EVISTA Reviews (RALOXIFENE HYDROCHLORIDE)

Average Rating: 1.9 (377 Ratings)

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 ESTROGENS PROGESTINS

 Type: Rx Drug

  

EVISTA  (RALOXIFENE HYDROCHLORIDE):  Raloxifene is used by women to prevent and treat bone loss (osteoporosis) after menopause. It slows down bone loss and helps to keep bones strong, making them less likely to break. Raloxifene may also lower the chance of getting a certain type of breast cancer (invasive breast cancer) after menopause. Raloxifene is not an estrogen hormone, but it acts like estrogen in some parts of the body, like your bones. In other parts of the body (uterus and breasts), raloxifene acts like an estrogen blocker. It does not relieve menopause symptoms such as hot flashes. Raloxifene belongs to a class of drugs known as selective estrogen receptor modulators-SERMs. This medication should not be used before menopause. It should not be used to prevent heart disease.   FDA Approval Date: 1997-12-09 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)

  

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Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.)
5=HIGH (this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal.)

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RATING  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR EVISTACOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 1  osteoporosis and osteopenia I had severe foot cramps at night when I was asleep. I never realized they were from the drug but when I stopped the drug the cramps stopped. I also experienced a sudden loss of vision. Again, I did not connect it to the drug until I saw an ad that said loss of vision was a side effect. I had very bad pain in my hip and lower spine all the time. Since stopping the drug the pain is gone from my hip and less in my spine. This drug did not work. My dexa scan showed no improvement after 3 years of taking Evista. I lost an inch in hight. I thought my pain was from arthritis but don't think so now since stopping the drug and reading this website. I never connected my symptoms with the drug. I stopped the drug and stared on Fosamax because it did not wok. I have now stopped Fosamax as well. F 64 3 years
6/1/2008
 2  Osteoporosis After the third day of taking Evista, I felt really good. Since then I have had: increasing pain, bottom of feet, hands, legs; hot flashes. I took pill #6 last night and woke up to bad pain in one knee. When I go out of bed I had trouble with getting my balance as my eyes did not focus well. Lastly, starting a rash on neck and face. I ususlly try to take natural alternatives to prescription drugs. This is my first medication for the osteoporosis, I read up on the side effects, but, due to my doctor's confidence in Evista and my scolieosis I decided to try it. My choice now is no thanks, I was lucky to have received samples, so I am not out financially. I am going to research bone density vs bone mass, start doing mild weighted exercises, continue with the calcium and vitamin D and other that is more natural. I'm glad some people have received benefit from Evista, but not all of us respond well to canned medicine. I have learned to live with my discomforts, I do not need to be taking something that makes me feel worse. F 64 6 days
5/27/2008
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 1  Osteoporosis Had every side effect imaginable: Horrible toe and leg cramps, especially during the night; tingling/numbness in ankles and legs; dizziness; feeling of stuffiness in the head, much like an allergy, at any given time during the day; heart palpitations; stomach upset; just an overall strange feeling in the abdominal area, very hard to describe; breast pain; lack of interest in doing anything at all; inability to walk even short distances when before taking the drug I took a 2-mile walk every day; joint pain; swollen ankles; cough; depression; just want to sit and do nothing; weight loss...have lost 20 pounds in the period I've been taking it...down to 118 lbs. Food doesn't interest me though I always loved to cook. I always thought that medications were supposed to increase your quality of life. This one didn't. After taking it for about 8 months I stopped today. If the doctor doesn't like it...tough! F 78 8 months
5/24/2008
 1  osteoporosis I took evista for the first time about 15 years ago. It was the worst year of my life. No sleep and constant night sweats. It was close to menopause so I determined the side effects were related. As my osteporosis was not improving with fosomax, I started Evista again about 3 months ago. I have been experiencing terrible leg cramps, back soreness and insomnia. This is the worst drug I have ever taken. The Eli Lilly literature says nominal side effects -- they are not telling the truth. F 58 3 months
5/21/2008
