Clomid, Clomiphene Citrate

Medically reviewed by Dena Westphalen, PharmD on May 12, 2023
Written by Sarah Lewis, PharmD

This article describes clomiphene citrate’s uses and dosage, ways to save on cost, and more. Below you’ll find some coupon options for clomiphene citrate.

Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about clomiphene citrate.

Does clomiphene citrate cause certain side effects in males versus females?

No, the drug manufacturer hasn’t reported any side effect information in males.* Currently, clomiphene citrate is only approved to treat infertility in females.* Using it in males would be an off-label use. Off-label drug use means prescribing a drug for a purpose other than what it’s been approved for by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

If you have questions about using clomiphene citrate in males, talk with your doctor.

* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use the terms “male” and “female” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.

What is clomiphene citrate’s half-life? How does the drug work?

Clomiphene citrate works to stimulate the pituitary gland to release two hormones, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Increasing levels of FSH and LH is what starts ovulation (the release of an egg).

Clomiphene citrate will start affecting hormone levels right after you take it. Its half-life is about 5 days. This means it will stay in your body for about 25 days.

To learn more about what to expect with clomiphene citrate, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

How does clomiphene citrate compare with enclomiphene?

Enclomiphene is an isomer of clomiphene citrate. This means they are the same compound, but their atoms are arranged differently. As a result, they can have different properties.

Currently, enclomiphene doesn’t have FDA approval in the United States. In the past, researchers were studying it for male* infertility.

To find out more about how clomiphene citrate compares with enclomiphene, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use the term “male” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.

Can clomiphene citrate be taken with anastrozole or letrozole?

Possibly. The drug manufacturer hasn’t reported any information about taking clomiphene citrate together with other drugs. But researchers have studied clomiphene citrate with anastrozole or letrozole. More research is needed to know whether this combination is safe and effective.

To learn more about taking clomiphene together with other drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as clomiphene citrate for certain conditions. Approved uses for clomiphene citrate are described below.

Use for certain types of infertility

Doctors may prescribe clomiphene citrate oral tablet for treating infertility due to problems with a person’s ovaries. It’s used for this purpose in adults. It’s usually prescribed as a short-term treatment.

With infertility due to problems producing an egg, you have difficulty getting pregnant. Other reasons for difficulty getting pregnant should be ruled out before taking clomiphene citrate.

Doctors may not prescribe clomiphene citrate oral tablet in certain situations, such as when you have ovarian cysts, abnormal vaginal bleeding, or liver problems.

Clomiphene citrate may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of clomiphene citrate and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.

To learn more about clomiphene citrate’s side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also read the prescribing information* for clomiphene citrate.

* To view clomiphene citrate’s prescribing information, see the “Article resources” section below.

Mild side effects

More common mild side effects reported with clomiphene citrate are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug.

With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.

Clomiphene citrate oral tablet’s mild side effects include:

• bloating or discomfort in the abdomen or pelvic area
• enlargement of an ovary without complications
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
• nausea or vomiting
• mild allergic reaction†

* To view clomiphene citrate’s prescribing information, see the “Article resources” section below.
† For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for clomiphene citrate” section below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of clomiphene citrate are listed below. To learn more about clomiphene citrate’s side effects, see the prescribing information* for clomiphene citrate.

This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug.

With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.

In general, clomiphene citrate’s serious side effects include:

• depression
• high triglyceride levels
• increased risk of ovarian cancer with long-term use
• ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (severe enlargement of an ovary that can lead to complications, such as serious bleeding)
• pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
• vision problems, which may become permanent
• severe allergic reaction†

* To view clomiphene citrate’s prescribing information, see the “Article resources” section below.
† For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for clomiphene citrate” section below.

The dosage of clomiphene citrate your doctor prescribes may vary based on your condition and certain other factors. Talk with your doctor about the dosage you should follow.

Taking clomiphene citrate

Clomiphene citrate oral tablet is taken by mouth, with or without food.

Your doctor will talk with you about how to take clomiphene citrate. They’ll explain how much to take and how often. Always follow your doctor’s recommendation.

Overdose of clomiphene citrate

You should not take more clomiphene citrate than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to serious side effects or overdose.

If you think you’ve taken too much clomiphene citrate, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

Below, you’ll find information about clomiphene citrate’s possible interactions and warnings.

Interactions of clomiphene citrate

Clomiphene citrate isn’t known to interact with any medications or supplements. (Interactions can affect how a drug works.) But this doesn’t mean drug interactions with clomiphene citrate won’t happen or be reported sometime. For instance, medications created at a later time could interact with clomiphene citrate.

Because of this, you should ask your doctor and pharmacist about possible interactions with clomiphene citrate. They can check for any interactions that may affect you, such as those with:

• vaccines
• foods or alcohol
• other drugs

Warnings for clomiphene citrate

Clomiphene citrate should not be taken or should be taken cautiously by certain people.

Clomiphene citrate could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether clomiphene citrate is a safe option for you.

Ask your doctor about specific warnings for clomiphene citrate, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:

• current health, including any allergies to medications
• past health conditions or surgeries

Allergic reaction

Clomiphene citrate can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to clomiphene citrate or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe clomiphene citrate. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.

A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
• swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems

If you have an allergic reaction to clomiphene citrate, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding and clomiphene citrate

Information about clomiphene citrate and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.

Clomiphene citrate and pregnancy

Clomiphene citrate should not be taken during pregnancy.

Clomiphene citrate and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether clomiphene citrate should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

You may be able to save money on your prescription for clomiphene citrate by using our Perks discount coupons. They can be found at the end of this article.

If you have questions about how to pay for clomiphene citrate, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.

This article describes clomiphene citrate’s uses and dosage, ways to save on cost, and more. Let your doctor know if you have questions about clomiphene citrate or would like more details about it.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• How soon does ovulation usually occur with clomiphene citrate?
• How often does pregnancy occur with clomiphene citrate?
• What is the risk of having a pregnancy with multiple fetuses while taking clomiphene citrate?

• Clomiphene citrate tablets. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/d1c19ed9-fdee-4c65-a4bf-58d5f33638ec/spl-doc
• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.