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 |
| 2 | Osteoporosis | Leg cramps have been manageable, but about 2 months ago, started experiencing headaches and nausea which persist on a daily basis, am being treated for a sinus infection (2nd round of antibiotics), but have had no relief. Head feels full and fuzzy all the time. Have any of you experienced this, as well? | I'm going to stop Evista today and see if my symptoms clear up. | F | 63 | 6 months | 6/30/2007 | 3 | Osteoporosis | I don't know if my symptoms have anything to do with Evista, because I'm on several other meds that can have those side-effects. After reading these (and the Boniva ratings), I'm really concerned. After the first 18 months, the osteoporosis in my spine became osteopedia & osteopedia in my hips went away; I figured that would continue. WRONG! Now it's 11% worse than it was in 2000 - at my last scan & GYN wants to put me on weekly or monthly pill, because it doesn't seem to be working anymore. | I'm thinking of stopping my Evista & waiting a while before even trying the other pills. I'm really afraid to try the Boniva, since I already have enough problems! What if the Evista is what's been causing them? | F | 69 | 8 years | 6/24/2007 | 2 | ostiopenia | none that I'm aware of | A bone density scan indicated I had osteopinea 4 years ago. I have taken Evista daily since. I certainly don't want broken bones so I never skipped a single day in the 4 years of taking this medicine. I had a bone density scan done last week. My physician called me today with the results. I now have osteoporosis. He said the Evista did nothing to help me, and to stop taking it. | F | 54 | 4 years | 6/6/2007 | 2 | preventative osteoporos/breast canc | Knees have been hurting for last three or more years. When coming off of a mountain trail a few years ago, I attributed the pain I was experience (I cried, it hurt so bad) to getting old (also this theory was supported by my doctor who wanted to place me on arthritis drugs.) A year ago pain was so bad that I could hardly walk down the stairs. Since Evista was the only drug I was on, my husband encouraged me to discontinue it to see if I got better--I stopped it and I did get better!!! After a year of being off of Evista I went to my doctor and he responded to my comments as though he didn't think Evista could be causing me this much pain and encouraged me to go on it again due to the preventative aspects for both osteoporosis AND breast cancer, both of which are in my family genes. I started Evista again and immediately experienced the pain in the knees along with the needle-like sensation in ankles and legs that others of you have written about on this website. Thank goodness fo | I also experienced the embarrassing flatulance issue one of you has written about. Being rid of that side effect took many months longer than getting rid of the pain in my knees once I stopped taking Evista. Just so you can compare, I take very good care of my body--eating well along with a vigorous exercise program 5 days a week and physical activity out-of-doors. My body weight compared to my height is well within the weight zone. I had good results with bone density testing 5+ years ago, but have not been back to see if I remained so or if things got worse . | F | 60 | 10 years | 6/1/2007 | 1 | osteooinea | My knee pain started about 20 months ago. My knees were hurting so badly that I had x-rays and a MRI done to see what was causing the pain. Those two tests turned up nothing wrong. I was so puzzled as to what could be causing me to be walking almost as badly as my 83 year old father. When I metioned this knee pain to my ob/gyn dr.(4 days ago) he suggested I try going off the Evista. I never dreamed that could be what was possibly causing me so much pain! I have also packed on about 40 lbs since being on this medication. I also thought it was strange when I was checking in for the appointment that the nurse asked me if they had been the ones who prescribed this drug for me. They did not ask me that question about the few other drugs I am on. The quality of my life has been greatly affected by this pain at work (teacher) and recreationally as I love to garden, walk, and horseback ride. | I stopped this medication 4 days ago. My knees feel a little better, and I am praying that each day will bring an improvement. Has anyone else gone through this, and how long, if ever, did it take the symptoms to reverse themselves? I was still boarderline on my last bone density test. I want my quality of life back!! | F | 53 | 2 years | 5/24/2007 | 3 | osteopinea/osteoporosis | I was diagnosed with bone loss in my early 40s, so treatment has been ongoing for almost 20 years, first with Fosomax. When bone scans showed minimal improvement, I was advised to begin taking Evista (added to Fosomax) about two years ago. Flatulance has become an embarrassing issue, but I thought some of this could be contributed to age. I have experienced severe