Enclomiphene Dosage Guide: How Much Should You Take?

There is no FDA-approved dosage[1], for enclomiphene citrate. Clinical trials have evaluated doses of 12.5 mg and 25 mg[2] taken orally once daily, but these study doses should not be interpreted as treatment recommendations.

These study doses are not treatment recommendations. Because enclomiphene has no FDA-approved dosage, any consideration of its use requires an individual clinical assessment.

Many men who inquire about Enclomiphene do so because they desire to maintain or improve fertility while receiving testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). 

Testosterone therapy may lead to a decrease in sperm production. Enclomiphene was evaluated as an alternative treatment to increase testosterone levels while preserving sperm production.

Low Testosterone, TRT Use, and Fertility Concerns

Many men think about enclomiphene. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can suppress sperm production and may impair fertility. The degree of suppression varies between individuals.

For example, a 32-year-old man who has used testosterone gel for two years may experience reduced sperm production and difficulty conceiving. The extent of the effect varies, and infertility should not be assumed without appropriate testing.

Low Testosterone, TRT Use, and Fertility Concerns

Exogenous testosterone, including testosterone gel, can suppress the hormonal signals LH and FSH. This may reduce testosterone production within the testes and lower sperm production; in some men, sperm may become undetectable.

The number of men using TRT continues to grow. TRT use increased fourfold for US men aged 18 to 45 from 2003 through 2013[3].

Roughly 12% of men seeking TRT were within their peak reproductive years. On the other hand, approximately 10 to 12 per cent of men[4] suffering from hypogonadism received treatment. Therefore, both undertreatment and overtreatment of hypogonadism exist simultaneously.

Enclomiphene and testosterone replacement therapy work differently. Enclomiphene stimulates the body’s own hormonal signaling, whereas TRT supplies testosterone from an external source. Their suitability depends on the diagnosis and the patient’s fertility goals.

Before discussing dosage, it is important to understand why enclomiphene has no FDA-approved dosing instructions.

Why Enclomiphene Dosage Information Varies

There is no FDA-approved product label specifying a starting dose, maximum dose, or dose adjustments for liver or kidney impairment. Instead, readers will find four totally different types of information sources.

Evidence Sources and Their Reliability

Quality of products is also variable. Compounded preparations may vary in quality and consistency. Their quality depends on the pharmacy’s ingredients, compounding processes, and quality-control procedures.

Product quality and identity are important. Enclomiphene is the trans-isomer of clomiphene; any claim about the purity or composition of a compounded preparation should be supported by appropriate quality-control information.

What Enclomiphene Is and How It Works

Clomiphene citrate is composed of two isomers, namely enclomiphene (trans) and zuclomiphene (cis). Roughly 50-70% of clomiphene citrate is enclomiphene[1]. 

Enclomiphene drives the hormonal response; however, zuclomiphene has greater estrogenic activity and is eliminated from the body at a slower rate than enclomiphene, therefore accumulating with each subsequent dose.

What Enclomiphene Is and How It Works

Enclomiphene is one isomer of clomiphene citrate. Differences in their pharmacological properties do not, by themselves, establish that enclomiphene is safer or more effective.

Enclomisign 50 Mg is a product name associated with enclomiphene. The active ingredient and product strength should be verified using reliable manufacturer or packaging information. Clinical trials have primarily evaluated enclomiphene doses of 12.5 mg and 25 mg daily. A 50 mg product strength should not be interpreted as an established or recommended dosage because enclomiphene does not have an FDA-approved dosage. Consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding its potential risks, benefits, and suitability.

Enclomiphene is a type of medication called a Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM). It acts on estrogen receptors in the hypothalamus and pituitary glands. This makes the brain think there is not enough estrogen. 

In response to this perceived shortage, the brain will produce more Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH). The LH produced will then signal to the testicles to produce more Testosterone, while the FSH will help support the development of sperm. 

As the published information about the half-life of Enclomiphene varies, we have decided not to provide any specific figure for the half-life of this drug.

Enclomiphene Regulatory Status and Dosage Limitations

The FDA has never authorised enclomiphene citrate for use. It was developed as Androxal by Repros Therapeutics.

The program ended with Complete Response Letters (CRLs) instead of FDA approval. As a result, Repros Therapeutics stopped developing the drug. There is no authorisation to market enclomiphene citrate in either the EU, Canada or the UK.

Enclomiphene Regulatory Status and Dosage Limitations

Men can buy it from 503A compounding pharmacies with a doctor’s prescription for one patient. They can also get it from 503B outsourcing facilities that the FDA registers. These facilities must follow current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). All uses of this product will be considered “off-label” and “investigational.”