 1  HRT - bone density Hot flashes/sweats - extreme joint pain - cramps in feet, calves, thighs and abdomen - inability to think at times - depression - nausea -chest pain I have undergone extensive testing to discern the cause of the mentioned symptoms without any conclusive findings. We looked at all the drugs I take and couldn;t find any that would be the cause. This week I began hearing about some of the problems with Flomax and investigated Evista. Thank you to all who have posted on thei site, you have ginge me insight. I am stopping the drug tonight and hopefully will find that it was the culprit F 54 4 years
5/20/2008
 1  bone density loss of 13% Painful joints, ankles and leg cramps. Especially at night, I thought I was losing my mind until I read other postings. Also, sore tongue, looked bruised and red. It is the only new med that I had, I only take Pravachol and Lotrel besides. I asked the Pharmacy and they said to try not taking it for awhile, I have only been on it 3 days. I had been taking Boniva but went back to Evista, I will not be taking any of them again. I will try to exercise more and watch my diet. These drugs are a major concern. Please research before you even take one pill. Beware. F 64 3 days
5/10/2008
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 1  bone loss Feet and toe cramps. Insomnia and trouble sleeping. Some mild depression. Some slight weight gain. Blurd vision , diminished sight and foggy feeling. Believe Evista caused me to have cataracts. I am stopping this drug immediately and sorry I ever started it. F 62 2 years
5/2/2008
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 1  osteoporosis I am experiencing severe pain in my hip joints, lower and upper back, hot flashes, heart palpatations and some depression which have become increasingly worse over the past year that I have taken Evista. I've had e-rays and stress test done with no evidence of problems, my medical doctor suggested that I do Yoga. I could not stand the pain of laying on the floor to practice Yoga. At my husband's suggetion I am now seeeing a chiropractor but with very little improvment. He has been very concerned that I am not improving and is considering steroid injections to ease my pain. When I found this website, and read other's comments, I immediately stopped taking Evista and my pain has already become more tolerable. I would like to add that I feel that I have a very high tolerance for pain and am quite stoic. I had natural childbirth and walked from the delivery room to my hospital room after giving birth, if that is any indication of my ability to withstand pain and discomfort. F 59 15 months
4/10/2008
 1  bone loss I've been on Evista (from Boniva (bad side effect and Fosamax which proved not to have worked by fup bone scan). I have been through many test over the last two years, it was not until tonight that I visited this site to read that what I have been experiencing are the symptons mentioned on this site. Exteme toe and leg cramps (to the point where I feel like my left leg is trying to go in another direction). My primary complaint was that I felt like I aged overnight - when trying to get up from just sitting for awhile (desk job) it would take awhile to get my legs to move. My left leg to this day feels like it just does not want to do what it should be doing - weak, stiff and feels like the bone by the tibia is becoming stiff. I have experienced strange head pains; feeling overwhelmed; feeling like I can't do task that about two years ago where no problem. This came about when going to PT and now complaining about shoulder pain that she check on the drugs I have been taken. I expl F 54 2 years
4/7/2008
 5  breast cancer prevention I had my ovaries removed because I am at high risk for both ovarian and breast cancer - Evista was prescribed as a preventative for breast cancer with the added benefit of preventing osteoporosis. All of the symptoms I've had really relate to the instant menopause I experienced from surgery. I starting taking Evista 2 months after surgery, and I can't tell that it has added any side effects. Most of the things described here are menopause-like side effects which makes sense since this drug helps block estrogen. I've been able to lose weight on this drug (by watching my diet) - it has not caused me to gain any. The only side effect I've had is the fear generated by reading other peoples' ratings! This drug has not caused me any problems that I can tell. I think rating drugs is a good idea - but take it all with a grain of salt - most of the people who post will post because they don't like a medication not because they think it is okay so you see truly horrific posts here while the majority of people don't have much of a problem so they don't post. I'm not saying that people don't have real problems but you have to put it into proportion. I read this board before taking Evista and it really scared me - I'm sorry I read it first and got all worked up. My doctor told me that this drug is out of your system after 24 hours so if you don't like it, you can go off of it pretty easily. F 44 2 months
4/2/2008
