Evista (Raloxifene) for Osteoporosis

What Members Say Top Tips Side Effects FAQs

Evista (raloxifene) is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat and prevent osteoporosis in women after menopause.

What Members Say

MHT logo These insights are based on 268 comments about Evista from MyOsteoTeam members. These are the experiences of a small number of people and are not meant to be medical advice.

Benefits:

Once-daily tablets feel simpler than injections or infusions.
Bone density may stay stable or improve on follow-up scans.
Spine fracture protection is a key reason for choosing treatment.

Considerations:

Blood clot risk is a major concern and is listed in Evista’s boxed warning.
Evista should stop at least 72 hours before prolonged immobilization.
Hot flashes and leg cramps are common side effects.

How Evista Works and How It’s Taken

Evista is a type of medicine called a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). It attaches to estrogen receptors in the body. In bone, it acts like estrogen. This helps slow bone breakdown and bone turnover. It can also increase bone density and lower the risk of fractures.

Doctors prescribe Evista to treat or prevent osteoporosis in women after menopause. Evista is not recommended for women who have not gone through menopause.

Evista comes as a tablet taken by mouth once a day. It can be taken at any time of day, with or without food.

Typical Dosing for Osteoporosis

The recommended dose of Evista is one 60-milligram tablet once daily.

Your healthcare provider may recommend calcium and vitamin D if you are not getting enough from your diet.

This information is based on prescribing information, but your healthcare provider may tailor your treatment plan. Always follow their guidance.

Top Advice From Members on Evista

MHT logo These insights are based on 268 comments about Evista from MyOsteoTeam members.

Members who use Evista often say it helps to stay in close contact with your doctor, especially if you notice side effects or have a history that could affect treatment choice. Many members also mention keeping expectations realistic, following up with bone scans, and supporting treatment with exercise, calcium, and vitamin D when their doctor recommends them.

1

Talk to your doctor about blood clot risk first.
“I was completely freaked out about the side effects. My doctor reviewed my blood clot risk. The potential side effects are more tolerable for me, as I don’t have any risk factors for blood clots. If you haven’t already, read about it and talk to your doctor.”
2

Ask your doctor what to expect from follow-up bone scans.
“I took Evista for osteoporosis for about three years. I didn’t gain bone, but also didn’t lose it.”
3

Support treatment with exercise, calcium, and vitamin D.
“I initially started going to a PT program where I was given exercises for bone health. Then I joined a gym and have added weight-bearing exercise to my life. I have also tried very hard to take calcium and vitamin D daily.”

Connect with others who understand life with osteoporosis. Join MyOsteoTeam for free.

Evista Side Effects

In clinical studies of Evista, the most common side effects occurred in about 3 percent to 25 percent of people. These include:

Hot flashes
Leg cramps
Peripheral edema (swelling)
Flu-like symptoms
Arthralgia (joint pain)
Sweating

Serious Side Effects and Warnings

Evista can cause serious side effects that may require immediate medical attention. These include:

Venous thromboembolism — Blood clots in a vein can occur, including deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or retinal vein thrombosis in the eye.
Death due to stroke — A higher risk of death from stroke was seen in a study of postmenopausal women with coronary heart disease or at increased risk for major coronary events.

Get medical help right away if you think you are having a serious reaction.

What To Know Before Taking Evista

Before starting Evista, your healthcare provider may review whether you are getting enough calcium and vitamin D and may recommend supplements if needed.

Before starting Evista, tell your doctor if you:

Have had blood clots in your legs, lungs, or eyes
Have had a stroke or mini-stroke
Have an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation
Have had breast cancer (Evista has not been fully studied in women with a history of breast cancer.)
Have liver or kidney problems
Have taken estrogen and developed very high levels of triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood
Are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
Have any allergies to raloxifene or any ingredients in Evista

Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Do not take Evista if you have or have had blood clots in the veins, including:

Deep vein thrombosis, a blood clot in a deep vein
Pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in the lungs
Retinal vein thrombosis, a blood clot in the eye

Evista is also FDA-approved to lower the risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women who are at high risk. Evista does not completely remove the risk of breast cancer.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take two doses at the same time.

Evista should not be used during pregnancy. It is also not intended for women who could become pregnant. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

Community FAQs

These answers are fact-checked by our editorial staff.

How effective is Evista for osteoporosis?

In a three-year study of women with osteoporosis after menopause, Evista increased bone mineral density in the spine and hip by about 2 percent to 3 percent.

Evista also lowered the chance of new fractures in the bones of the spine, called vertebral fractures. Among women who did not have a vertebral fracture at the start of the study, 1.9 percent of those taking Evista had a new vertebral fracture, compared with 4.3 percent taking a placebo.

Among women who already had a vertebral fracture, 14.1 percent taking Evista had a new vertebral fracture, compared with 20.2 percent taking a placebo.

Painful vertebral fractures occurred in 1.8 percent of women taking Evista compared with 3.1 percent taking a placebo.

How long does Evista take to work for osteoporosis?

Changes in signs of bone turnover were seen by three months in clinical studies. These signs are measurements that show how quickly old bone is being broken down and replaced.

In studies of Evista for osteoporosis prevention, improvements in bone mineral density were seen at 12 months and were maintained at 24 months. In the osteoporosis treatment study, bone mineral density was measured at 12, 24, and 36 months.

Does Evista interact with other medications?

Yes. Evista can interact with some medicines, including cholestyramine, warfarin and similar blood thinners, systemic estrogens, and some medicines that bind strongly to proteins in the blood. Tell your healthcare provider about all prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements you take.