Clomid Side Effects
While clomid tends to have few side effects in men, there are a few notable clomid side effects that are present in most users and should be known by all individuals.
The vast majority of anabolic steroid users are male, and most of the common clomid side effects associated with clomid use in women (medically known as ovarian dysfunction) should not be seen in men.
This is because men and women have very different endocrine physiologies, and compounds or substances that have agonist/antagonist effects on sex hormones in the endocrine system actually have very different effects between men and women.
In the case of SERMs, most men tolerate them fairly well compared to women.
Common clomid side effects observed in female infertility patients include abnormal uterine bleeding, headaches, vision problems, nausea and vomiting, abdominal cramps, vasomotor flushing, ovarian enlargement, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), and long-term use of clomid can lead to ovarian tumors.
Optic neuropathy (vision problems) and vision impairment.
This is probably the most commonly reported and very prominent Clomid side effect among men using Clomid, and one that is rarely seen with its sibling compound Nolvadex, which is another reason why anabolic steroid users are increasingly turning to Nolvadex for hormone recovery.
Not only is Nolvadex a superior compound on a mg-for-mg basis when it comes to hormonal recovery during PCT, but it is also free of optic neuropathy, a serious clomid side effect that can result in permanent vision damage.
This side effect has been observed anecdotally in the anabolic steroid use community as well as in clinical settings, and the frequency of occurrence is alarming enough to warrant avoidance of clomid use.
In one study of a female subject, she experienced immediate vision loss in her left eye after 5 days of clomid use, and although her vision eventually recovered, it was permanently damaged and she never regained 20/20 vision in that eye [1].
In another study that observed three female subjects who were treated with Clomid for 4-15 months, all three experienced decreased peripheral vision, ghosts in their visual field (pallinopsia), and increased severe sensitivity to light (photophobia), and all three continued to experience these severe vision problems for 2-7 years after their Clomid treatment ended [2].
Even worse, clomid use has been linked to more serious vision problems in certain patients, such as mydriasis, flashes, central scotoma, photophobia, double vision, allergic reactions, retinal vasospasm, and posterior vitreous detachment, and may increase the risk of developing cataracts in the eye [3].
It is not well understood why vision problems are part of the side effects of clomid.
Some have hypothesized that it is because clomid is a mixed agonist/antagonist of estrogen receptors, which means that estrogen is a vasodilator, and various pro-estrogenic (as well as anti-estrogenic) effects occur in the eye area.
Nolvadex is also a mixed agonist/antagonist of estrogen receptors, but it has not been found to have the same effects as clomid in the eye area, at least not as much as clomid.
Therefore, Nolvadex is a much safer alternative.
It is for this reason that many anabolic steroid-using bodybuilders and athletes have stopped their clomid treatment in the middle of their PCT program and decided to avoid using clomid altogether for whatever reason.
If you start to experience even the slightest vision impairment, it is advisable to stop immediately as the problem can worsen and cause permanent vision damage.
It is also recommended that you avoid driving a car or other dangerous equipment while using clomid, as your visual impairment may become so severe that it interferes with your normal functioning.
This is a very serious matter, and all individuals who engage in clomid use should exercise the utmost caution and understand that the risks are very great.
Various clomid prescription pamphlets from different countries also describe vision problems that may be associated with clomid use:
“Changes in vision (such as blurred vision, spots or flashes) can sometimes occur during treatment with clomiphene, especially if you are exposed to bright light.
These side effects usually go away in a few days or weeks after treatment is stopped.
However, in rare cases, vision changes may last permanently. Tell your doctor right away if you experience any of the following: vision problems/changes, eye pain."[4]
“This medicine may cause blurred vision, difficulty reading, or other vision changes.
It may also cause dizziness or lightheadedness in some people.
If you have trouble thinking clearly or seeing well, you should check to see how you react to this medicine before driving, using machinery, or doing anything else that could be dangerous.
If you are particularly concerned about any of these reactions, talk to your doctor."[5][6]
Medical references
[1] Optic neuropathy associated with treatment with clomiphene citrate. Lawton AW. Fertil Steril. 1994 Feb;61(2):390-1.
[2] Visual impairment secondary to clomiphene citrate. Purvin VA. Arch Ophthalmol. 1995 Apr;113(4):482-4.
[3] In utero exposure to clomiphene and neonatal persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous. Bishay R, Arbor L, Lyons C, Koren G. Teratology. 1999 Sep;60(3):143-5.
[4] http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-11204-Clomid.aspx?drugid=11204&drugname=Clomid
[5] http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-information/DR202151
