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| Pronunciation |
|
 (ral
OX i
feen) |
|
|
| Brand Names |
|
| Evista® |
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|
| Therapeutic
Categories |
|
|
Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM) |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
|
|
- If you have an allergy to raloxifene or any other part of the
medicine.
- If you have blood clots.
- If you are pregnant.
|
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|
| What is this medicine used
for? |
|
|
- This medicine is used to prevent and treat osteoporosis (brittle
bones, can lead to breaks) in women past menopause.
- It works best when used with calcium and vitamin D supplements,
weight-bearing exercises like walking or physical
therapy.
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|
|
| How does it work? |
|
|
- Raloxifene is a selective estrogen receptor modulator. This means it
works in some of the same ways that estrogen does, but not all.
- It acts like estrogen to prevent bone loss, builds bone, and stops
bone thinning.
- It makes bones stronger and less likely to break.
- It also lowers cholesterol like estrogen.
- It does not have the estrogen effects like those that lead to breast
cancer and uterine cancer.
|
|
|
| How is it best taken? |
|
|
- Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an
upset stomach.
- Take at a similar time every day or as directed by your healthcare
provider. There may be days when you will not take the
medicine.
|
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|
| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
|
|
- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
- Do not change dose or stop taking medicine without talking with
healthcare provider.
|
|
|
| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- This medication should only be used in women who have passed
menopause.
- Limit alcohol intake (includes wine, beer, and liquor).
- Tell healthcare provider if you or anyone in your family has or ever
had any circulation problems or blood clots in the legs, arms, or lungs.
- Use caution if you are being treated for congestive heart failure or
cancer. Talk with healthcare provider.
- If you have had high triglyceride levels while on an estrogen talk
with your healthcare provider.
- If you have severe liver disease. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Being still for extended periods may increase your risk of blood
clots.
- Avoid being immobile for long periods of time (long trips, bed rest
following surgery).
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Do not use in pregnancy and do not get pregnant. Use birth control
that you can trust while taking this medicine.
- Do not use if you are
breast-feeding.
|
|
|
| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Hot flashes, most common during the first 6 months of treatment.
- Leg cramps.
- Headache. Mild pain medicine may help.
- Nausea. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard candy,
or chewing gum may help.
- Diarrhea.
- Joint pain.
|
|
|
| What should I monitor? |
|
|
- Avoid being immobile for long periods of time (long trips, bed rest
following surgery). Being still for extended periods may increase your risk of
blood clots. On long trips, move around periodically. Talk to healthcare
provider about when to discontinue this medication prior to scheduled surgery.
- Follow diet plan (calcium supplementation) and exercise program as
recommended by healthcare provider.
- Report fever, acute migraine, insomnia or emotional depression,
unusual weight gain, unresolved gastric distress, urinary infection or vaginal
burning or itching.
- Review this and other patient literature each time you refill your
prescription.
- Follow up with healthcare provider at least every year. Talk about the
length of treatment.
|
|
|
| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
|
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Swelling or pain of the leg, arms, hands, feet; warm feeling in
calves; sudden shortness of breath or coughing up blood; difficulty breathing;
chest pain
- Sudden change in vision.
- Severe headache.
- Vaginal bleeding. This includes lots of bleeding or spotting.
- Breast tenderness or changes.
- Severe nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.
- Any rash.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
|
- Store in a tight container at room
temperature.
|
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| General statements |
|
|
- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Read the package insert for more details (given with the medicine).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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