Bodybuilding is a highly challenging sport, and it takes years to bulk up enough for participating in competitions. Bodybuilders frequently use different performance-enhancing substances for faster results.
Most commonly used substances in bodybuilding remain anabolic steroids, though their use is illicit. Sportspeople take steroids in cycles with periods of rest. Bodybuilders cannot use these substances when preparing for competitions. Thus, they are always looking for something that could help, and yet is legal to use.
Cialis Is a Legal and Effective Way to Enhance Performance
Cialis is not as potent as anabolic steroids or growth hormones, but it has the benefit of being completely legal to use. It is not on the WADA banned substance list (1).
Cialis is a brand name of the medication that belongs to a class of PDE5 inhibitors, and its chemical name is Tadalafil. Tadalafil works precisely in the same manner as Viagra by boosting NO levels. High NO levels are good for physical performance, and many bodybuilders use NO booster pre-workout, as they help train better.
Cialis or Tadalafil has additional benefits apart from the NO boosting effect. It relaxes blood vessels and improves blood flow to some other organs. Under certain conditions, it may increase cardiorespiratory capabilities.
Once-a-day dosing is another benefit of Cialis over other PDE5 inhibitors. Apart from helping with sexual life and improving physical performance, it is suitable for the prostate too. It can help prevent prostate hypertrophy in older adults (2).
What Does Science Say About Such Use?
There is a piece of moderate evidence that Cialis can help improve physical performance and build a better physique. It cannot be compared to steroids but can be an add-on medication, or for those looking for something safer (3).
Cialis or Tadalafil can only slightly increase aerobic capacity and thus exercise tolerance. It may be more useful for older athletes, in those with ongoing vascular issues. Nowadays, most men have stiffening of arteries after the age of 30, and Cialis could help a bit in some conditions.
Cialis may give added benefits to those with proven vascular diseases. Some bodybuilders may be living with certain vascular disorders leading to weaker and painful limbs. If a person feels that his extremities are icy in winter, then it could be a sign of a vascular issue, and Cialis can help. For peripheral blood vessels related problems, bodybuilders can take 20 mg of Cialis daily. Usually, good results would be visible after a few weeks (4).
Science is also discovering the additional benefits of Cialis. Sports are highly stressful for individuals. Stress means overactivation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and a higher level of certain stress hormones. Stress hormones are catabolic; they increase blood glucose levels and insulin resistance, and at the same time, reduce the buildup of muscles. There is some emerging evidence that a daily dose of Cialis may help counter these stress responses, and thus may benefit bodybuilders or other sportspeople (5).
Another way in which Cialis may help train better is due to its positive effect on pulmonary blood vessels. It relaxes the blood vessels of the lungs, and even during high-intensity workouts, it may help maintain a better supply of oxygen to various organs.
At present, Cialis is on the radar of some sports agencies due to its influence on the blood vessels of the lungs. Researchers think that it may help improve performance at high altitudes, or during high-intensity workouts. Although such an impact isn’t significant, nonetheless, it can help train better and build stronger muscles (6, 7).
Even though Cialis may not be a potent performance enhancer, the good thing about it is that it is entirely legal, and is readily available without a prescription. Additionally, it has a high safety profile. There are no known severe or life-threatening side effects, even on prolonged use.
Cialis May Help Counter Side Effects of Steroid Use
There is nothing like anabolic steroids. However, prolonged use of these drugs is known to shrink testicles forever, resulting in an irreversible reduction in testosterone levels.
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Although hormone replacement therapy helps with low testosterone levels, this would not correct erectile dysfunction. Testosterone may help with libido, but it does not help well with erection quality.
Taking Cialis could be one way to tackle some side effects caused by prolonged use of testosterone. It will not reverse the side effects of steroid abuse but will help overcome some of the nuisances caused by its continued use.
How to Use Cialis?
Cialis is the first PDE5 inhibitor that, unlike Viagra, can be safely taken daily. The usual dose is anywhere between 5 mg to 20 mg a day, and in some cases, one may even exceed these doses.
How much and how long to take the drug will depend on the physical condition, but for most young bodybuilders, it would be good to start with lower doses. Unlike steroids or other performance-enhancing agents, there is no need for cycles, and is safe for daily use.
For those using performance-enhancing substances, Cialis may help tolerate side effects better. It may help feel energized when a person is not taking other performance-boosting substances.
