Clomiphene is used for treating infertility in women. This drug helps to stimulate the production of hormones, which support the release and growth of a mature egg. However, this drug is also associated with some minor as well as severe adverse effects. The most common Clomiphene side effects are:

* Enlarged breasts
* Dizziness
* Breast tenderness
* Vision problems
* Blurred vision
* Nausea
* Mood change
* Lightheadedness
* Hot flashes
* Headache
* Flushing
* Enlargement of ovaries
* Vomiting
* Stomach pain
* Pelvic pain or bloating, etc.

Severe Clomiphene Side Effects

The usage of clomiphene also leads to some serious side effects as well. You should seek medical attention immediately if you feel severe allergic reactions such as swelling on tongue, lips, face or mouth, tightness in chest, breathing difficulties, itching, hives, rashes, over stimulation of ovaries, increased risk of ovarian cancer, spondaneous abortion, etc.

Mild Clomiphene Side Effects

If you use this drug as per the recommended dosage, the adverse reactions will be mild and they may disappear after the treatment. Some of the mild reactions due to the usage of Clomiphene are:

* Nausea and vomiting
* Abdominal-pelvic discomfort
* Vasomotor flushes
* Ovarian enlargement
* Breast discomfort
* Visual symptoms
* Menorrhagia
* Abnormal uterine bleeding
* Headache
* Blurred vision, etc.

Though very rare, patients may also experience some adverse reactions such as:

* Insomnia
* Increased frequency in urination
* Hair loss or dry hair
* Fatigue
* Dizziness
* Diarrhea
* Depression
* Rash or dermatitis
* Constipation
* Increased appetite
* Light headedness
* Weight gain or loss
* Vaginal dryness
* Nervous tension, etc.

If you use Clomiphene citrate for a long period of time, this may lead to the elevated serum levels of desmosterol. Direct interference with cholesterol synthesis is the major reason for this problem. However, if the dosage is as per recommendations, it may not make any significant alterations. Prolonged use of this drug can increase the chances of borderline or invasive ovarian cancer.

The drug also causes some dermatologic effects such as acne, pruritus, hypertricosis, erythema nodosum, erythema multiforme, erythema, allergic reactions, etc. Problems associated with central nervous system are stroke, seizure, syncope, parasthesia, and migraine headache. The adverse reactions of Clomiphene also cause some psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, psychosis, mood changes, irritability, etc.

Problems related to visual disorders are:

* Abnormal accommodation
* Photopsia
* Optic neuritis
* Macular edema
* Eye pain
* Cataract
* Temporary loss of vision
* Retinal vascular spasm
* Retinal thrombosis
* Retinal hemorrhage
* Posterior vitreous detachment, etc.

The clinical research also proves that the medicine causes some cardiovascular problems, such as arrhythmia, thrombophlebitis, tachycardia, shortness of breath, pulmonary embolism, phlebitis, palpitation, hypertension, and chest pain.

Besides, Clomiphene causes some neoplasms reactions such as:

* Liver cell adenoma
* Hepatic Hemangiosarcoma
* Hepatocellular Carcinoma
* Breast carcinoma
* Fibrocystic disease
* Endometrial carcinoma
* Brain abcess
* Glioblastoma multiforme
* Neorofibromatosis
* Prolactinoma
* Pituitary tumor
* Astrocytoma
* Ovarian carninoma
* Dermoid cyst of ovary
* Luteoma of pregnancy
* Lymphocytic leukemia
* Hepatoblastoma
* Thyroid tumor
* Neuroectodermal tumor
* Bladder carcinoma
* tongue carcinoma
* Renal cell carcinoma
* Perianal cysts
* Myeloma
* Melanoma, etc.

Neonatal or fetal abnormalities related to Clomiphene include delayed development, neutral tube defects, chromosomal disorders, mental retardation, deafness, dwarfism, genitalia, ventricular septal defect, tissue malformations, abnormal bone development in skull, limb, jaw, nasal passage, hand, face, etc.

Overview of Clomiphene Usage

Clomiphene citrate or clomid is a licensed drug and it influences certain hormones in the body of women, and thus it stimulates ovulation. This is highly effective for women who have ovulation problems. Sometimes, this medicine leads to the excessive stimulation of ovaries, which leads to the multiple release of drugs. This may lead to multiple births like twins or triplets.

Clomiphene is a widely used medicine because it is very cheap and the easiest to use fertility drug. However, this drug is not good for people with adrenal problems, hyperprolactinemia, or thyroid problems. People with these problems need different types of fertility treatment, instead of Clomiphene.

Clomiphene Dosage

You should follow the correct dosage of Clomiphene to avoid some adverse side effects. 50 mg is the initial recommended dosage of the medicine. Later, your physician may increase the dosage upto 100 mg. Usage of Clomiphene is not good if you have some health problems such as:

* Thyroid or adrenal problems
* Fibroids
* Polycystic ovarian syndrome
* Ovarian cysts
* Brain tumor
* Depression
* Any allergies
* Abnormal menstrual bleeding
* Liver diseases

Warnings from Healthcare Professionals

Studies show that the usage of Clomiphene leads to ovarian enlargement, menorrhagia, and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome among 13.6% patients. 2.1% patients complaint that they experienced breast discomfort, increased urination, heavier menses, pelvic discomfort, hot flashes, and ovarian cysts. 10% patients feel problems such as thrombophlebitis, tachycardia, shortness of breath, pulmonary embolism, phlebitis, stroke, palpitations, hypertension, arrhythmias, chest pain due to the usage of this drug.

The usage of Clomiphene creates gynecomastia, thyroid disorders, pituitary hemorrhage, etc among males. Post marketing surveys reported that the drug creates various problems, which relate to breast, endometrial, testicular, liver, nervous system, bladder, thyroid, renal, ovary, and miscellaneous neoplasms.

Misuse of Clomiphene

It is very easy to misuse this drug because of the reduced price and easy to use. Some patients use this drug for months without getting any result. This medicine should not be taken if there is lack of adequate monitoring. It is also not good to use this medicine more than 6 months. If you do not get result within this period, you should adopt the next treatment stage of infertility. Some people use Clomiphene as empiric treatment to enhance fertility. This will also lead to serious health problems.

Interaction of Clomiphene with other medicines

No adverse effect is reported with the interaction of Clomiphene with other medicines. However, the possibility of adverse effects due to this is very high. So if you are planning to take Clomiphene, you should inform your healthcare professional regarding the medicine you are taking currently. Clomiphene may interact with herbal medicines or over the counter medicines. So you should also inform your physician regarding the status f these medicines.

All most all medicines cause side effects. But the intensity of these adverse reactions depend on the physical and mental capacity of people. So, some side effects may minor to some people. Medicines may not cause any side effects to some people. However, some may experience very serious and chronic health problems due to the usage medicines. Therefore, if you feel serious health problems due to the usage of Clomiphene, you should seek immediate medical help.