In terms of dosing, this means that there have been no reviews of an initial dose, maximum dose, renal/hepatic adjustments, pediatric/geriatric guidelines, or drug interaction labeling by any regulatory agency. 

There is little information available regarding the long-term safety of this medication. Dosing depends on the doctor’s assessment of what will help the patient. This considers clinical trial data and the patient’s lab results.

What the Clinical Trials Actually Used

In every published trial, enclomiphene was given once daily by mouth, most commonly at 12.5 mg or 25 mg. These are the doses researchers studied, not recommendations.

Clinical Trial Doses of Enclomiphene

Dose Studied in What it achieved Key limitation

12.5 mg vs. 25 mg: What Do Clinical Trials Show?

For enclomiphene 12.5 mg versus 25 mg, the 25 mg dose had greater increases in LH and FSH than the 12.5 mg dose. At day seven after stopping[2], both Testosterone and LH remained higher in the 25 mg group. 

However, larger doses are not necessarily better. The goal is to reach a normal morning level of testosterone. So, going over this target can raise estradiol levels without providing extra benefits.

The first and second doses of enclomiphene both preserved sperm. Topical Testosterone had a lower sperm concentration than the enclomiphene doses (p=0.008 & p=0.0007)[5]. 

Enclomiphene was able to preserve sperm concentrations compared to a placebo, but did not significantly increase them. Enclomiphene is currently not considered an effective fertility treatment.

Who Participated in the Clinical Trials?

The Phase III trial enrolled overweight men (BMI 25-42) aged 18-60[7] with low morning testosterone. Participants averaged about 46-48 years[6], BMI about 33, and baseline testosterone of roughly 208-219 ng/dL. A lean 28-year-old with primary testicular failure is not in this evidence base.

What Clinical Trials Have Not Established

  • No approved maximum dose, and no data supporting routine doses above 25 mg.

  • No dosing for liver or kidney impairment.

  • Trials mostly ran 6 to 16 weeks, with one open-label extension to 12 months.

  • No trial tested every-other-day, weekend-off or cycled dosing.

The doses studied were 12.5 mg and 25 mg daily. The appropriate treatment approach depends on the clinical assessment, laboratory results, treatment response, and individual safety considerations. The doses studied in trials should not be treated as universal dosing recommendations.

Factors That Influence Enclomiphene Treatment Decisions

Two people can have different dosages, even with similar symptoms. This is because dosage depends on how each person’s lab results respond. When an individual asks “what dose do you take?” via a message board, the reply has zero relevance to the clinical rationale for why that particular dosage was selected.

Factors That Influence Enclomiphene Treatment Decisions
  • Baseline total testosterone. Trial men started around 200-250 ng/dL.

  • Baseline LH. This is the single most important factor. If your LH levels are high, you have primary hypogonadism, and enclomiphene is the incorrect medication for you.

  • Body Weight and BMI (Body Mass Index) – Men’s fat tissue changes Testosterone into estrogen (estradiol). This process can boost the negative feedback system that enclomiphene blocks. Trials were conducted with overweight male subjects.

  • Estradiol levels may change during treatment with a SERM. Any dose adjustment should be based on clinical assessment and laboratory results by the treating clinician.

  • Fertility goals. These shift the target toward FSH and sperm concentration.

  • The Phase III trial did not include men who were using Testosterone at least six months prior to the trial.

  • Age and comorbidity. Evidence is outside ages 18-60.

  • Other medications and underlying health conditions should be reviewed during the clinical assessment. Because enclomiphene has no FDA-approved product label, approved dosing adjustments and interaction guidance are not established in such a label.

How Doctors Assess Enclomiphene Treatment

A prescription based on a questionnaire alone may be insufficient. Appropriate assessment generally includes a medical history, symptoms, and relevant laboratory testing. A questionnaire alone may not provide enough information to support an appropriate clinical assessment.

How Doctors Assess Enclomiphene Treatment

Step 1: Confirm the Diagnosis

Confirm low testosterone with at least two separate early-morning blood tests, as clinically appropriate. Symptoms alone do not establish the diagnosis.

Step 2: Identify the Type of Hypogonadism

Secondary hypogonadism shows low or normal LH (Luteinizing Hormone) levels and low Testosterone levels. In contrast, primary failure is indicated by high levels of LH, and therefore, enclomiphene is unlikely to produce a response. Other tests may include prolactin, SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin), estradiol, and thyroid function.

