Evista Overview
What is Evista?
Evista (raloxifene) is used to help prevent and treat osteoporosis (thinning of the bones) in postmenopausal women only. Evista works like an estrogen to stop bone loss that can develop in women after menopause. Clinical trials have shown that Evista may also have a role in reducing the risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
Evista is manufactured by Eli Lilly and Company, and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1999.
Evista and the Possible Increased Risk of Stroke and Blood Clot
A recent study published by the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that while postmenopausal women who took Evista developed significantly fewer cases of breast cancer than women who took a placebo, they also had significantly more fatal strokes and potentially dangerous blood clots.
Eli Lilly and Company states on the Evista website that in a study of postmenopausal women at high risk for cardiovascular disease, there was no increase in the incidence of stroke associated with Evista use, but that there was an increase in the incidence of death due to stroke.
You should tell your healthcare professional if you have a history of or have active blood clot formation, or any other condition that increases the risk of blood clots.
Evista Side Effects
Evista does not act like an estrogen to stimulate the uterus or breast. Therefore, you should tell your healthcare professional if you experience vaginal bleeding, breast pain or enlargement, or swelling of the hands or feet.
Tell your healthcare professional if any of these symptoms are severe or persistent:
- hot flashes (more common in the first 6 months of Evista therapy)
- leg cramps
- swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them, call your healthcare professional immediately:
- sudden chest pain or chest heaviness
- difficulty breathing or coughing up blood
- pain, swelling, or warmth in the calves, legs, hands, or feet
- sudden change in your vision such as vision loss or blurring
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Most content above from the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health
