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babydustglitter asked on 11/16/2008 6:35:09 PM Report this post
Anyone have any suggestions for managing Clomid side effects??? I have a script for Phenegran (sp?) for the nausea and stuff that is supposed to help with the other side effects, but not so much. I am on double the dose than last time (100mg now) and having dizzy spells, migraines, nausea, moodiness, ovarian pain (eggs or melons in there?!) etc. It is like look at the possible side effects and I have them. I have tried all the usual of motion sickness meds, soup, tea, mints, etc. Considering buying those popsicles they have for pregnant women as may help!!! Open to suggestions... (Hopefully I get a BFP and this is all worth it!!!) Have acu tomorrow. Thx.

babydustglitter said on 11/16/2008 6:45:55 PM Report this post
just to give you an accurate sensation: I feel like I am drunk and have the flu all at once. It is wayyyy worse than in June when took even and only on day 3 of the pills! When I was pregnant before my M/Cs I didn't feel this crappy! Sorry to complain...I am just moody...like I have a lot of wacked out hormones right now or something. Oh wait! I do!!! lol. ugh..

ceb1 said on 11/16/2008 7:41:45 PM Report this post
BDG,

I never knew of anything to use, but just hang in there b/c it'll be over soon. I truly know the pain you are going through and my heart goes out to ya. Any possible thing you can do to relax, laugh, or veer attention away from pain...DO IT:-) I just remember the side effects really getting to me & I was SO aware of them. But, after the 5 days from hell, I would feel ok again. I know you will too:-) 100mg....geezzzzzz! I am sure you're feelin' super awesome right now! I am now awaiting O and the ovaries are kickin'. Ready for this to be my month & I hope we will all have some luck...
babydust*******

Bethiewantingababy said on 11/16/2008 8:40:46 PM Report this post
I know exactly how u feel when i take it (which i will start again tonight) i feel abscent minded and usually have headaches for the first two days and then my ovaries feel like they have weights hanging on them , with me the moodiness isnt that bad but i find the best way of dealing with it is to take it right before u go to bed because for me it makes me sleepy other than that i dont think their is really anything else to do ...................i am taking 150mg days 2-9 (kinda strange considering its normally taken on diffy days but it works for me and my progesterone is always really high) but i am also taking evening primrose oil which also seems to have side affects. I hope we all have some luck this month. BABY DUST TO ALL!!!!!

babyl20 said on 11/16/2008 9:30:14 PM Report this post
I started my first cycle on Clomid and knock on wood had really no side effects besides a slight headache on day 2, but I have had worse headaches just before af so it really didn't bother me ....mind you I am stating out on 50mg I am sure the higher the dose the worse the symptoms get from the sound of other ladies stories???
This may sound crazy but i was hoping for some side effects because then at least I know my body is responding in some way to the meds. I have two agonizing weeks left to find out if I will get BFP!!!!


babydustglitter said on 11/17/2008 7:58:25 AM Report this post
Well, I spent all night in the bathroom, so I am thinking a lot of my symptoms may have been a little flu bug instead. Whew!!! Today I feel ok, just tired. I take it at night too, Ceb1 hoping to avoid that dizziness. Ugh. When I finally fell asleep around 4am I had the longest, worst nightmare I have ever had and it was sooooo vivid. Ok, so that I can't do anything about other than hope it was a one time gig! My Frova helped knock out the migraine too. Thank God! Babyl20, I found that the side effects usually worsened by the 2nd cycle on it so hopefully you just need the one month! I started with 50 mg, but had a cyst and had to stop for few months. Now on the 100 mg to delay my O :)

Here's to hoping this is all worth it and get that BFP!!!

jsil39 said on 11/17/2008 4:14:47 PM Report this post
Wow. I feel so bad for you ladies! I hope it happens very soon for everyone!

I'm on 2ww. If I don't get a BFP I'll be starting Clomid next cycle. and now I'm alittle worried! lol I'll be starting with 50mg so I'm sure it won't be that bad!
BDG, feel better!!!

