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
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Professional?
You should tell your healthcare if you:
- Have or had any unusual allergic reaction to Evista, or if you are allergic to any other substances (foods, preservatives, or dyes).
- Are or may be pregnant, are planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. It is unknown if Evista passes into breast milk. However, Evista may cause unwanted effects in nursing babies and has been shown to cause serious birth defects or other problems in animals. Evista is not recommended during pregnancy or while breast-feeding, and is for postmenopausal women only.
- Are planning to have any kind of surgery or to have a long period of inactivity (sitting, bed rest). Remaining still for long periods may cause blood clots for some people, and Evista may rarely worsen their condition.
- Have blood clot formation, active or history of, including deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and retinal embolism
- Have cancer or tumors
- Have congestive heart failure
- Have any other condition that increases the risk of blood clots
- Have liver disease
Are There Any Interactions With Drugs or Foods?
Evista and certain other medicines can interact with each other. Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take - including prescription and non-prescription medicines - especially:
- Cholestyramine (Questran)
- Estrogens - injection (Premarin), oral (Premarin, Estrace, Estratab), or transdermal (Climara, Estrace, Vivelle)
- Warfarin (Coumadin)
Evista - Getting Legal Help
While all medications have certain anticipated side effects, a drug manufacturer has a duty to make its products as reasonably safe as possible, and to inform the medical community and the public of known risks associated with its drugs. If a manufacturer fails to do so, it can be held legally responsible if patients are injured as the result of inadequate warnings or the unreasonably dangerous nature of the drug, under a legal theory called "product liability."
If you or a loved one have experienced any dangerous symptoms or unusual medical conditions while taking Evista, you should first contact your doctor or other healthcare professional. You may also wish to meet with an experienced attorney to discuss your options and to protect your right to a legal remedy for any injuries caused by Evista use.
Most content above from the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health
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