TADALAFIL

78/100 · Elevated

Manufactured by United Therapeutics Corporation

Tadalafil Adverse Events: High Serious Reaction Rate, Primarily Respiratory and Gastrointestinal Issues

207,750 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About TADALAFIL

TADALAFIL is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by United Therapeutics Corporation. Based on analysis of 207,750 FDA adverse event reports, TADALAFIL has a safety score of 78 out of 100. This score indicates a relatively favorable safety profile, with fewer or less severe adverse events compared to many other tracked medications. The most commonly reported adverse reactions for TADALAFIL include DYSPNOEA, HEADACHE, DIARRHOEA, NAUSEA, DEATH. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for TADALAFIL.

AI Safety Analysis

Tadalafil has a safety concern score of 78 out of 100, placing it in the high concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 207,750 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by United Therapeutics Corporation.

The most commonly reported adverse events include Dyspnoea, Headache, Diarrhoea. Of classified reports, 62.7% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. The most common reactions are dyspnea, headache, and diarrhea, with a significant proportion of serious adverse events.

Respiratory and gastrointestinal issues are the leading causes of serious adverse events. Drug ineffectiveness and death are also reported, though less frequently.

Patients taking Tadalafil should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Tadalafil may interact with drugs that affect blood pressure, leading to hypotension. It is contraindicated with nitrates. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 78/100

Tadalafil received a safety concern score of 78/100 (high concern). This is based on a 62.7% serious event ratio across 96,530 classified reports. The score accounts for 207,750 total adverse event reports and 100 distinct reaction types. This high score reflects a significant proportion of serious adverse events in the reporting data.

Top Adverse Reactions

DYSPNOEA11,665 reports
HEADACHE10,690 reports
DIARRHOEA7,799 reports
NAUSEA6,498 reports
DEATH5,897 reports
FATIGUE5,836 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE5,433 reports
DIZZINESS5,176 reports
PNEUMONIA4,224 reports
COUGH4,198 reports
MALAISE3,722 reports
VOMITING3,433 reports
ASTHENIA3,306 reports
PAIN IN EXTREMITY3,297 reports
PAIN3,290 reports
FLUID RETENTION3,149 reports
OFF LABEL USE3,048 reports
HYPOTENSION2,971 reports
PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION2,841 reports
FLUSHING2,766 reports
CHEST PAIN2,642 reports
BACK PAIN2,603 reports
PAIN IN JAW2,367 reports
DYSPNOEA EXERTIONAL2,340 reports
NASAL CONGESTION2,258 reports
FALL2,223 reports
ARTHRALGIA2,215 reports
OEDEMA PERIPHERAL2,193 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED2,184 reports
PERIPHERAL SWELLING2,167 reports
OXYGEN SATURATION DECREASED2,116 reports
SYNCOPE2,105 reports
MYALGIA2,093 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED1,999 reports
NASOPHARYNGITIS1,986 reports
FEELING ABNORMAL1,964 reports
PYREXIA1,953 reports
DECREASED APPETITE1,768 reports
INFUSION SITE PAIN1,742 reports
PULMONARY HYPERTENSION1,707 reports
PALPITATIONS1,658 reports
HYPERTENSION1,655 reports
ANAEMIA1,643 reports
OEDEMA1,636 reports
WEIGHT INCREASED1,565 reports
INSOMNIA1,526 reports
HOSPITALISATION1,522 reports
CARDIAC FAILURE1,492 reports
ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT1,437 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN UPPER1,413 reports
RASH1,393 reports
ANXIETY1,377 reports
CHEST DISCOMFORT1,338 reports
VISION BLURRED1,316 reports
EPISTAXIS1,285 reports
MUSCLE SPASMS1,278 reports
ATRIAL FIBRILLATION1,206 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN1,165 reports
LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS1,164 reports
DEPRESSION1,110 reports
CONSTIPATION1,107 reports
DYSPEPSIA1,104 reports
HEART RATE INCREASED1,101 reports
DRUG DOSE OMISSION1,096 reports
RIGHT VENTRICULAR FAILURE1,085 reports
CARDIAC FAILURE CONGESTIVE1,082 reports
ABDOMINAL DISTENSION1,079 reports
CARDIAC DISORDER1,061 reports
PRURITUS1,060 reports
PRODUCT DOSE OMISSION ISSUE1,055 reports
UNEVALUABLE EVENT1,042 reports
INFUSION SITE ERYTHEMA1,020 reports
RENAL FAILURE1,010 reports
URINARY TRACT INFECTION995 reports
SWELLING992 reports
INFLUENZA988 reports
BLOOD PRESSURE DECREASED976 reports
DEHYDRATION963 reports
GASTROOESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE936 reports
FLUID OVERLOAD934 reports
HYPOXIA931 reports
COVID 19930 reports
DEVICE RELATED INFECTION895 reports
SOMNOLENCE892 reports
VISUAL IMPAIRMENT885 reports
HOT FLUSH877 reports
BLOOD CHOLESTEROL INCREASED868 reports
ERYTHEMA868 reports
PULMONARY OEDEMA864 reports
RESPIRATORY FAILURE855 reports
ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION846 reports
THERAPEUTIC RESPONSE DECREASED836 reports
SINUSITIS834 reports
GAIT DISTURBANCE826 reports
OROPHARYNGEAL PAIN825 reports
SEPSIS814 reports
WRONG TECHNIQUE IN PRODUCT USAGE PROCESS802 reports
HAEMOGLOBIN DECREASED797 reports
CHILLS788 reports
PRODUCTIVE COUGH788 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • High rate of serious adverse events (62.7%)
  • Common reactions include dyspnea and headache
  • Significant number of reports of pneumonia and pulmonary arterial hypertension

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Female: 48,955, Male: 43,692, Unknown: 52. The most frequently reported age groups are age 65 (1,820 reports), age 60 (1,802 reports), age 70 (1,738 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 96,530 classified reports for TADALAFIL:

  • Serious: 60,485 reports (62.7%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 36,045 reports (37.3%)
Serious 62.7%Non-Serious 37.3%

The FDA classifies an adverse event as “serious” if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or requires intervention to prevent permanent damage.