*
Baby dust * to all! GOOD LUCK!
*
*

globug27 said on 11/17/2008 4:39:06 PM Report this post
<>< p4u girl =)

babydustglitter said on 11/18/2008 8:54:53 AM Report this post
I found that taking the pills as my head is about to hit the pillow and immediately after eating a gingerbread cookie, I feel fine. The ginger really helps. Either that or I just feel so relieved to be able to leave the bathroom!!! :O

jsil39 said on 11/18/2008 4:02:01 PM Report this post
Oh that's terrible! It'll happen soon.

*Did your doc up the mg by 50 every month? Just wondering what's in store for me (if needed).

*Does the Clomid make you O more? (like more then once a month?)
I hope you don't mind me asking these ?'s. I'm completely clueless!! lol

babyl20 said on 11/18/2008 7:59:41 PM Report this post
Glad to hear your feeling a little better babydust maybe it's not the flu but a pg symptom?????:) I spoke to soon about not having any side affects from the Clomid the last couple of days I have had pains in my stomach and tonight I have a killer headache!!!!!

ceb1 said on 11/19/2008 7:29:09 AM Report this post
jsil--just to chime in, i was on 50mg when on clomid. even though i had bad side effects, really some people feel absolutely nothing. i wouldnt read into our effects too much & get yourself nervous, b/c you could be perfectly fine:-) clomid is used to make the body ovulate "super ovulate" but you will only O once. the amount of eggs you'll drop & that get fertilized...who knows, but ovulation takes place only 1x in a cycle. i was really nervous about taking clomid too, but just think, its helping you ttc. and the symptoms (if you even get any) only last the 5 days (if that even). you never know, it could be just what you need to get the job done!
best of luck!!!!! :-)

babydustglitter said on 11/19/2008 8:07:53 AM Report this post
My doctor has me on the Clomid as I O too early and my eggs were not mature enough to be fertilied and survive. The Clomid will delay my O til 5-9 days after I take the last pills (which was last night so know I will O between Sunday and Thurs THANKSGIVING!!!). Don't get too worked up about it. Some women have no side effects - lucky them! I have mucho side effects that last until the Clomid is out of my system!!! I do not have them only for 5 days like Ceb1. I wish! I have all cycle but mostly it is the sore breasts and tiredness - the icky feeling of flu goes away. Some one above said it sounded like pregnancy symptoms and that is exactly dead on only know not preggo as haven't Oed yet!!! lol. But it isn't the worst pill I have ever been on and honestly I would suffer through much worse to have a baby!!!!!Usually you start Clomid at 50mg and dr does u/s and/or blood work to see if working. If not, you go to 100. They recommend staying on for only 4 cycles. My RE is hoping that I will produce more than one good size follicle and that when they release into eggs, at least one will be fertilized. Clomid has only less than 10% chance of twins or other multiples, but that study was done years ago and women that had twins in their families were counted, which is a huge factor and messes up the whole study. Any way, I have twins on both sides of my fam and have been pregnant with them before. My sis also had twins, but lost one. Obviously my chances are greater. I wouldn't worry about twins though. I will have 3 or 4 even as long as healthy! Praise God! I have my u/s Fri morning. Pray for big follies!!!

The thing you have to remember is that Clomid changes your hormone structure, so just as you get PMS when your hormones change for your period, hormones change for Clomid, CMS (Clomid Men. S.) :O lol.

babydustglitter said on 11/19/2008 8:11:14 AM Report this post
I wasn't trying to frighten anyone away from Clomid...I was just seeing if anyone had good tips for dealing with the side effects... but here is from the manu website:

Clomid is often a first line treatment to induce regular ovulation. Clomid works at the level of the hypothalamus where it competes for estrogen binding sites. When these "sites are occupied" by Clomid, the hypothalamus responds by producing more GnRH which then stimulates the pituitary to produce FSH. Remember, in a normal cycle healthy follicles produce estrogen, which signals the hypothalamus to reduce production of FSH. Clomiphene is marketed in the United States by Aventis Laboratories as Clomid and by Serono Laboratories as Serophene.

