EVISTA

Who is Evista for ?

Raloxifene belongs to a class of drugs called selective estrogen receptor modulators, or SERMs. Raloxifene is used to prevent and treat osteoporosis, a disease common in women past menopause, which results in bones that break easily. this medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Raloxifene also is used to prevent breast cancer, although this is still experimental. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for your condition.

Raloxifene works by acting like estrogen, a hormone produced by the body. Like estrogen, raloxifene increases the density of bone.

When should I be careful taking Evista ?

Before taking raloxifene,

• ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to raloxifene or any other drugs.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially ampicillin (Polycillin, Omnipen, Principen), anticoagulants ("blood thinners") such as warfarin (Coumadin), cholestyramine (Questran), clofibrate (Atromid-S), diazepam (Valium, Valrelease, Zetran), diazoxide (Proglycem), estrogen (Premarin), and vitamins.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had breast lumps or cancer; high blood cholesterol and fats; a history of stroke, blood clots, or heart attack; liver or heart disease; or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking raloxifene, call your doctor immediately.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, or have been advised to be on prolonged bed rest, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking raloxifene.

Side Effects

Although side effects from raloxifene are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• upset stomach
• vomiting
• appetite and weight changes
• swelling of the hands, feet, or lower legs
• vaginal bleeding or spotting
• hot flashes
• muscle weakness or pain
• breast swelling or tenderness
• difficulty falling asleep
• cough or sore throat lasting more than 3 days
• rash

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• sudden, severe headache
• sudden, severe vomiting
• sudden partial or complete loss of vision
• speech problems
• crushing chest pain or chest heaviness
• calf pain
• severe stomach pain
• weakness or numbness of an arm or leg
• severe mental depression
• unusual bleeding