Osteoporosis Health Center

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Raloxifene

Examples

Generic Name	Brand Name
raloxifene	Evista

Raloxifene is taken in pill form every day. It can be taken at any time during the day. It is used only for postmenopausal women.

How It Works

Raloxifene is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), which works like estrogen on bone. It also works like an "anti-estrogen" on breast tissue and the uterus.¹ As a result, raloxifene:

Prevents and treats osteoporosis by slowing bone thinning and causing some increase in bone thickness.
Lowers the risk of breast cancer.

Why It Is Used

Raloxifene is used to prevent and treat osteoporosis in women.

Raloxifene can also be used to help prevent breast cancer in women who have a high risk for breast cancer.²

How Well It Works

Bone. Studies show that raloxifene increases bone mineral density in the bones of the spine and neck. This lowers the risk for broken spinal bones.³ Although raloxifene works much like estrogen, it may not be as effective on bone.

Breast cancer. Among high-risk women, raloxifene lowers the risk of breast cancer about as much as tamoxifen does.²

Side Effects

Side effects of raloxifene include:

Hot flashes.
Vaginal dryness.
Leg cramps.
Blood clots in deep veins (deep vein thrombosis). You may or may not have symptoms of deep vein thrombosis. Symptoms that occur in the legs include:
- Swelling.
- Warmth.
- Pain or tenderness.
- Redness.
Sometimes life-threatening pulmonary embolism is the first sign that you have deep vein thrombosis. Pulmonary embolism is the sudden blockage of an artery in the lung. Blood clots in the deep veins of the leg are the most common cause of pulmonary embolism. Symptoms of pulmonary embolism include:
- Sudden shortness of breath.
- Chest pain that may get worse with a deep breath.
- A cough that may bring up blood.
- A fast heart rate.
Uterine cancer (rare).

Less serious side effects include:

Muscle and joint aches.
Weight gain.
Rash.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

Raloxifene raises your risk of dangerous blood clots. So does bed rest. If you plan to have a surgery followed by bed rest, talk to your doctor about ways to reduce the risk of blood clots around the time of surgery.

Raloxifene should not be used in women who:

Are pregnant or might become pregnant. If you are nursing, do not take raloxifene, because experts do not know if the drug passes through breast milk.
Have a history of blood clots in their deep veins (venous thromboembolism, deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism).
Are taking certain medicines, such as cholestyramine, to lower the amounts of cholesterol in the blood.
Have liver disease.

Complete the new medication information form (PDF)(What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.

Citations

Abramowicz M (2006). Raloxifene (Evista) for breast cancer prevention in postmenopausal women. Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics, 48(1234): 37.

Vogel VG, et al. (2006). Effects of tamoxifen vs raloxifene on the risk of developing invasive breast cancer and other disease outcomes: The NASBP study of tamoxifen and raloxifene (STAR) P-2 trial. JAMA, 295(23): 2727–2741.

Drugs for postmenopausal osteoporosis (2008). Treatment Guidelines From The Medical Letter, 6(74): 67–74.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: November 21, 2008

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.

WebMD Editors' Picks

As You Journey through Menopause, Vivelle-Dot Is By Your Side

VIVELLE-DOT (estradiol transdermal system) IS AVAILABLE BY PRESCRPTION ONLY.

INDICATION

Vivelle-Dot is used after menopause to: reduce moderate to severe hot flashes; treat moderate to severe dryness, itching and burning in or around the vagina; help reduce your chances of getting osteoporosis (thin weak bones); and treat certain conditions in which a young woman's ovaries do not produce enough estrogens naturally. Vivelle-Dot 0.025 mg/day is only used to prevent osteoporosis from menopause. If you use Vivelle-Dot only to treat your dryness, itching, and burning in and around your vagina or if you use Vivelle-Dot only to prevent osteoporosis from menopause, talk with your healthcare professional about whether a different treatment or medicine without estrogens might be better for you.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Estrogens increase the chances of getting cancer of the uterus (womb). Report any unusual vaginal bleeding right away while you are taking estrogens. Vaginal bleeding after menopause may be a warning sign of cancer of the uterus (womb).

Do not use estrogens with or without progestins to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, or strokes. Using estrogens with or without progestins may increase your chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and blood clots. Using estrogens with progestins may increase your risk of dementia (decline in memory and thinking skills).

Vivelle-Dot should not be used if you have unusual vaginal bleeding; currently have or have had certain cancers, including cancer of the breast or uterus; had a stroke or heart attack in the recent past (for example, in the past year); currently have or have had blood clots; currently have or have had liver problems; or think you may be, or know that you are, pregnant.

The most common side effects that may occur with Vivelle-Dot are headache, breast tenderness, and back pain.

You and your healthcare professional should talk regularly about whether you still need treatment with Vivelle-Dot.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see Full Prescribing Information for Vivelle-Dot.

Prescribing Information