Raloxifene hydrochloride
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet is designed to provide you with answers to some common questions about this medicine. It does not contain all the available information and does not take the place of talking with your doctor.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has more information about this medicine than is contained in this leaflet. Also, your doctor has had the benefit of taking a full and detailed history from you and is in the best position to make an expert judgement to meet your individual needs.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with this medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What EVISTA is used for
EVISTA belongs to a group of non-hormonal medicines called Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs). When a woman reaches menopause, the level of the female sex hormone, oestrogen, goes down. EVISTA mimics some of the beneficial effects of oestrogen after menopause.
EVISTA is used to prevent and treat osteoporosis in women after menopause.
Osteoporosis causes your bones to become thin and fragile - it is especially common in women after menopause. While osteoporosis may have no symptoms at first, it makes your bones more likely to break, especially in your spine, hips and wrists. Osteoporosis may also cause back pain, loss of height and a curved back.
Fractures may occur during normal, everyday activity, such as lifting, or from minor injury that would not ordinarily fracture normal bone.
EVISTA is also used to reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer in women with osteoporosis after menopause and reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer in women at high risk of invasive breast cancer after menopause.
Breast cancer is invasive when it has spread outside the milk duct or milk-making glands and has grown into normal tissue inside the breast. Invasive cancers can spread cancer to other parts of the body through the bloodstream and lymphatic system.
Your doctor may have prescribed EVISTA for another reason.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why EVISTA has been prescribed for you.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Before you take EVISTA
Tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions or if you have ever experienced any of these conditions.
When you must not take EVISTA
Do not take EVISTA:
if you have not been through menopause. EVISTA is only for use by women after menopause and must not be taken by women who could still have a baby.
if you have had an allergic reaction to EVISTA or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet (see 'Product Description'). Signs of an allergic reaction may include a skin rash, itching, shortness of breath or swelling of the face, lips or tongue.
if you are being treated or have been treated for blood clots.
if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering, or if the tablets do not look quite right.
if the expiry date on the pack has passed. If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking EVISTA, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Before you start taking EVISTA
You must tell your doctor:
if you have any unexplained vaginal bleeding.
if you are at risk of blood clots.
if you are, or know you will be immobilised for some time, e.g., being wheel-chair bound or having to stay in bed while recovering from an operation or illness.
if you have liver disease.
if you are intolerant of lactose. EVISTA contains a small amount of lactose (about 150 mg) which is unlikely to affect you.
if you have menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes. EVISTA does not treat hot flushes.
if you are breastfeeding.
if you are on oestrogen or hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
if you have or have had high blood fats (triglycerides) caused by oestrogen.
if you have previously had a stroke, or if you have ever had other risk factors for stroke such as a mini-stroke (transient ischaemic attack) or a type of irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation
if you have had breast cancer. EVISTA has not been fully studied in women who have a history of breast cancer.
Before starting and while taking EVISTA you should have breast examinations and mammograms, as directed by your Doctor. EVISTA does not eliminate the chance of developing breast cancers, you need these examinations to find any breast cancers as early as possible.
EVISTA is not intended to be taken by men.
EVISTA has no known effect on driving or the ability to use machinery.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and EVISTA may interfere with each other. These include:
medicines for your heart such as digitalis drugs (e.g. digoxin) or blood thinning drugs such as warfarin. Your doctor may need to adjust the dose of these medicines.
hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or oestrogens.
lipid-lowering drugs including cholestyramine.
Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking EVISTA.
Tell your doctor about these things before taking EVISTA.
How to take EVISTA
Carefully follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist.
These may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
How much to take
The usual dose of EVISTA is one tablet per day.
How to take it
EVISTA tablets should be swallowed whole with a glass of water.
When prescribed for the treatment or prevention of osteoporosis, EVISTA should be taken in conjunction with supplementary calcium if daily calcium intake is inadequate.
When to take it
It does not matter what time of day you take your tablet. However, it is best to take it at the same time each day as this will help you remember to take it.
The days of the week are printed on the blister foil to help you take your tablet each day.
You may take EVISTA with or without food.
How long do I take it
For maximum benefit, EVISTA is intended for long-term use.
Do not stop taking EVISTA without first talking to your doctor.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the tablet you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you take too much
Immediately telephone your doctor or go to the Accident and Emergency Department at your nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else has taken too much EVISTA.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
In adults, symptoms of an overdose may include leg cramps and dizziness.
In children, symptoms of an overdose may include coordination problems, dizziness, vomiting, rash, diarrhoea, repetitive shaking, and flushing.
While you are taking EVISTA
Things you must do
It is important that you remember to take EVISTA daily and at the dose prescribed by your doctor.
Tell all doctors and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking EVISTA.
While you are taking EVISTA, tell your doctor or pharmacist before you start any new medicine.
If you become pregnant while taking EVISTA, tell your doctor.
Tell your doctor if you are immobilised for some time, e.g., being wheel-chair bound or having to stay in bed while recovering from an operation or illness.
If you are going on a long plane or car trip, you should move about periodically.
Tell your doctor if you have any vaginal bleeding.
Things you must not do
Do not stop taking EVISTA without first checking with your doctor.
Do not give EVISTA to anyone else, your doctor has prescribed it specifically for you.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you experience any undesirable effect or feel unwell while you are taking EVISTA.
Like other medicines, EVISTA may cause some unwanted side effects. These are likely to vary from patient to patient.
The majority of side effects seen with EVISTA have been mild.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following side effects and they worry you:
hot flushes
leg cramps
muscle spasms
swelling of hands, feet and legs
flu-like symptoms
These are the more common side effects of EVISTA.
Tell your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency Department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
severe pain or swelling in your legs
severe stomach pain
problems with your eyesight
shortness of breath or pain on breathing
In clinical trials of EVISTA, some women experienced blood clots in the veins (venous thromboembolic events). This occurred in less than 1% of EVISTA patients. This is a serious side effect. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything unusual or if you are concerned about any aspect of your health, even if you think the problems are not associated with this medicine and are not referred to in this leaflet.
Clinical trials using EVISTA have shown that:
Women taking EVISTA have less swelling, tenderness and pain in their breasts than women receiving oestrogen.
Unlike oestrogen, EVISTA has no effect on the uterus and is unlikely to cause vaginal bleeding or spotting.
After taking EVISTA
Storage
Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it is time to take them.
Keep your tablets in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 30 degrees C.
All medicines should be kept where young children cannot reach them.
There will be an expiry date (month, year) on your EVISTA pack.
The medicine should not be taken after this date because it may have lost some of its strength.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking EVISTA or you find that the tablets have passed their expiry date, please return any left over tablets to your pharmacist.
Product Description
What it looks like
EVISTA tablets are white, oval shaped and film coated. Each EVISTA tablet has the identicode number '4165' printed on it in blue ink.
Ingredients
Active Ingredient - raloxifene.
Each EVISTA tablet contains 60 mg of raloxifene hydrochloride which is equivalent to 56 mg raloxifene.
Inactive Ingredients - anhydrous lactose, lactose monohydrate, povidone, polysorbate 80, crospovidone, magnesium stearate, Colour Mixture White YS-1-18027-A, carnauba wax and Edible Blue Ink.
