(clo(h)-mid)
clomiphene citrate (clom-i-feen sit-rate)
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Clomid.
It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Clomid against the benefits he/she expects it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What Clomid is used for
About 20% of couples who experience difficulty in conceiving, do so because the woman's ovaries are not producing and releasing an egg each menstrual cycle (anovulation). Your doctor has prescribed Clomid to treat this.
Clomid acts by causing a gland in the brain (the anterior pituitary) to release hormones which stimulate ovulation.
It must be remembered that there are many causes of anovulation, so Clomid may not be effective in all cases.
When taking Clomid there should be 28-32 days from the beginning of one period to the next. Your ovaries should release an egg 6-12 days after a course of Clomid. You should have intercourse around this time to maximise your chances of conception.
If your period does not arrive after the 35th day there are two likely possibilities:
the dose of Clomid has not been sufficient to produce ovulation,
or
you are pregnant
If your period is overdue, contact your doctor/fertility unit and they will advise you what steps to take.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Before you take Clomid
Your doctor will perform a pelvic examination on you before you begin to take Clomid. This is to check that you have no physical conditions which may stop you falling pregnant or which might indicate that Clomid is not a suitable drug for you.
When you must not take it
Do not take Clomid if you have an allergy to Clomid or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Do not take Clomid if you are pregnant.
Like most fertility medicines, Clomid should not be taken during pregnancy.
To avoid inadvertently taking Clomid during early pregnancy, you should perform tests during each treatment cycle to determine whether ovulation occurs. You should have a pregnancy test before the next course of Clomid therapy.
Do not take Clomid if you have any of the following conditions:
liver disease or a history of liver problems
hormone-dependent tumours
abnormal uterine bleeding of undetermined origin
ovarian cysts, with the exception of polycystic ovary
Do not take Clomid after the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack.
If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.
Do not take Clomid if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking Clomid, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have allergies to:
any other medicines
any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have pre-existing or a family history of hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol levels) or hypertriglyceridemia (high triglyceride levels in blood).
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are breast-feeding.
Like most fertility medicines, Clomid is not recommended while you are breast-feeding.
The chances of multiple pregnancies are higher when you use Clomid.
You should be aware of the potential complications of multiple pregnancy before taking Clomid. Discuss this with your doctor.
How to take Clomid
Packaging
Fold the blister package of 10 tablets in half lengthwise so that the 5 tablets on each side of the platform 'face' one another. This will perforate the backing foil along the middle of the platform.
To remove a tablet from the platform, peel the backing foil from the middle of the platform towards the outer edge.
How much to take
The recommended dose for the first course of Clomid is one tablet per day for five days at the beginning of your cycle. If ovulation does not occur, your doctor may advise you to increase the dose of Clomid in subsequent treatment cycles.
Do not take an increased dose unless instructed to do so by your doctor.
Taking more than your doctor prescribes may overstimulate your ovaries, possibly damaging your ovaries and endangering your health.
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully.
These directions may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the box, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
When to take it
Your doctor will advise you on which day of your cycle to begin to take Clomid.
If you do not have regular periods your doctor may prescribe other tablets eg. norethisterone for a number of days, after which a period may start. Use this bleeding to time your Clomid course.
Take Clomid at about the same time each day.
This will help you remember when to take the tablets.
How long to use it
Clomid tablets are usually taken daily for five consecutive days at the beginning of your cycle.
Your doctor will advise you on how many courses of Clomid, you should take.
Long term therapy with Clomid is not recommended. Your doctor will tell you for how long you should take Clomid.
If you forget to take it
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or pharmacist or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26), or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Clomid. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
Clomid Progress Checks
It will be necessary to monitor your response to Clomid. Methods used to do this include:
basal body temperature chart
urine testing
blood tests
mucus testing
The most appropriate method for you will be discussed by your doctor.
While you are using Clomid
Things you must not do
Do not give Clomid to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not use Clomid to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Clomid affects you.
Clomid may cause visual disturbances in some people. Make sure you know how you react to Clomid before you drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or have blurred vision.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Clomid.
Clomid helps many people with infertility, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious; most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following:
hot flushes
intermenstrual ("between period") spotting or heavy menstrual periods
nausea or vomiting
breast discomfort
headache
insomnia, nervousness, depression, fatigue, dizziness or light-headedness
rash or skin irritations
increased frequency of urination
hair loss
fever
vaginal discharge
seizures
visual problems
increased heart rate
palpitations
If any of the following happen, stop taking Clomid and tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately:
blurred vision, spots or flashes
abdominal discomfort or pelvic pain, soreness or a "bloated" feeling
weight gain
The chances of ectopic pregnancies (foetus growing outside the womb) are higher if you conceive on Clomid.
Clomid may cause uterine fibroids to grow in size.
Prolonged Clomid use may be associated with a small increase in the risk of ovarian cancer.
Hypertriglyceridemia (high triglyceride levels in blood) has been observed in patients who have pre-existing or a family history of hypertriglyceridaemia.
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.
You may not experience any of them.
After using Clomid
Storage
Keep your tablets in the pack until it is time to take them.
If you take the tablets out of the pack they will not keep well.
Keep your tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Do not store Clomid or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave it in the car on hot days or on window sills.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep it where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor or pharmacist tells you to stop taking Clomid or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.
Product description
What it looks like
Clomid tablets are white with a score line and marked Clomid and 50 on the scored side.
The 50mg strength is available in boxes of 10 tablets
Ingredients
Each Clomid tablet contains clomiphene citrate (50mg), sucrose, lactose, maize starch and magnesium stearate.
Clomid does not contain tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
