EVISTA Reviews (RALOXIFENE HYDROCHLORIDE)Average Rating: 1.9 (377 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare EVISTA with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Date added. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) |
More on EVISTA: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR EVISTA | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 1 | osteoporosis | serious short term memory loss | my mother's doctor put her on evista as a preventative measure a couple yrs ago, and she experienced serious short-term memory loss. She was tested for early alzheimers, but they found nothing. Her bone density had always tested as good to normal before the evista. I mentioned her memory loss & being on evista to my OB/GYN, who asked "why in the world would someone put her on evista". She said the Evista could definitely be the cause of her memory loss. We lost about 4 good years with my mother. She has been off for about 3 months, and the short term memory loss has great improved. I thought mom mother was mentally gone for good, it is good to have her back. Mother's age 78. Both doctors said evista should not be used unless it is absolutely necessary. | F | 45 | 4 years | 8/20/2009 | 1 | osteopenia | hip pain, back of upper leg pain, constant nausea, constant stomach ache and a feeling that "something wasn't right", increase in occurance and severity of all IBS symptoms, headache, minor hot flashes and stuffy feeling of closeness- almost claustrophobia-like, sleeplessness, wrist pain | I could have lived with the hot flashes which were minor. The stomach problems and leg pain led me to call my doctor, who took me off the drug today. We'll take our chances with increased Vitamin D, calcium, and weight-bearing exercise. I'm definitely NOT a complainer, but two months of an unacceptable quality of life was enough. | F | 59 | 2 months | 8/4/2009 | 3 | Breast Cancer Prevention | 4 years ago I was put on a 5 year Evista program because I was considered high risk for breast caancer. The reason I came to this web site is becase I have always felt that Evista is the cause for other medical problems that started shortly after starting the Evista an no matter what else I do, I can't seem to get rid of. Since I have been on Evista, I have gained about 20 lbs, I am always hot, I suffer leg and foot cramps, high blood pressure, high cholestrol, blurred vision and problems sleeping. These problems all started after I started taking Evista. My doctor does not acknowledge any of these side effects as being caused by the Evista, but he has given me perscriptions for each of my side effects so now I take 4 additional medications for the side effects and I have had 2 new eye glass perscriptions that does not help when the vision is blurred. I don't know if I would have had these problems anyway but after reading everyone's comments and realizing that I am not crazy in thi | F | 61 | 4 years | 8/1/2009 | 4 | Reduce Breast Cancer Probability | I went from having too much estrogen to non at all, after my ovaries were removed after having a hysterectomy for uterine fibroids. I had significant skeletal problems, but never made a connection between joint problems and a lack of estrogen. An oncologist suggested this medication, and I must say it has helped me walk better. Honestly, this medication has caused me to feel better. Please pray that BC is not a part of my future. | This meedicine is very expensive, but I pray that it will allow me to reduce my cancer risk factors. I have taken it for the fast 2 weeks. | F | 43 | 14 days | 7/30/2009 | 2 | osteopenia | HOT FLASHES, short term memory loss. NOTE: I stated I've taken it 3 weeks because that is most current. I took it for about 6 months a year ago. | Took Evista for several months, then my insurance changed and it was WAY too expensive, so my doctor switched me to generic Fosamex. I don't recall having any side effects from it. I know Boniva has some strange properties that you can't lie down until after an hour after you take it, etc. but what has worked for you? | F | 58 | 3 weeks | 7/30/2009 | 2 | osteoporosis | I didn't have any side effects since have not taken Evista yet. My estrogen levels are low and it looks like that is the cause of my osteo (very common cause for men). I am trying to work with my Dr. to decide if I would be a good candidate for Evista, considering it's side effects. I know it's not recommended for men, but seems like a safer path to me than bisphosphonates. | M | 58 | | 7/18/2009 | 1 | breast cancer prevention | dizziness, experiences a floating feeling, extreme stiffness in my legs, leg and toe cramping, general feeling that something wasn't quite right | I did take Evista for a while and over time my stiffness and general feeling of "wellness" kept getting weaker. When I developed the dizziness and the feeling that I was going to lose consciousness, I went to see my doctor. I could not blame this on getting older. My GP was not the Dr who gave me the prescription, she only mentioned side effects of Evista