Step 3: Identify and Address Reversible Causes

Treat reversible causes and review relevant factors, which may include obesity, sleep apnea, opioid or glucocorticoid use, alcohol consumption, diabetes, and stress.

Step 4: Establish a Treatment and Monitoring Plan

A qualified healthcare professional should determine the treatment and monitoring plan based on clinical evidence, laboratory results, treatment response, and individual risks. Follow-up testing should be scheduled according to the patient’s clinical needs Then, the patient’s levels will be checked about four to six weeks later. The goal is to achieve a normal level of Testosterone, not an elevated level.

Step 5: Review Clinical and Laboratory Results

Adjust to the data. When both Testosterone and LH remain at baseline levels, reconsider the diagnosis instead of increasing the dosage.

Enclomiphene Treatment Duration and Dosing Schedules

Enclomiphene Treatment Duration and Dosing Schedules

No one has looked into whether taking enclomiphene every other day or on weekends works as well as taking it daily. Therefore, we cannot say if those schedules are effective; we can only state that they have not been evaluated.

Enclomiphene is discussed online for post-cycle therapy (PCT) after anabolic steroid use. Clinical evidence has not established enclomiphene as a safe and effective treatment for post-cycle therapy (PCT) following anabolic steroid use. A treatment protocol for this purpose cannot be recommended from the available evidence.

Clinical evidence has not established the safety or effectiveness of enclomiphene for this purpose; therefore, no treatment protocol can be recommended based on the available evidence.

After the final dose, the effects will gradually decline. Seven days later, Testosterone and LH levels were still significantly high. Hormone levels may decline after treatment is stopped.

The timing and extent of any change can vary, and the long-term effects of enclomiphene are not well established. Enclomiphene is a form of treatment, not a cure.

Laboratory Tests and Monitoring During Treatment

What labs should I check on enclomiphene? A dose without monitoring is a guess. Baseline tests:

Follow-up usually involves checking hormone levels and estradiol 4-6 weeks after treatment starts. Then, we recheck hormones, haematocrit, and liver function tests 3 months later. If fertility is a concern, we can also check the semen.

The timing of follow-up testing should be individualised by the treating clinician according to the patient’s response, safety concerns, and treatment plan. 

“Working” means the morning testosterone is normal. It also means LH and FSH are rising, not falling, and the patient’s symptoms are getting better. 

Side Effects, Safety Signals and Contraindications

Enclomiphene side effects described in clinical trials and in practice have included: headaches, nausea, hot flashes, dizziness, mood changes, and increased levels of estradiol. 

Enclomiphene can cause visual disturbances like blurred vision, floaters, light sensitivity, and blind spots. If you notice any new visual symptoms while taking this medication, report them to your doctor right away. 

Since there is currently no approved product label, there is no regulator-reviewed frequency of adverse events available.

While enclomiphene was found to be generally well-tolerated during the 6 to 16-week clinical trials[5], those studies were both small and brief.

Because enclomiphene has yet to receive regulatory approval, no post-marketing surveillance was conducted.

Who Should Avoid Enclomiphene or Seek Specialist Advice?

Who Should Avoid Enclomiphene or Seek Specialist Advice
  • Men with primary hypogonadism.

  • Men with liver disease.

  • Men with a history of venous thromboembolism.

  • Men with hormone-sensitive cancers, without specialist input.

  • Women, and anyone who may become pregnant.

  • Men with untreated reversible causes.

The practice of using enclomiphene in conjunction with Testosterone, hCG, aromatase inhibitors, and other SERMs is commonly discussed online.

Right now, no studies are published that look at the safety and effectiveness of these combinations. 

It is important to provide your physician and pharmacist with a complete list of all medications and supplements you take. Compounded preparations can vary greatly in strength and quality. 

It’s best to get compounded preparations from a licensed 503A compounding pharmacy or an FDA-registered 503B facility. They should work with a valid prescription. 

Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before Considering Enclomiphene

when enclomiphene may not be suitable
  • Is my low Testosterone confirmed on two morning tests?

  • What are my LH and FSH, and is this secondary or primary hypogonadism?

  • Have we ruled out reversible causes?

  • Do I understand that this use is off-label and the drug is unapproved?

  • Which accredited pharmacy will dispense it?

  • What is my starting dose, and when do we recheck labs?

  • Should I have a baseline semen analysis?

  • What would make us stop?

Enclomiphene may be unsuitable in some situations, including primary hypogonadism. Reversible causes and possible pituitary or hypothalamic disorders should be assessed before treatment decisions are made. The choice between treatment options requires individual clinical evaluation.

