Raloxifene (Systemic)

Brand Names : Evista

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For raloxifene, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to raloxifene. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Raloxifene is not recommended during pregnancy. Presently, raloxifene is to be used in postmenopausal women only. It has been shown to cause serious birth defects or other problems in animals. Be sure you have discussed this with your doctor.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether raloxifene passes into breast milk. However, raloxifene is not recommended during breast-feeding because it may cause unwanted effects in nursing babies. Presently, raloxifene is to be used in postmenopausal women only.

Older adults - This medicine has been tested only in women past menopause and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in elderly people than it does in adults who have just gone through menopause.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking raloxifene, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Cholestyramine (e.g., Questran) - Cholestyramine can significantly reduce the absorption of raloxifene

• Estrogens, injection (e.g., Premarin) or
• Estrogens, oral (e.g., Premarin, Estrace, Estratab) or
• Estrogens, transdermal (e.g., Climara, Estrace, Vivelle) - Raloxifene should not be used with estrogens

• Warfarin (e.g., Coumadin) - Raloxifene may decrease the effect of warfarin, and the dose of warfarin may need to be adjusted when adding or stopping raloxifene

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of raloxifene. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Blood clot formation, active or history of, including deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and retinal embolism - Raloxifene may slightly increase the chances of these conditions and, if they are already present, cause them to worsen

• Cancer or tumors or
• Congestive heart failure or
• Any other condition that increases the risk of blood clots - Taking raloxifene while having one of these conditions may worsen the chance that blood clots can form

• Liver disease - This condition may cause higher concentrations of raloxifene in the blood