night. Had flushing that night, then slight headache, then have had back and upper leg aches since, and today is Saturday. Tylenol seems to help, but have to take it every 5 hours to sleep. For me, it is very uncomfortable, like a mild case of the flu. I, too, wander if it will subside with time as I have 6 more $25 pills to take.
Posted 1/29/2011 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
Try the other pills, each one affects people differently. For me:

Viagra, bad flush (better after using for a while) and stuffy nose, headache 50% of the time.

Cialis, little desired effect moderate stuffy nose, mild headache, mild flush, guaranteed headache.

Lavitra, best result with least side effects, mild stuffy nose, rare headache, minimal flush.

Keep trying and find which one works best with your body chemistry IMO.


With all meds the side effects have lessened with time, the first time I took a 100mg Viagra my wife asked me if I was OK, I was red as a beet, sweating and sounded like I had a terminal cold, very sexy ;-) Last time all I had was fun and a mild sniffles.

Dave in Durango CO
Posted 1/29/2011 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
My husband takes half a 20mg twice a week. In the beginning he complained of headaches and backaches, but says that they have improved a lot. He's been on it for 4 months now and says the only real problem is that he doesn't get a great night sleep when he takes it. He has no ed-don't know whether it's the cialis or not, but the doctor says he should take it 1 year for rehab.

Renee
Posted 1/30/2011 7:42 PM (GMT 0)
It's 4 days after initial 20 mg of Cialis, and I have had the worse backache yet; only 2 hours sleep last night. How long will this backache last?
Posted 4/8/2013 9:01 PM (GMT 0)
I am 68 and my Dr suggested Cialis as after being on Hytrin for 8-10 years (I actually forget how long I had been on it) I was getting up 2-3 times a night. He did mention the "stuffy nose" bit but not much else. He started me on 5mg every day, by the 5th day it was like have a Charlie Horse in both legs, at the same time, all day long, at night it kept me tossing and turning, 3-4 Tylenol seemed to help, but not much...on my own I decided to drop back to 5mg every other day, and bingo no leg cramps, yet the stream still seemed improved, still get up at least once at night. I will go back to him, in a month or so and see what he says officially to do. Oh, I forgot the other side effect, not complaining at all about that...now I wich I could just get my wife to see things my way! MAC 
Posted 4/8/2013 9:20 PM (GMT 0)
I had a stuffy nose the first few times I took it, but I seemed to get used to it and now if and when I take it I feel fine.  Has anyone had the "four hour wood" yet?  All I know is if I ever get that side effect I'm calling my wife first yeah .
Posted 4/8/2013 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
I just started Cialis 5 mg a day last Friday. No side effects I can tell. However, I also started taking Toviaz Friday as well for incontinence. Don't know if it is the Toviaz or the Cialis but I have had the absolute worst spasms in my rectum...of all places. Maybe the wrong part of my anatomy is trying to come to life! LOL!
Posted 4/9/2013 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
harold had cold symptoms for a while as well. annoying but tolerable but he only takes 5mg.
Posted 4/9/2013 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
yeah, like growing pains until I got used to it. While rehabing right after surgery I always thought those side effects well well worth it (Not Viagra which had me seeing neon).

The side effects wore off as I started taking it regularly. Then when I stopped and only took them rarely for added fun I got the side effects all over again.

Now 27 months out and fully recovered those side effects are such a drag that i'll go weeks without taking a pill.
Posted 12/20/2016 10:43 PM (GMT 0)
While late to this topic, I was taking 5mg daily and after five days got such excruciating pain in my lower back and legs I was unable to sleep. I discontinued the poison and the pain was less bad last night; able to sleep about half the night. Hoping it will clear my system within 2-3 days. To add insult to the injury, I wasn't getting any erectile response either.

It's back to the old reliable vacuum pump. Works great and I can sleep afterward.
Posted 12/20/2016 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
Packardv8, those pills are more magic than poison. Try taking an ibuprofen at the same time ias the magic pill and see if that helps. I did that for about my first 10 pills then the ibuprofen wasn't needed because my body adjusted.
Posted 12/21/2016 5:02 AM (GMT 0)
Packardv8 appears to be the latest victim of Post New Topic / Post Reply confusion. I'm fairly sure he meant a recent post to be a comment on this thread. I've copied this here where he probably meant it to be.

In a stray comment, Packardv8 said...