 5  OSTEOPOROSIS MY DOCTOR TOLD ME TO TAKE IT WITH AN EMPTY STOMACH AND THEN SIT FOR HALF AN HOUR AFTER TAKING IT. I STARTED TAKING IT IN THE MORNING BEFORE GOING TO WORK AND AFTER 1 HOUR I EXPERIENCED A HORRIBLE SOMNOLENCE WHICH LASTED FROM 9 AM UNTIL 3 PM. I JUST WANTED TO LIE DOWN AND SLEEP. WHAT A NIGHTMARE. I COULD NOT WORK THAT DAY. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT AT 4PM AND HAS WORKED LIKE A CLOCK SINCE THEN. I AM MORE ACTIVE, MORE ALERT, ENERGETIC , I SLEEP LIKE A LOG, WAKE UP REFRESHED, MY SKIN HAS IMPROVED, MY MOOD TOO. I GO NOW TO AEROBICS TWICE A WEEK AND DO MY TREADMILL EVERY DAY. i HAVE NOTICED I AM VERY THIRSTY I DRINK ALOT OF WATER BUT THAT IS GOOD ANY WAY. I AM FEELING LIKE I WAS 20 AGAIN AND IM CLOSE TO 60 BUT I FEEL SOOO HAPPY. AND MY SEXUAL DRIVE HAS IMPROVED AS WELL. I FEEL TWITCHES IN MY BODY HERE AND THERE BUT THAT IS BECAUSE NEW BONE IS FORMING IN MY SPONGY BONES AND THEREFORE , CHANGES ARE OCCURRING IN MY BODY WHICH I ANTICIPATE IN 10 YEARS WILL BENEFIT ME. I DO NOT WANT TO BE WALKING F 59 6 months
3/24/2008
 2  slow down bone loss I started Evista about 5 mo ago. About 3 yrs ago my DR put me on Fosamax because of the score from my bone density test. I thought the test would tell me one way or the other if I had Ostioporis but it only gives a general range. It came back with Osteapenia (sp).I could not take Fosamax because of the heartburn. The dr took me off the drug. 2 yrs later at my physical he ordered another bone scan. There was a 10% bone loss. He started me on Evista to see if it would help and also he said there were new findings that it helped with breast cancer. I took it for about 5 months.I am very blessed as I take no medications and am in very good health. about 2 weeks ago my left shoulder and upper arm started hurting. It felt like I pulled the large muscle and I can't even put my arm behind my back, even raising my arm hurts. I thought I read that could be a side effect. Bong!!! I went to google and found this wonderful site. My vision has diminished, I have gained weight, my memory has change F 63 5 days
3/21/2008
 1  early menopause due to cancer cramps, itchy rash, very nervous, tired, extreme hot sweats, sensetive breasts prescibed by consultant due to forced early menopause from cervical cancer. after reading all the comments i have now stopped taking evista F 34 42 days
3/14/2008
 1  osteoporosis I was just given a prescription for Evista today. I asked the gyn if there were any side effects associated with the drug, and she said there were none. Luckily I'm naturally skeptical of pharmabusiness and luckily I found this website. This is one prescription I will not be filling. Thanks to all of you who have left detailed information regarding Evista. F 56 0 days
2/18/2008
 3  osteoporosis Lack of mental clarity, scattered thoughts, mild depression, insomnia. F 50 21 days
2/11/2008
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 1  osteoporosis in my spine None thanks to this website! I was just prescribed Evista today for osteoporosis in my spine. I was concerned enough reading the information that came with the free samples so I looked it up and found this site. Not for me! I'll stick to alternative methods and exercise. Thanks so much for all of your ratings! F 57 0 days
2/8/2008
 2  osteoporosis unsteadiness, shooting sensations in head at night, insomnia, head "doesn't feel right" I tried Fosamax and had side effects. Have been urged to try Evista. Am on prednisone and weaning but know the effect of prednisone on the bones. Evista has made me feel horrible. My calfs ache and feel full. I feel unstead throughout the day. AS I try to slep at night, I feel trembly and can't sleep , then my head feels like it's going to split in half, I have shooting sensations in my head, nad not clear thought.trokes in my family, I'm concerned about a stroke. I even took my BP in the middle of the night and the diastolic was elevated. Has anyone else had problems at night with this drug? I have only taken 9 doses and have spaced them thinking I would start out every other day. I can't even tolerate that. I am concerned because my next alternative is Forteo, the injecatble drug and that comes with a black box warning of bone cancer. F 52 9 days
2/3/2008
 1  to preevent breast cancer recurrenc jot flashes, leg cramps within 2 weeks. Hair loss after 2 months. Stopped drug, experiencing pain and stiffness that I never experienced before F 76 3 months
2/3/2008
 1  Dr. prescribed to prevent bone loss I've had more hot flashes, joint swelling with some pain,memory problems and weight gain. I also was experiencing nighmares. I took myself off of Evista about a month ago after taking it for about two years. I'm sleeping better and am having fewer hot flashes. Needless to say I'm most upset that I took this drug and and quite upset for my doctor for not explaining more about it when it was prescribed. F 51 2 years
2/1/2008
 5   None I was on Fosamax, slight gain in bone mass, but not enough. Was on HRT. Little gain. Large gain on Evista and even greater when combined with Boniva 1 time per month. I had a 25% loss and now I am in the normal range. F 64 2 days
1/14/2008
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