# Generic Cialis: what generic tadalafil is, and how it differs from compounded > Generic Cialis is tadalafil, the same active ingredient as Eli Lilly's brand. An FDA-approved generic has to show it delivers that ingredient to the body at the same rate and to the same extent as the brand, so the FDA expects the same effect and safety profile. Color and shape can differ. Compounded tadalafil is not FDA-approved and is not a generic. _Last updated: 2026-10-18_ --- Status: FDA-approved prescription medicine for ED. Source: Cialis prescribing information (Eli Lilly), DailyMed, checked 2026-10-17. **In short:** tadalafil is the drug, and Cialis is Eli Lilly's brand name for it. The Cialis label lists the application as NDA021368 with an initial US approval in 2003, for erectile dysfunction, for the urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH), and for both together ([Cialis prescribing information, DailyMed](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=bcd8f8ab-81a2-4891-83db-24a0b0e25895)). "Generic Cialis" usually means generic tadalafil tablets that the FDA approved as copies of Cialis. Those generics have had to prove they behave like the brand in the body. A compounded tadalafil has not, which is the difference this page is built around. | Product type | Active ingredient | FDA-approved? | Had to show it matches Cialis? | What it looks like (example) | | ---------------------------------------------- | --------------------------- | ------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------- | | Cialis (Eli Lilly brand) | Tadalafil | Yes, NDA021368 | It is the reference brand | Almond-shaped tablets in shades of yellow, marked "C" | | Generic tadalafil tablets rated against Cialis | Tadalafil | Yes, through an ANDA | Yes, rated AB1 in FDA's records | Varies by maker; one is a pale yellow oval marked "09"-"11" | | Adcirca (brand for lung disease) | Tadalafil | Yes, for pulmonary hypertension | Different brand, different use | Orange, almond-shaped tablet marked "4467" | | Compounded tadalafil | Tadalafil, per the pharmacy | No | No FDA check of safety, effectiveness or quality before sale | Whatever the compounding pharmacy makes | Sources for each row: the [Cialis label](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=bcd8f8ab-81a2-4891-83db-24a0b0e25895), a [generic tadalafil tablet label](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=3ad14d63-42e7-493f-b56c-e02a4fd139f7) made for Teva under ANDA205885, the [Adcirca label](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=ff61b237-be8e-461b-8114-78c52a8ad0ae), FDA's [Drugs@FDA database](https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=021368) for the ratings, and the FDA's [compounding questions and answers](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/compounding-and-fda-questions-and-answers). ## What is the generic name for Cialis? The generic name for Cialis is tadalafil. The Cialis label names the product "CIALIS (tadalafil) tablets" and describes tadalafil as a phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor ([Cialis label, DailyMed](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=bcd8f8ab-81a2-4891-83db-24a0b0e25895)). So when people say "tadalafil is Cialis," they are right about the molecule. Whether a given bottle counts as the same as Cialis depends on whether it is the brand, an approved generic, or a compounded preparation. ## Is generic tadalafil the same as Cialis? An FDA-approved generic tadalafil carries the same active ingredient as Cialis and is expected to work the same way, but it is a different product from a different maker. The FDA describes generics as "FDA-approved copies of brand drugs" that contain the same active ingredients, "must work the same way in the body," and have the same strength, dosage form, and route as the brand ([FDA, Generic Drugs: Questions and Answers](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/generic-drugs/generic-drugs-questions-answers)). You can see the match on real labels: a generic made for Teva is indicated for the same three uses as Cialis, ED, BPH, and both together ([generic tadalafil label, ANDA205885, DailyMed](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=3ad14d63-42e7-493f-b56c-e02a4fd139f7)). It also carries the same warnings. Both labels say tadalafil must not be used with any form of organic nitrate or with the lung medicine riociguat, because the combination can drop blood pressure ([Cialis label](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=bcd8f8ab-81a2-4891-83db-24a0b0e25895); [generic label](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=3ad14d63-42e7-493f-b56c-e02a4fd139f7)). Our [tadalafil side effects](/tadalafil-side-effects/) page covers what the label lists in detail. ## What does FDA