Another old topic revived, but reading it reinforced everyone is different;

1. As mentioned, urologists are near into malpractice for not being better educated, informed and not giving better counseling on this very important recovery process.

2. For me, Cialis didn't produce erections, but did produce excruciating muscle aches.

3. However, the vacuum pump produced an erection on the first try and became my new best friend.

4.. Definitely get an electric model pump and use it regularly, even when intercourse is not going to occur. (See #5)

5. Back to uro-malpractice, after surgery, there is usually significant penile shrinkage caused by the shortening of the urethra. For those with nerve damage, natural erections may never occur, so "watchful waiting; it may take a year." is criminally bad advice. Without regular erections immediately following surgery, pretty soon penile shrinkage becomes permanent; there's nothing left down there to work with, whether trying drugs or pump.

6. Using the pump, there will be some initial pain when first achieving full erection. Play through the pain and you'll be back in the saddle.

7. For me, maintaining a full solid erection during vigorous intercourse required using two of the bands supplied with the pump. I put the medium on the barrel first, then the large. When full erection is achieved, they are rolled off the barrel onto the base of the penis and good to go.

8. Shaving wasn't necessary for me to achieve the required seal. A modicum of personal lubricant always sealed sufficiently to produce the required vacuum.

9. Your results may vary, but the pump is for me a much preferable alternative to Cialis/Viagra/Levitra/injections; they all had impossible-to-tolerate side effects.

jack
Posted 12/21/2016 12:06 PM (GMT 0)
The ED meds are to increase the amount of nitric oxide in your bloodstream. This relaxes your blood vessels and lowers your blood pressure. That allows your muscles to charge up with blood easier, including the tissues in your little best friend.

The Charlie Horse feelings are from your muscles being overcharged with blood. I got that side effect from daily Cialis, but it faded away after about 6 months. Since I am very active anyways, it felt like I had just worked out a bit harder than usual.

The VED pump is more of an exercise for the specific tissues involved in getting an erection and as a sex aide for those of us who can no longer get it up due to various factors - like having all of your erectile nerves removed along with that pesky prostate cancer. sad
Posted 12/21/2016 11:46 PM (GMT 0)

fightUC said...
I highly recommend you use magnesium citrate by Solgar on Amazon.com and their mutilvitamin and minerals, vitamin D 5K IU per day everyday for the rest of your remaining life...


A Solgar distributor?

Click on this guy's name to see his last 5 posts...identical wording on 5 different HW forums. I guess this is the latest snake-oil-alternative-to-a sip-of-whiskey that cures whatever ails you! hahaha
Posted 12/22/2016 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
Dave56,
I use Cialis (10 mg), Viagra (50 mg), Stendra (50 mg)... (Not at the same time). Each has their pros and cons. I seem to have fewer side effects from Cialis. I only take it about once a week.

For the first year after my surgery, none of the meds seemed to do much for me. I used a vacuum pump to just to keep blood flowing into the penis on a regular basis. I continued to see erection improvement over time and now the pills do work for me now. The reason for multiples is that my insurance only covers 3 pills a month for ED prescriptions. However, with 3 prescriptions I can get 3 Cialis, 3 Viagra and 3 Stendra. I get the largest mg as possible and cut them to get more doses... Cialis and Viagra get cut in half and Stendra gets cut in fourths...

Anyway to you questions, as many have responded, each person is different. The Viagra gives me headaches and neck pain whereas I have minimal side effects to Cialis.

Try the various medications to see which one(s) you tolerate better. Be direct and open with your doctor.

Good Luck.
Posted 12/22/2016 6:54 AM (GMT 0)
I had used Cialis for quite some time. Got stuffy feeling but no headache. Just switched to Viagra. Split 100mg pill. What a difference. No side effects and fantastic erections, way better and harder than Cialis. Take the pill, and by the time I am out of the shower and in bed with my wife I am good to go. Cialis was slower to react.
Posted 12/22/2016 12:19 PM (GMT 0)
Had the same issues with 20mg or 10mg Cialis taken as needed. Doc recommended I stop for a week and then "titrate on" using 2.5mg/day for a week, then 5mg daily. Worked for me, got the results with no SE's and still take it to this day ~2 years past surgery.

Everybody is different, experimenting is the best way to find out what works for you. Ohh, and don't pay $25 per pill, there are other alternatives but we can't discuss them here. Email me or one of the other members and we can point you in the right (cheaper) direction.

Jon
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