What is Evista?

EVISTA is a prescription medication that prevents and treats osteoporosis in women who are past menopause. EVISTA actually stops the thinning of bone that occurs after menopause and preserves quality bone. EVISTA is not a hormone, hormone therapy, or estrogen. EVISTA is in a class of medications called estrogen agonist antagonist, commonly known as a “Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator,” or SERM. EVISTA helps build bone without negatively affecting the breast or uterus. This means that EVISTA does not cause breast tenderness, vaginal bleeding, breast cancer, or endometrial cancer.The effectiveness of EVISTA in reducing the risk of breast cancer, however, has not been established.
How To Take Evista?
EVISTA is a 60-mg pill, taken any time of the day, with or without food, as prescribed by your healthcare professional. You should take it for as long as recommended. EVISTA can prevent or treat osteoporosis only if you take it regularly. That makes getting your refills on time extremely important so you do not run out of the medicine. Your healthcare professional may suggest other ways to help prevent or treat osteoporosis, in addition to taking EVISTA and getting the calcium and vitamin D you need.
Evista Side Effects
Most of the side effects of EVISTA are mild and usually do not cause women to stop taking EVISTA. The most common side effects of EVISTA are hot flashes, leg cramps, peripheral edema, arthralgia, flu syndrome, and sweating. Hot flashes are more common during the first 6 months after starting treatment.

Safety Information

EVISTA® (raloxifene HCI) is not for everyone. If you are or still can become pregnant, are nursing, have liver or kidney problems, or have had blood clots that required a doctor’s treatment, you cannot take EVISTA. An infrequent but serious side effect of EVISTA is blood clots in the veins – being immobile for a long time may add to the risk. EVISTA does not increase or decrease the incidence of heart attack, stroke, cardiovascular death, or overall death. In a study of postmenopausal women at high risk for cardiovascular disease taking EVISTA, there was no increase in the incidence of stroke; however, there was an increase in the incidence of death due to stroke. If you have had a stroke or have a history of other significant risk factors for stroke, such as a mini-stroke (TIA/transient ischemic attack), hypertension, history of cigarette smoking, or a type of irregular heartbeat…