approval of a generic mean? FDA approval of a generic means the maker proved its tablet matches the brand closely enough that the FDA generally considers the two therapeutically equivalent. Generic makers file an abbreviated new drug application (ANDA), which must show the product is "pharmaceutically equivalent and bioequivalent" to the brand and that the company "can produce the drug consistently and correctly" ([FDA, Generic Drugs Q&A](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/generic-drugs/generic-drugs-questions-answers)). Bioequivalence, in the FDA's words, "generally means the generic drug delivers the same amount of active ingredient to a patient at the same rate and to the same extent as the brand name drug" (same source). Approval is not a one-time stamp. The FDA says every batch sold in the US "must meet the same strict quality standards," and brand and generic drugs are both monitored for safety signals after approval ([FDA, Generic Drugs Q&A](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/generic-drugs/generic-drugs-questions-answers)). The agency also says approved drugs must meet the same quality standards wherever they are made, and it inspects factories around the world (same source). ## How can you tell if a tadalafil generic is rated against Cialis? The FDA's Orange Book gives each approved generic a therapeutic equivalence code, and for tadalafil tablets the code to look for is AB1. Tadalafil tablets have two brand reference products: Cialis, for ED and BPH, and Adcirca, for pulmonary arterial hypertension. When more than one reference product of the same strength is listed, the [Orange Book preface](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/development-approval-process-drugs/orange-book-preface) explains that a number is added to the AB code, and a generic gets "the same three-character code as the RLD it was compared against." In FDA's Drugs@FDA records, Cialis carries the code AB1 and Adcirca carries AB2 ([Drugs@FDA, Cialis NDA021368](https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=021368); [Drugs@FDA, Adcirca NDA022332](https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=022332)). As of our check on 2026-10-17, FDA's records listed more than two dozen generic tadalafil tablet applications from different manufacturers rated AB1, with the earliest of those approvals dating from 2018 and 2019 ([FDA Drugs@FDA data, via openFDA](https://api.fda.gov/drug/drugsfda.json?search=products.active_ingredients.name:%22TADALAFIL%22&limit=100); [Orange Book](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-approvals-and-databases/approved-drug-products-therapeutic-equivalence-evaluations-orange-book)). The Orange Book preface states that the FDA "believes that products classified as therapeutically equivalent can be substituted with the full expectation that the substituted product can be expected to have the same clinical effect and safety profile as the prescribed product when administered to patients under the conditions specified in the labeling." A pharmacist can tell you which manufacturer's tablet you received and how it is rated. ## Why can generic Cialis look different? Generic tadalafil can look different because the FDA allows changes in appearance that do not change how the drug works. The agency says it "generally allows minor differences in appearance between generic and brand drugs, such as in color," and that "these minor differences do not affect how the medicine works" ([FDA, Generic Drugs Q&A](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/generic-drugs/generic-drugs-questions-answers)). Cialis tablets are almond-shaped, come in different shades of yellow, and are marked with a "C" and the strength ([Cialis label](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=bcd8f8ab-81a2-4891-83db-24a0b0e25895)). The generic made for Teva is a pale yellow oval tablet marked "09," "10," or "11" on one side and plain on the other ([generic tadalafil label](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=3ad14d63-42e7-493f-b56c-e02a4fd139f7)). Inactive ingredients can differ too. That generic's tablet core includes colloidal silicon dioxide and pregelatinized corn starch, which do not appear in Cialis's ingredient list (both labels, above). The FDA says such differences usually do not matter clinically, but "in a minority of patients, inactive ingredients may affect tolerability or absorption," and that this is "worth clinical attention if patients report concerns" ([FDA, Generic Drugs Q&A](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/generic-drugs/generic-drugs-questions-answers)). If a refill looks different from your last one, the pharmacist can confirm it is the same medicine from a different maker. ## Is Adcirca the same drug as