Clomid®, also sold as the generic medication clomiphene, is a member of a class of drugs known as selective estrogen receptor modulators. As a result of their inhibition of negative feedback in the hypothalamus, selective estrogen receptor modulators like Clomid® increase the production of gonadotropins, helping induce ovulation, suppress lactation, treat oligospermia, and potentially improve male hypogonadism. The standard initial Clomid® dosage varies according to the condition to be treated.
When used to induce ovulation, a once-daily oral Clomid® dosage of 50 mg is recommended. Treatment should begin as close as possible to the fifth day of the patient's menstrual cycle. Patients who have not experienced recent uterine bleeding, however, may begin treatment at any time. If pregnancy does not occur despite ovulation, up to two additional courses of treatment may be undertaken for five days at the same Clomid® dosage.
Although most patients respond to the first course of therapy, a second course of therapy at a higher Clomid® dosage may be given to patients in whom ovulation does not occur. For the second course, a regimen of 100 mg once per day may be given for five days as soon as 30 days after the conclusion of the first course of treatment. While a third course of treatment may also be given at the same dosage level, further courses of treatment are not recommended by the manufacturer. Nonetheless, some physicians have reported successful pregnancies and term deliveries after more consecutive cycles, ten day treatment regimens, or doses as high as 200 mg per day.
Clomid® may also be used for lactation cessation. A dose of between 50 and 100 mg may be given orally for a period of five days. While a single course of treatment is generally sufficient, another course of treatment may be undertaken if required.
When using the medication as a treatment for oligospermia, the duration of treatment is considerably longer than that for the induction of ovulation or lactation suppression. A treatment regimen generally lasts for several months, with patients receiving a Clomid® dosage of between 25 and 100 mg once daily.
It is not necessary to adjust the Clomid® dosage of patients suffering from reduced kidney function. Patients receiving the drug for an extended period of time may need to be monitored to see how it is tolerated. The drug should not, however, be given to patients with a history of liver disease or who are suffering from diminished liver function.
