What is Cialis?
Known generically as tadalafil, Cialis is a prescription drug indicated for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and BPH with erectile dysfunction. It was approved by the FDA in February of 2003 as a first-line treatment for these disorders, making it the third Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor to be marketed worldwide, next to Pfizer’s Viagra and Bayer’s Levitra. While it is generally well tolerated by most men, commonly reported side effects include headache, indigestion, flushing, and stuffy nose. Self-limiting muscle pain (myalgia), back pain, and abnormal vision have also been reported with Tadalafil use.
How Does it Work?
Cialis works by inhibiting PDE5, an enzyme that specifically degrades cyclic guanosine monophosphate, or cGMP. The process of erection is governed by cGMP activity, which relaxes the smooth muscle cells to increase blood supply to the penile erectile tissues.
During sexua ...
Voltaren gel (generic name: diclofenac gel 1%) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is used to treat joint pain caused by osteoarthritis (OA) of the hands, wrists, elbows, knees, ankles, or feet. It is the first prescription topical gel approved to treat joint pain secondary to OA.
FDA Approval and Indications
Novartis was granted regulatory approval by the US Food and Drug Administration for Voltaren gel—the first topical treatment that patients can apply directly to their skin to relieve pain associated with osteoarthritis. As per FDA guidelines, it is only approved for “relief of the pain of osteoarthritis of joints amenable to topical treatment.” That statement elucidates that Voltaren gel may not work in areas covered with thick muscle, but that does not stop physicians from prescribing the drug to be used in areas other than the approved indications. Though it’s not illegal to use a drug off-label, medical providers should discus ...