Cialis? Adcirca contains tadalafil, the same active ingredient as Cialis, but it is approved for a different condition and is not a generic for ED. The Adcirca label lists it for pulmonary arterial hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs) "to improve exercise ability," and its tablet is orange, almond-shaped and marked "4467" ([Adcirca label, DailyMed](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=ff61b237-be8e-461b-8114-78c52a8ad0ae)). The Cialis patient information says plainly: "CIALIS is also marketed as ADCIRCA for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Do not take both CIALIS and ADCIRCA" ([Cialis label](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=bcd8f8ab-81a2-4891-83db-24a0b0e25895)). The same leaflet also says not to take sildenafil (Revatio) with Cialis. ## Is compounded tadalafil the same thing as generic Cialis? No. Compounded tadalafil is not a generic and is not FDA-approved, even when the active ingredient is tadalafil. The FDA puts it directly: a generic "is approved by FDA under 505(j) of the FD&C Act and meets all of the requirements of that section (including establishing therapeutic equivalence to a brand name drug, among others), while a compounded drug is not approved by FDA" ([FDA, Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/compounding-and-fda-questions-and-answers)). Because compounded drugs are not FDA-approved, "FDA does not verify the safety, effectiveness or quality of compounded drugs before they are marketed" (same source). The FDA adds that compounded drugs "should only be used in patients whose medical needs cannot be met by an FDA-approved drug," such as a patient allergic to a dye in the approved product, and that poor compounding can produce a drug with "too much or too little active ingredient" ([FDA, Compounding Q&A](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/compounding-and-fda-questions-and-answers)). So the word "tadalafil" on a label does not, by itself, tell you which category you have. It is reasonable to ask the prescriber or pharmacy directly: is this an FDA-approved generic, or a compounded preparation? ## Why is generic Cialis cheaper? Generic tadalafil usually costs less because its maker did not have to repeat the clinical trials that proved the drug works. The FDA explains that brand makers run studies that "can take multiple years to complete and may be costly," while generic companies "do not need to repeat the costly clinical trials" and instead show "that their product is therapeutically equivalent to the brand drug" ([FDA, Generic Drugs Q&A](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/generic-drugs/generic-drugs-questions-answers)). A lower price reflects that shorter path to market, not a weaker tablet. What you pay still depends on the pharmacy, insurance, and any consultation fee, which our breakdown of [online ED treatment costs](/online-ed-treatment-cost/) walks through. ## How is a real generic different from a "tadalafil" product sold without a prescription? An approved generic comes from a licensed pharmacy with a prescription, while products sold as supplements or "enhancement" pills have repeatedly been found by the FDA to contain hidden drugs. In FDA's public list of tainted sexual enhancement products, 169 of the 441 notifications in our snapshot (current as of 2026-10-15) state that FDA laboratory analysis confirmed the product contained tadalafil, and 11 more name nortadalafil, aminotadalafil, or N-desmethyl tadalafil ([FDA, Sexual Enhancement and Energy Product Notifications](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/medication-health-fraud-notifications/sexual-enhancement-and-energy-product-notifications)). A hidden drug at an unknown amount is the opposite of a generic: it has not been through FDA review for strength or quality. Our [FDA warnings tracker](/fda-warnings/) lists those notices, and our guide to [whether generic ED medications are safe](/are-generic-ed-medications-safe/) covers how to tell a pharmacy generic from a counterfeit. If you are looking at an online seller, our guide to [buying Cialis online safely](/getting-ed-treatment-online-safely) shows how to check it. ## Generic Cialis: myths and facts | Myth | What the sources say | | --------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | "Generic tadalafil is a weaker copy." | Approved generics must deliver the same amount of active ingredient at the same rate and to the same extent as the brand (FDA generic Q&A). | | "If it isn't a yellow almond, it isn't real." | The FDA allows minor differences in appearance, such as color; one approved generic is a pale yellow oval (FDA generic Q&A; ANDA205885 label). | | "Any tadalafil is generic Cialis." | Only FDA-approved generics have established