aching in one or both hip areas when I stand for long periods or if I begin walking uphill without first walking on the level for 10-12 minutes. Also, I experience varying levels of aching in one shoulder and up the adjoining side of the neck. About 9 months ago, I began working with a fitness trainer for weight training -- the one thing I had not done to help myself rebuild bone mass. The trainer and I have continued to be puzzled as to why these aches occur, focusing on them as possibe muscle issues. Another puzzle is blurry vision when my eye physician indicates not much has changed since the previous exam. While my discom | F | 61 | 2 years | 5/17/2007 | 1 | preventative - breast cancer | hot flashes - night sweats - chills - loss of appetite, loss of weight, loss of libido - hair thinning - sinus congestion - post nasal drip - indigestion (burping, gas,) - heartburn (actually more like a lump in my throat)- tingling sensation in arm - fuzzy memory & thinking - depression, etc. Feel like a real mess. Evista is the only drug I am taking - switched from tamoxafin per Dr.'s request - am 3yrs. into the 5 yr. plan. With tamoxafin I only had the hot flashes & night sweats followed by chills - piece of cake compared to this. Oh, and one very odd thing - my front top teeth have become rough - the dentist had to file them down to make them smooth. | Have worked with internist, gynecologist, GI doc, & oncologist - have had all major tests & bloodwork done - all is well - except for me that is! Took myself off for about 4 weeks - symptoms didn't "seem" to improve much - but now that I'm back on it again, symptoms feel worse. I'm going to stop taking it for a more extended period of time. I'm wondering if anyone knows how long it really takes to get out of your system - not what the drug manufacturers say. | F | 53 | 6 months | 5/17/2007 | 1 | osteopoenia | Urinary Tract Infection like symptoms getting worse...frequent urination. Terrible burning and tingling sensation in genital area. | I have been taking Evista for 17 days. I do not take any other medication and was hoping not to experience any side effects. I have always used alternative approaches to my health. I believe I was frightened into Evista by my gyn. I never get urinary tract infections. I am stopping this drug today! | F | 53 | 17 days | 5/12/2007 | 1 | osteoporosis | in retrospect I had been having severe calf cramping at night that was not like a previous cramp..It would put my leg in awkward position and the cramps were also on the sides of my legs. I felt that these were advancing stages of my neuropathy of my feet and lower legs due to diabetes type 2. I then began to have knee pain when working out...I took analgesics before I went to the gym but finally the pain broke through them and I had to stop and get physical therapy. Meanwhile my legs were swollen and the calves rock hard. The pain became severe in the popliteal area back of my knee. The red hot poker type...and migrated to the the upper calf. Finally I had an ultrasound and there was (and still is) a clot almost the length of the lesser saphenous vein which travels in the area of my knee and upper calf. Just yesterday I saw my internist who immediastely took me off Evista. As I read other reports on this I am more hopeful than ever that the pain and swelling preceding the thrombo | I just never connected Evista to my complaints until yesterday. Time will tell if the connection is valid. I honestly hope it is because I don't want to spend the rest of my life with this discomfort I had been taking Evista for about 2 and a half years. | F | 68 | | 5/4/2007 | 1 | osteoporosis | After taking Evista for ten days I started having a terrible burning pain in my right upper leg. After a week of this I called the Dr. office and was told it probably wasn't Evista. After another week of this pain a different Dr. said I must have back problems causing inflamed nerve endings. I was told to stop the Evista for a month and try it again. It has been a month since stopping Evista and I still have the burning, tingling, and knot-like sensations now even in both lower legs and toes. | I felt perfectly fine before taking Evista but since having taken this I'm miserable. How long before this is out of your system? | F | 54 | 26 days | 5/3/2007 | 2 | estrogen blocker for breast CA | After just a few days on Evista my ankles started hurting quite a bit, with stiffness. Then, my ankles both started swelling a lot. I wasn't certain what was going on. That's when I decided to look up the side effects, and found this site. I'm going to stop it for a couple of weeks and see if the symptoms go away, while I wait for my MD appointment. | I tried Tamoxifen and immediately got so depressed that I couldn't function. This happened all three times I tried the Tamoxifen. I had hoped Evista would be okay for me. I'm not so sure it will be a good choice for me. | F | 53 | 5 days | 4/29/2007 | 1 | recent diagnosis of osteoporosis | After only a few days I noticed leg and foot cramps but did not immediately attribute them to this drug. Only when I began to notice very painful breasts, weight gain, increased arthritis symptoms and headaches, hot flashes alternating with chills did I become suspicious. I'm also suspecting it might be responsible for a significant increase in emotional responses, ie:crying at commercials which I haven't done in years. I've only been on Evista less than 2 weeks, but I will not be taking it again. If anyone knows of a natural alternative, please let me know! | F | 51 | 12 days | 4/25/2007 | 3 | Osteoporosis and Osteopenia | When I first started taking it I experienced excruciating ankle cramps, leg cramps, and the worst migraine headache I had ever had. The legs cramps come and go, but now have toe cramps and ankle cramps. I have noticed fuzzy memory and weight gain. Additionally, about 6 months into taking it started to get these feelings like I was going to "shut off" (not dizzy; not like fainting). Had MRI, carotid u/s, wore halter monitor, had stress test, and EEG. All normal. All blood work normal. Stress or Evista?? Will call dr. in am to start the stopping process. | DEXA results have improved in lower spine;worse in hip Although I read all of the literature prior to taking Evista and have since done research, this is the best site I've found. I have never posted anywhere, but felt the need to do so here. | F | 51 | 1.5 years | 4/24/2007 | 1 | osteopoenia | Have been taking Evista about 3 weeks. Started having severe pain in lower back and left hip. Increasingly worse and had CT scan, urine labs, etc. After nothing appeared to be wrong, got on website to check side effects of Evista since it is the only medication I am taking. I am very concerned about what I am reading since I am experiencing a lot of the symptoms listed such as sore throat, indigestion, and muscle weakness. Am stopping medication now to see if symptoms go away. | F | 52 | 3 weeks | 4/22/2007 | 2 | osteoporosis | I started with fosamax until i learned it can cause dead jaw problems. I've already had a bone graph on my left jaw so I stopped taking it. Next I tried evista. Took it for six months however I developed severe cramps and my toes especially at night. I could only get rid of the cramps if I got up and walked around for a while. My other concern was a tight knot feeling in my thigh which went away after I stop taking evista.I also experienced some pain in my hands. At first I contributed the pain to getting older. Now I realize it was probably the evista. I'm just going to eat well, exercise, get sunshine and hope for the best. And the thought of a possible blood clot freaks me out. I don't want to have to constantly worry about side effects from evista. Life is hard enough. | F | 61 | 6 months | 4/18/2007 | 5 | Osteoporosis | I haven't had any side effects. I have only been on the medication for 10 months, so I haven't had a follow up dexa scan to see if it is actually helping the osteoporosis. | F | 50 | 10 months | 4/12/2007 | 3 | osteopenia | Day and night hot flashes, naseau related to dizzyness. One dizzy episode so bad could barely walk straight after getting up in the morning. Constant neck and left shoulder soreness. | Think I will stop taking evista for awhile to see if side effects are related to drug. Or maybe side effects are from menopause. Was taking Actonel before but stopped after having 2 teeth pulled because of pain and then reading about the jaw death syndrome. | F | 50 | 4 months | 3/30/2007 | 1 | osteopenia | Nausea, vertigo. Could not walk properly or think clearly. Anxiety like symptoms with elevated blood pressure. I am a teacher and felt so unwell and incapable that I left my classroom and spent the afternoon in the nurse's office. While there I called my doctor who said that what I was experiencing was not a side effect of evista and that I should call my primary health-care provider. | I did not take the drup today. I feel fine. I will never take it again. | F | 55 | 1 days | 3/30/2007 | 3 | Breast Cancer Preventative | After 2 months experiencing slight nausea, minor nuisance. No other negative effects. Runner, very active gal. Premenopausal. | Nausea might also be caused by very recent breast cancer related surgeries, pain pills and antibiotics. Going to let these drugs run out of my system before blaming on Evista. | F | 47 | 4 days | 3/29/2007 | 3 | For Breast Cancer preventive | I have some leg pain, especially in the morning, which feels like arthritis, and could be. Also some minor arthritic pain in my wrists. I also notice my joints crack. But, ibuprofen does help after I have eaten something. I do cough periodically. | My cholesterol is perfect, and I have been on Evista for 10 months. Will continue taking for time being. Since my pathology for my breast cancer is HER-2 positive, my Oncologist felt this is a better fit for me now, as I am in total remission. | F | 63 | 10 months | 3/24/2007 |