in passing. I decided to do some reading. Upon finding this site and reading the comments I understood that most of my complaints were really side effects of Evista. I quit taking it 6 days ago. I feel better already! | F | 57 | 14 months | 7/13/2009 | 1 | Osteopenia | Leg & toe cramps, night sweats, muscle aches, hair loss, body stiff all over, (I have had Reynaud's all my life, but perhaps Evista accelerated it's effects). | I read an article in the Wall Street Journal about a trial of over 100,000 participants being stopped, due to the severity of the side effects! At that time, I had been taking Evista for 5 years. I went to this website and identified with a lot of the side effects listed. I quit. I faxed my doctor a note that I was quitting 9/30/08. All of the side effects have not gone away, but some have and the remaining ones have diminished in intensity. I now take NO prescriptions and feel better than I have for a long time. | F | 72 | 5 years | 7/10/2009 | 2 | bone loss | Took evista for approx 4 years with no health side effects. Just changed to fosamax because most recent bone dentisty test showed further loss. Have taken two 70 mg once weekly doses on a Sunday. Headache the first day, gone by the end of the day. Drank lots of water!!!!! And ate very lightly. Had constipation that lasted until Thurs of that week. I have always been very regular. 2nd dose past Sun, no headache, but continued constipation. Very frustrating. I'll contact my dr before taking another dose after reading all the horrible side effects of fosamax. Maybe I'll just take my chances with no medication. But mother has severe scoliosis in the back. | F | 58 | 4 years | 7/9/2009 | 3 | osteoporosis | I didn't have any side effects with Evista. I took the daily dose for 2 years, but it didn't help improve bone loss when I had my last bone density scan. I tried boniva---big mistake!!! Will talk to my Dr. about something else | F | 56 | 2 years | 7/8/2009 | 1 | Osteoporosis | I took Evista for 4 years with some leg cramps. Decided to get off the drug and try natural remedies. My bone loss continued so got back on Evista one year ago and am now experiencing most of the symptoms listed on this website. Especially leg cramps, sleeplessness, weight gain, annoying cough and muscle aches. I have taken myself off the drug as of today. | F | 65 | 1 years | 7/8/2009 | 2 | Osteopenia | Side Effects: Bad foot & toe cramps (toes stiffen up and bend away in an un-normal direction - mostly at night), 10-15 lbs weight gain especially around belly (thought gain was due to thyroid but that checked out OK), chronic rhinitis, stuffy nose, & asthamtic wheezing (thought I had developed bad allergies this late in life. Taking allergy preventatives now). Sometimes at night while lying in bed, my legs ache horribly like I have been on them all day. Body is very stiff upon getting up in the morning. Use to be extremely limber, no longer. Probably one of the worst effects I have is short term memory loss. I thought it was just the aging process until I starting reading these comments! Someone can tell me something at work and I have problems retaining the information. I have resorted to taking notes or jotting things down. The whole situation is very embarrassing. I have a Master's so it is not a learning disability. Sometimes I need things explained or repeated several time | Dr. prescribed Evista for osteopenia and to help prevent breast cancer. My mother had really bad osteoperosis and I was trying to prevent. I never gave birth so am a higher risk for breast cancer. Upon taking Evista, I immediately gained weight 10-15 lbs which I can't seem to lose for the life of me. I googled side effects because the literature that came with Evista said not to take with estrogen. I use Premarin, an estrogen cream. Doctor never discussed taking this combination. Still not sure if topical cream is ok or if they were only referring to oral estrogens, will research further. Plan on discontinuing Evista and doing weight bearing exercise & taking Calc & Vit D on a regular basis. Thank you for this site. It was invaluable! | F | 55 | 4 years | 7/5/2009 | 3 | Doctor recommended for osteopinea | My doctor recommended Evista for borderline osteopinea. I took it for several years with no serious side effects. I did gain weight and had some stomach problems. Last year, my doctor switched me to once a month Actonel. I took it for about 9 months with many severe side effects. I had terrible stomach upset at first, but that got some better. I had tightness in my chest, severe hip pain, leg pain, foot pain, muscle pain, bone pain, and sholder pain. I hurt so bad in my hip and leg one day and night that I cried and screamed. I thought I would have to go to the emergency room. Nothing seem to help. The next day it was some better. I decided I would call the doctor and get her to prescribe Evista again. I have been back on Evista for 2 and 1/2 weeks. I am not having the severe bone and joint pain, but, I am having other symptoms. I am having insomnia. I have had some