therapeutic equivalence; compounded drugs are not FDA-approved (FDA compounding Q&A). | | "Adcirca is a different drug from Cialis." | Both contain tadalafil, and the Cialis leaflet says not to take both (Cialis and Adcirca labels). | | "Tadalafil works on its own, like a switch." | The label states tadalafil has no effect without sexual stimulation and does not cure ED (Cialis label, 12.1 and patient information). | ## How does tadalafil compare with sildenafil, and with daily use? Tadalafil works by blocking the PDE5 enzyme. The Cialis label states that tadalafil "has no effect in the absence of sexual stimulation," and its patient leaflet says Cialis does not "cure ED" or "increase a man's sexual desire" ([Cialis label](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=bcd8f8ab-81a2-4891-83db-24a0b0e25895)). Our [tadalafil vs sildenafil](/tadalafil-vs-sildenafil/) comparison sets the two side by side, and [daily vs on-demand tadalafil](/daily-vs-on-demand-tadalafil/) explains the two ways it is prescribed. The same brand-versus-generic logic applies to sildenafil, which we cover in [is sildenafil the same as Viagra](/is-sildenafil-the-same-as-viagra/). Brand, generic, or compounded, tadalafil must never be combined with nitrate heart medicines such as nitroglycerin, with "poppers," or with riociguat, because blood pressure can drop to an unsafe level. It should not be doubled up with Adcirca or another PDE5 inhibitor. An erection lasting more than 4 hours, or a sudden loss of vision or hearing, needs prompt medical care. ## When should you talk to a clinician? Talk to a clinician before starting tadalafil, and again if a switch between brand and generic seems to change how you feel. Tadalafil is a prescription medicine, and the Cialis label says patients should not use it if sex is inadvisable because of their heart health ([Cialis label](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=bcd8f8ab-81a2-4891-83db-24a0b0e25895)). If you notice a new side effect after a change of manufacturer, the FDA suggests talking to your doctor or pharmacist and reporting it through its SmartHub safety portal ([FDA, Generic Drugs Q&A](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/generic-drugs/generic-drugs-questions-answers)). Our guide to [getting ED treatment online safely](/getting-ed-treatment-online-safely/) explains what a legitimate prescription process looks like. A prescription is never promised in advance. ## Sources 1. [Cialis (tadalafil) tablets, prescribing information and patient information, Eli Lilly, DailyMed](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=bcd8f8ab-81a2-4891-83db-24a0b0e25895) 2. [Tadalafil tablets (ANDA205885), prescribing information, Teva, DailyMed](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=3ad14d63-42e7-493f-b56c-e02a4fd139f7) 3. [Adcirca (tadalafil) tablets, prescribing information, DailyMed](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=ff61b237-be8e-461b-8114-78c52a8ad0ae) 4. [Generic Drugs: Questions and Answers, US Food and Drug Administration (updated 2026-09-18)](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/generic-drugs/generic-drugs-questions-answers) 5. [Orange Book Preface, US Food and Drug Administration](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/development-approval-process-drugs/orange-book-preface) 6. [Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations (Orange Book), US Food and Drug Administration](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-approvals-and-databases/approved-drug-products-therapeutic-equivalence-evaluations-orange-book) 7. [Drugs@FDA: Cialis, NDA021368, US Food and Drug Administration](https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=021368) 8. [Drugs@FDA: Adcirca, NDA022332, US Food and Drug Administration](https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=022332) 9. [Drugs@FDA data for tadalafil applications, via openFDA, US Food and Drug Administration](https://api.fda.gov/drug/drugsfda.json?search=products.active_ingredients.name:%22TADALAFIL%22&limit=100) 10. [Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers, US Food and Drug Administration](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/compounding-and-fda-questions-and-answers) 11. [Sexual Enhancement and Energy Product Notifications, US Food and Drug Administration](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/medication-health-fraud-notifications/sexual-enhancement-and-energy-product-notifications) --- _Affiliate disclosure: some links on the web version of this site go to Bodybuilding Peptides (trybbpeptides.com), an affiliate destination, and we may earn a commission if you buy there. Our coverage is independent of that relationship. Details: https://theedreport.com/affiliate-disclosure/_