Health articles

 
Women encounter many problems once they experience menopause. One of the problems they encounter is osteoporosis. Evista (Raloxifene) is indicated for postmenopausal women to treat and prevent problems caused by osteoporosis. A woman produces less estrogen in her body when she goes through menopause. When production of estrogen gets lower, bones become fragile and may lead to bone fractures.

Indications

Evista is selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) which is also known as estrogen antagonist. It is used for treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women by reducing bone loss. Evista is also indicated to reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women. It is however important to mention that Evista does not treat breast cancer, prevent its re-emergence, nor reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Dosing and Recommendations

Recommended dosage is 60mg tablet daily. It can be administered at anytime of the day regardless of meals. For treatment or prevention of osteoporosis, calcium or vitamin D supplements should be added to the diet if daily intake is inadequate.

Take the Evista tablet according to your doctor's prescription. If you happen to miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. Don't take the missed dose if the time for your next dose is near. Just proceed to your next regular time of dose. Avoid taking two doses at the same time.

Eating healthy diet, exercising and avoiding unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking too much alcohol may also be suggested by your doctor.

Side Effects

Hot flashes, swelling, leg cramps, joint pain, and sweating are some of the common side effects women may encounter. These are usually mild and tolerable upon taking Evista.

There are also life-threatening side effects such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism due to increased blood clotting. Evista may also increase the risk of a life threatening stroke.

If you are experiencing leg pain or swelling, sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, couching woth blood, sudden loss or blurring of vision, stop taking your medication and call your doctor immediately. These are signs indicating blood clotting from Evista's side effect.

Safety Information

Do not take evista if you are pregnant, could become pregnant, or nursing a baby as it may cause fetal harm. If you have liver or kidney problems, take Evista with caution. Your doctor needs to be informed about all of your medical conditions. You should only take Evista if you are post menopause. There are still a lot of things to consider before you take Evista. It is not a right drug for everyone. For more information, it is advised that you contact your doctor and make sure that Evista is the right medication for you.