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What is Raloxifene
Raloxifene is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) of the benzothiophene class.
Similar to tamoxifen, raloxifene produces estrogen-like effects on bone and lipid metabolism, while antagonizing the effects of estrogen on mammary tissue. However, unlike estrogen or tamoxifen, it does not stimulate uterine tissue and behaves as an estrogen antagonist in the uterus.
Raloxifene’s pharmacologic effects make it a useful agent for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis; although it is not useful for postmenopausal hot flashes.
The effect of 60 mg/day on total-body bone mineral density is similar to that of estrogen/progestin HRT or alendronate 5 mg/day, but, the effect on bone mineral density of the lumbar spine may be less.
Raloxifene has been shown to significantly decrease the incidence of vertebral fractures, but not other fractures, in clinical trials.
According to the North American Menopause Society (NAMS), it is often considered for women who are at increased risk of vertebral fracture versus hip fracture (see Indications/Dosage for the patient populations for which NAMS recommends pharmacological treatment).
Brand Name
Evista
Indications & Dosage
- breast cancer prophylaxis
- osteoporosis
- osteoporosis prophylaxis
- uterine leiomyomata
For the treatment of osteoporosis or for osteoporosis prophylaxis in postmenopausal women
Side Effects
- abdominal pain
- arthralgia
- chest pain (unspecified)
- cholelithiasis
- conjunctivitis
- cough
- cystitis
- depression
- diarrhea
- dyspepsia
- fever
- flatulence
- headache
- hot flashes
- hyperhidrosis
- hypoesthesia
- infection
- influenza
- insomnia
- laryngitis
- leukorrhea
- mastalgia
- migraine
- muscle cramps
- myalgia
- nausea
- neuropathic pain
- peripheral edema
- pharyngitis
- phlebitis
- pulmonary embolism
- rash
- retinal thrombosis
- rhinitis
- sinusitis
- stroke
- syncope
- thromboembolism
- thrombosis
- vaginal bleeding
- vaginitis
- vertigo
- vomiting
- weight gain
Monitoring Parameters
- LFTs
Contraindications
- atrial fibrillation
- breast cancer
- breast-feeding
- cardiac disease
- cerebrovascular disease
- children
- coronary artery disease
- heart failure
- hepatic disease
- hypertension
- hypertriglyceridemia
- infants
- infertility
- mortality
- neoplastic disease
- pregnancy
- renal failure
- renal impairment
- reproductive risk
- stroke
- surgery
- thromboembolic disease
- thromboembolism
- thrombophlebitis
- tobacco smoking
- vaginal bleeding
Interactions
- Cholestyramine
- Conjugated Estrogens
- Conjugated Estrogens; Bazedoxifene
- Conjugated Estrogens; Medroxyprogesterone
- Dienogest; Estradiol valerate
- Diethylstilbestrol, DES
- Drospirenone; Estradiol
- Drospirenone; Ethinyl Estradiol
- Drospirenone; Ethinyl Estradiol; Levomefolate
- Elagolix; Estradiol; Norethindrone acetate
- Esterified Estrogens
- Esterified Estrogens; Methyltestosterone
- Estradiol
- Estradiol Cypionate; Medroxyprogesterone
- Estradiol; Levonorgestrel
- Estradiol; Norethindrone
- Estradiol; Norgestimate
- Estradiol; Progesterone
- Estrogens
- Estropipate
- Ethinyl Estradiol
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Desogestrel
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Ethynodiol Diacetate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Etonogestrel
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Levonorgestrel
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Levonorgestrel; Ferrous bisglycinate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Levonorgestrel; Folic Acid; Levomefolate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norelgestromin
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norethindrone
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norethindrone Acetate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norethindrone Acetate; Ferrous fumarate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norethindrone; Ferrous fumarate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norgestimate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norgestrel
- Fluoroestradiol F 18
- Levothyroxine
- Levothyroxine; Liothyronine (Porcine)
- Levothyroxine; Liothyronine (Synthetic)
- Liothyronine
- Mestranol; Norethindrone
- Ospemifene
- Segesterone Acetate; Ethinyl Estradiol
- Thyroid hormones
- Warfarin
