Daily Medication Pearl: Raloxifene Hydrochloride (Evista)

Author(s):

Saro Arakelians, PharmD

Raloxifene hydrochloride (Evista) is indicated for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, as well as to lower the risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Medication Pearl of the Day: Evista (raloxifene hydrochloride)

Indication: Raloxifene hydrochloride (Evista) is an estrogen agonist/antagonist indicated for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, as well as to lower the risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Insight:

Dosing: 60 mg tablet orally once daily.
Dosage forms: Tablets (not scored) 60 mg.
Adverse events:Adverse reactions (>2% and more common than with placebo) include hot flashes, leg cramps, peripheral edema, flu syndrome, arthralgia, and sweating.
Mechanism of action: Raloxifene is an estrogen agonist/antagonist, commonly referred to as a selective estrogen receptor modulator. The biological actions of raloxifene are largely mediated through binding to estrogen receptors.

Source: Evista Labeling (fda.gov)