depression.. Also, I have been having some breast pain and stomach problems. The reason I got on the inter | I prefer Evista over Actonel. However, I wish there was something for osteopinea that wouldn't cause such symptoms. | F | 62 | 5 years | 6/7/2009 | 3 | Osteoporosis | I noticed someone a while back mentioned hair loss. I've been taking Evista for 6 months, and seemed to be tolerating it well. But then over the last 2 months, I've noticed that I'm losing a lot more hair than usual and can't think of anything else that has changed in my life. In fact, I'm retired now so should be stress-free! I also have to admit that I can't hold thoughts in my head for more than a few seconds, but hadn't put this down to Evista until reading other comments below. Did also have Reynards during the winter a bit, but my 92 old mother has that, so I've probably inherited the gene. | Obviously won't know whether Evista has worked until I have my next DEXA scan in 18 months time - if I stay on the drug that long. | F | 61 | 6 months | 6/3/2009 | 1 | Ostoepenia | After taking Evista for a month, I had severe leg and ankle pain and cramps,tingling feelings and terrible edema. I went to the doctor who told me this wasn't a side effect. After taking Evista for 3 more months, I saw the doctor again who said this WAS a side effect in 4 % of the population and to stop the medication. For over a year, I have continued to have leg pains, severe pins and needle feelings in my legs at night, and not feeling myself. I am unable to tolerate salt without leg swelling. I have also had anxious feelings, blurred vision and depression. I have trouble concentrating and finishing things due to the discomfort. | To relieve the symptoms, I was started on HRT therapy which seems to have it's own problems. The doctor's don't even acknowledge that my symptoms are from Evista. I am so relieved to read about others with similar problems, especially after stopping Evista. I am really concerned about the lack of information in the medical community regarding the fairly severe adverse and long term effects of this medication. I felt fine before I started Evista and have not been the same since although it has been almost 2 years. Is there a treatment to reverse the long term effects? | F | 52 | 4 months | 5/20/2009 | 1 | Osteopenia | After 7 days I developed hip, knee and ankle pain so severe I couldn't walk for two days. Also pain in elbows, fingers and neck. Pretty much every joint | I tried Actonel last year with the same results. My doctor assured me I wouldn't have this type of reaction with Evista. Do the doctors even read the side effects or just listen to what the drug reps tell them. I am Never taking any of these types of drugs again! Fortunately, I was using the samples so am not out any cash for this crap. | F | 58 | 7 days | 5/6/2009 | 2 | for osteoporosis | leg cramps, pain all over body, hot flashes, migraine headaches, difficulty breathing, combination of constipation and diarrhea, bleeding when I went off of it for awhile for surgery, followed by a D & C. | Can someone tell me the best way to get off of Evista? I am now taking it 3 times a week and have developed severe migraine headaches and trouble sleeping. Should I continue to go off slowly or just stop it all at once? | F | 67 | 3 years | 4/29/2009 | 2 | osteopenia | Having the mentioned symptoms¡Xpainful knee and joints, occasionally leg and toes cramps, chill, memory and concentration problem, diagnosed very early cataracts two years ago, recently immunity dropped (take a long time for a cold to recover) | LDL dropped yearly(good)and osteopenia sudden improved at the third year¡¦s therapy, on stopping therapy for a week, mentioned symptom lessened a lot, not sure all caused by E, to me glucosamine sulphate improved joint pain | F | 53 | 4 years | 4/26/2009 | 1 | osteoporosis | tendonitis in ankle after about six months on evista - stopped taking evista but ankle pain persists. have been wearing brace on ankle for about 6 months and have some slight improvement | actonel caused such sever lower back and hip pain that I passed out and landed in ER - Fosamax caused lump in jaw - evista caused tendon pain - I give up!! I'm just taking calcium and Vitamin D now. | F | 68 | 6 months | 4/19/2009 | 2 | replacement for tamoxifen | Mental confusion! loss of sexual feelings/orgasm, very noticeable upper abdominal fat, continued cramping in calves. | I had to stop taking Evista because I was making too many mistakes at work. I could not keep anything in my head, like two numbers at a time. I could not concentrate on what I was doing. This was definitely caused by Evista, because my memory improved immediately after stopping the drug. I had tried Evista (raloxifene) as a replacement for tamoxifen because it is preventative for breast cancer, good for bones, possibly good for joints (I was having stiffness in knuckles & feet), and not a uterine lining stimulant (like tamoxifen is). Too bad I had to stop Evista due to its effect of mental confusion. | F | 47 | 4 months | 4/17/2009 |