Enclomiphene
Ancillaries & recoveryAlso known as Enclomiphene citrate, trans-clomiphene
The isomer of clomiphene that does the useful work, without the long-lingering one that causes most of the complaints.
How it works
Blocks oestrogen receptors at the hypothalamus and pituitary, removing negative feedback so LH and FSH rise and the testes are driven to produce testosterone. It raises your own output rather than replacing it, which is the whole point of using it after suppression.
In the body
Shape of a single dose, modelled as one compartment with first-order absorption. The peak is normalised to 100% because bioavailability and volume of distribution are not published for most of these compounds.
About 10 hours, from the Wiehle pharmacokinetic study in hypogonadal men. Read the curve with care: testosterone and LH stay elevated for up to a week after stopping, because the drug is triggering the axis rather than acting directly. Plasma level and effect are not the same thing here.
Your notes
Doses
12.5 to 25 mg daily, the doses used in the trials of secondary hypogonadism in men. Not an approved product in the United States.
Side effects
- Headache
- Nausea
- Hot flushes
- Visual disturbance, less commonly reported than with clomiphene but the same class effect
- Monitor: total testosterone, LH and FSH
- Monitor: oestradiol, which rises alongside testosterone
Cautions
- Taking a second oestrogen receptor modulator at the same time
- Primary testicular failure, where there is nothing at the testis to stimulate
Status
Not approved in the United States; studied through phase III and available through compounding pharmacies. Banned in sport at all times.
Reference information for personal record-keeping. Not medical advice, and not a recommendation to use any of these compounds.