Seek immediate medical care for a new problem with your vision; leg swelling, pain, or difficulty walking; breathing problems that come on quickly or are accompanied by chest discomfort; significant changes in how you feel emotionally or if your existing emotional problems worsen; yellowing of the whites of your eyes, skin, urine that is dark colored, or right upper quadrant stomach pain; a severe or long-lasting headache.

Conclusion

Trial data describes the doses studied in selected groups of men; it does not establish a universally appropriate dose for every patient.

Enclomiphene citrate has no FDA-approved dosage, and its long-term safety remains uncertain. Diagnosis, fertility goals, laboratory results, and individual risks should be assessed by a qualified healthcare professional before any treatment decision is made.

FAQs

Q1:- How much enclomiphene should I take?

Ans:- There is currently no established dosage since enclomiphene has not been approved as a prescription drug. Studies have utilised either 12.5 mg or 25 mg on a daily basis. A physician who prescribes enclomiphene must determine the proper dosage based upon a patient’s initial laboratory results, body mass index (Weight), and subsequent treatment responses.

Q2:- Is enclomiphene FDA approved?

Ans:- No. There are no indications that have ever been approved. Like Androxal, this product received Complete Response Letters and was then discontinued. This product is only available through compounding pharmacies when prescribed, and all of its uses are considered off-label.

Q3:- Is 12.5 mg or 25 mg of enclomiphene better?

Ans:- Neither is generally more effective than the other. However, 25 mg increased Testosterone, LH and FSH to a greater degree in clinical trials. The objective of each treatment is to achieve a normal range of these hormone levels and not the highest possible level. Both methods maintained the patient’s sperm concentration. 

Q4:- How long does enclomiphene take to work?

Ans:- Hormone response is rapid. After six weeks of taking 25 mg per day, men had an average total testosterone level of 604 ng/dL at week 6. However, symptoms usually improve within a few weeks. Enclomiphene is not FDA-approved.

Q5:- Can you take enclomiphene every other day?

Ans:- No published trial has evaluated alternate-day dosing, intermittent dosing, or cycled dosing; all trials evaluated once-daily continuous dosing. Therefore, such dosing schedules have not been evaluated. Consult with your healthcare provider before changing the frequency of use. Enclomiphene is an unapproved drug.

Q6:- Does enclomiphene affect sperm count and fertility?

Ans:- The use of enclomiphene was shown not to affect sperm counts compared with the use of a placebo, and therefore cannot be considered an effective method for treating infertility. Enclomiphene is currently unapproved.

Q7:- Enclomiphene or clomiphene – which is better?

Ans:- Clomiphene contains both isomers; enclomiphene is only the trans isomer. The cis isomer (zuclomiphene) has more estrogen activity and can accumulate if taken daily. Clomiphene is a prescription medication that can be prescribed “off label,” whereas enclomiphene is not a prescription medication and is typically made at compounding pharmacies.

Q8:- What are the side effects of enclomiphene?

Ans:- Reported side effects include headache, nausea, hot flashes, dizziness, emotional changes, and increased levels of estradiol. If you experience visual disturbance, please seek medical attention immediately. Because this drug has not yet been approved by regulators, there is no available frequency data regarding adverse events.

Q9:- What happens when you stop taking enclomiphene?

Ans:- Effects last for a short time before fading. After seven days from the final dose, Testosterone and LH were still elevated above their initial values, with the elevation greater after taking 25 mg as compared to 12.5 mg. Testosterone levels return toward normal when there is no treatment of the underlying issue.

Q10:- Can enclomiphene replace testosterone replacement therapy?

Ans:- This medication works on only a small number of men. The patient must have a working pituitary and testes (secondary hypogonadism). If the patient has primary hypogonadism, with an elevated LH level before use of the medication, then this will not be effective, and the patient should use an FDA-approved TRT.

Medical disclaimer: This article is for information only and is not medical advice. Enclomiphene citrate is not FDA-approved. Do not start, stop or change any treatment without consulting a licensed physician.

  1. https://www.fda.gov/media/159042/download
  2. https://bjui-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/bju.12363
  3. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/155084
  4. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2014/190347
  5. https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(14)00537-8/fulltext
  6. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12510335/
  7. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01993212
Sanjay Gangani

Sanjay Gangani

B.Pharm, CMO & Pharmacist

Licensed pharmacist (B.Pharm) with 12+ years in clinical pharmacy and patient care. Reviews every article for evidence-based accuracy before it is published on ACTIZA Store.