The goal of clomiphene therapy in treating infertility is to establish normal ovulation rather than cause the development of numerous eggs. Once ovulation is established, there is no benefit to increasing the dosage further . Numerous studies show that pregnancy usually occurs during the first three months of infertility therapy and treatment beyond six months is not recommended. Clomiphene can cause side effects such as ovarian hyperstimulation (rare), visual disturbances, nausea, diminished "quality" of the cervical mucus, multiple births, and others.

Clomid is often prescribed by generalists as a "first line" ovulation induction therapy. Most patients should undergo the fertility "workup" prior to beginning any therapy. There could be many causes of infertility in addition to ovulatory disorders, including endometriosis, tubal disease, cervical factor and others. Also, Clomid therapy should not be initiated until a semen analysis has been completed.

Other Ovulation Induction Drugs
If Clomid is not effective in 3-6 cycles, the fertility specialist will usually advance the patient to the "next level of therapy " of infertility treatment What this "level" is depends upon each couple's specific cause (s) of infertility. Some physicians may try Clomid intrauterine insemination; however; many specialists opt for FSH IUI because of its superior success rates.

In FSH stimulated IUI cycles, the patient self-administers subcutaneous injections of follicle stimulating hormone. Unlike Clomid, FSH directly stimulates the ovaries to develop multiple follicles, each of which contains an egg.

Patients must come to our clinic for periodic monitoring of their follicular development via ultrasound and estradiol measurement. FSH stimulation comes with the risk of side effects such as hyperstimulation and multiple births. In general, FSH should only be administered by a reproductive endocrinologist thoroughly trained in its use.

Most fertility specialists will administer three to six cycles of FSH stimulated IUI. If pregnancy does not result, the patients are moved to the next treatment option which is often in vitro fertilization, IVF. The next treatment step depends of the causes (s) of each couples infertility.

See our sections on FSH and IUI for more information.


How should Clomid be Used?
When to Consult a Fertility Specialist
Clomiphene- General Discussion
Gonal-F, Follistim, Bravelle, Menopur, Repronex for ovulation induction.
Metformin (Glucophage) is used in the management of polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Parlodel for hyperprolactinemia
Lupron or Ganirelix Acetate are used to prevent premature ovulation in assisted reproductive technology cycles.
hCG or Luveris will be used to stimulate ovulation 36 hours prior to egg retrieval in ART procedures or 36 hours prior to insemination in IUI cycles. Lurveris may also be prescribed for women with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, which is extremely low levels of FSH and LH.
Birth Control pills may be prescribed to insure there are no "leftover follicles" from previous cycles.
Antibiotics will be used to treat infections in the male and female.
Alternatives to Clomid for Ovulation Induction
Pharmacies specializing in fertility drugs.
Fertility Drug Manufacturers.


babydustglitter said on 11/19/2008 8:13:43 AM Report this post
BTW, clomid causes O in women 80% of the time it is taken...I Oed w/o it, but I know many women who don't and that is a pretty darn good #. Not all 80% got preggo 1st month, but many did 2nd or 3rd and some did 1st month. Some never did, but that wasn't an O issue. So I would say it is a pretty good drug!!!

said on 11/19/2008 4:19:06 PM Report this post
Thank you so much, that was very helpful! I'm still super excited to start Clomid. I can handle side effects if it means getting preg. It would all be worth it. Oh, twins also run in both our families. Eek! In-laws bring that up every once in awhile. very annoying!!

Well thanks again... hope everyone is well!

babydust, good luck Fri.


babydustglitter said on 11/19/2008 6:20:36 PM Report this post
I know...I am sick of hearing it to. I think our relatives think they are being clever when they say that! Maybe if I start telling them about my icky AFs they will get the hint! lol.

jsil39 said on 11/20/2008 4:56:41 PM Report this post
lol yea and the CM. That would shut them right up!

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