Tadalafil, the erectile dysfunction drug sold as Cialis, is being marketed through direct-to-consumer telehealth clinics as a general-purpose longevity treatment, promising benefits for the heart, the brain, and athletic performance. One such company, AgelessRx, sells a low-dose monthly prescription for about $70, and its medical director has said the data are strong enough to offer it to both men and women over 40.
None of those uses is approved. The drug is cleared in the United States for erectile dysfunction, for a rare form of high blood pressure affecting the lungs, and for symptoms of an enlarged prostate. It is not approved to prevent heart attack or stroke, and it is certainly not approved to extend life.