Demographics Breakdown

Reports by Sex

Female48,955 (52.8%)
Male43,692 (47.1%)
Unknown52 (0.1%)

Reports by Age

Age 651,820 reports
Age 601,802 reports
Age 701,738 reports
Age 661,686 reports
Age 641,656 reports
Age 671,609 reports
Age 631,578 reports
Age 711,576 reports
Age 691,573 reports
Age 621,565 reports
Age 591,552 reports
Age 551,529 reports
Age 681,519 reports
Age 611,515 reports
Age 721,515 reports
Age 571,504 reports
Age 581,460 reports
Age 731,434 reports
Age 751,418 reports
Age 561,375 reports

Demographics reflect voluntary FDA adverse event reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Tadalafil may interact with drugs that affect blood pressure, leading to hypotension. It is contraindicated with nitrates.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Tadalafil, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include dyspnoea, headache, diarrhoea, nausea, death. While many of these may be mild and temporary, you should contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms are severe or persistent. Monitor for respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms, especially in elderly patients. Follow prescribed dosing instructions and report any serious adverse events immediately. If you experience a serious adverse reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately or call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Regulatory Context

Regulatory oversight is ongoing, with a focus on monitoring serious respiratory and cardiovascular events.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Tadalafil?

The FDA has received approximately 207,750 adverse event reports associated with Tadalafil. These reports come from healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Note that the number of reports does not directly indicate the frequency of side effects, as adverse events are voluntarily reported and may be underrepresented.

What are the most commonly reported side effects of Tadalafil?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Tadalafil include Dyspnoea, Headache, Diarrhoea, Nausea, Death. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Dyspnoea (11,665 reports), Headache (10,690 reports), Diarrhoea (7,799 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Tadalafil.

What percentage of Tadalafil adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 96,530 classified reports, 60,485 (62.7%) were classified as serious and 36,045 as non-serious. The FDA classifies an event as "serious" if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, or other medically significant outcomes. A higher serious-event ratio warrants closer attention but does not necessarily mean the drug is unsafe.

Who reports adverse events for Tadalafil (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Tadalafil break down by patient sex as follows: Female: 48,955, Male: 43,692, Unknown: 52. This distribution reflects reporting patterns rather than actual risk differences between groups. Reporting rates can be influenced by prescribing patterns, disease demographics, and reporting behavior.

What age groups report the most side effects for Tadalafil?

The most frequently reported age groups for Tadalafil adverse events are: age 65: 1,820 reports, age 60: 1,802 reports, age 70: 1,738 reports, age 66: 1,686 reports, age 64: 1,656 reports. Age-related reporting patterns can reflect both the demographics of the patient population and potential age-related susceptibility to certain side effects.

Who manufactures Tadalafil?

The primary manufacturer associated with Tadalafil adverse event reports is United Therapeutics Corporation. Multiple manufacturers may produce generic versions of this drug. The manufacturer listed reflects the most frequently reported brand in FDA adverse event data.

What other side effects have been reported for Tadalafil?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Tadalafil include: Fatigue, Drug Ineffective, Dizziness, Pneumonia, Cough. Less common side effects can still be clinically significant. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider.

How do I report a side effect from Tadalafil?

You can report adverse events from Tadalafil to the FDA through their MedWatch program at www.fda.gov/medwatch, by calling 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing Form FDA 3500. Healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers can all submit reports. Reporting helps the FDA monitor drug safety after approval.

What is Tadalafil's safety score and what does it mean?

Tadalafil has a safety concern score of 78 out of 100 (high concern). This score is calculated from the ratio of serious to non-serious adverse events, the diversity of reported reactions, and the overall volume of reports relative to usage. The most common reactions are dyspnea, headache, and diarrhea, with a significant proportion of serious adverse events.

What are the key safety signals for Tadalafil?

Key safety signals identified in Tadalafil's adverse event data include: High rate of serious adverse events (62.7%). Common reactions include dyspnea and headache. Significant number of reports of pneumonia and pulmonary arterial hypertension. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Tadalafil interact with other drugs?

Tadalafil may interact with drugs that affect blood pressure, leading to hypotension. It is contraindicated with nitrates. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Tadalafil.

What should patients know before taking Tadalafil?

Monitor for respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms, especially in elderly patients. Follow prescribed dosing instructions and report any serious adverse events immediately.

Are Tadalafil side effects well-documented?

Tadalafil has 207,750 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. Respiratory and gastrointestinal issues are the leading causes of serious adverse events. The volume of reports for Tadalafil reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Tadalafil?

Regulatory oversight is ongoing, with a focus on monitoring serious respiratory and cardiovascular events. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

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Important Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI analysis of FDA adverse event reports and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA do not prove that a medication caused the reported side effect. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you experience a serious side effect, contact your doctor or call 911 immediately.