Additional Information
* The online pharmacies to which you may be referred from this website will only dispense a controlled substance to a person who has a valid prescription issued for a legitimate medical purpose based upon a medical relationship with the prescribing practitioner. This includes at least one prior in-person medical evaluation or medical evaluation via telemedicine in accordance with applicable requirements of section 309 of the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Act.
Why is this medication prescribed
Raloxifene is used to prevent and treat osteoporosis, a disease common in women past menopause, which results in bones that break easily. Raloxifene is in a class of medications called selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). It works by acting similar to estrogen, a female hormone produced by the body. Like estrogen, raloxifene increases the density of bone.
Proper Use of This Medicine
A paper with information for the patient will be given to you with your filled prescription, and will provide many details concerning the use of raloxifene. Read this paper carefully and ask your health care professional if you need additional information or explanation.
Many patients trying to prevent or treat bone loss will not notice any signs of the problem. In fact, many may feel normal. It is very important that you take your medicine exactly as directed.
Dosing
The dose of raloxifene will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average dose of raloxifene. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
- For oral dosage form (tablets):
- For preventing bone loss:
- Adults 60 mg once a day, with or without meals.
- For treating bone loss:
- Adults 60 mg once a day, with or without meals.
Missed dose
If you miss a dose of this medicine, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.
Storage
To store this medicine:
- Keep out of the reach of children.
- Store away from heat and direct light.
- Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
- Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
Other uses for this medicine
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. There is interest in possible beneficial effects of raloxifene on breast cancer risk in women.
What other information should I know
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. You should have a complete physical examination, including blood pressure measurements, breast and pelvic exams, and a Pap test at least yearly. Follow your doctor's directions for examining your breasts; report any lumps immediately. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your body's response to raloxifene.
Before you have any laboratory tests, tell the person doing the test that you take raloxifene, as this medication may interfere with some lab tests.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For raloxifene, the following should be considered:
Allergies Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to raloxifene. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy Raloxifene is not recommended during pregnancy. Presently, raloxifene is to be used in postmenopausal women only. It has been shown to cause serious birth defects or other problems in animals. Be sure you have discussed this with your doctor.
Breast-feeding It is not known whether raloxifene passes into breast milk. However, raloxifene is not recommended during breast-feeding because it may cause unwanted effects in nursing babies. Presently, raloxifene is to be used in postmenopausal women only.
Older adults This medicine has been tested only in women past menopause and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in elderly people than it does in adults who have just gone through menopause.
Other medicines Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking raloxifene, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:
- Cholestyramine (e.g., Questran) Cholestyramine can significantly reduce the absorption of raloxifene
- Estrogens, injection (e.g., Premarin) or
- Estrogens, oral (e.g., Premarin, Estrace, Estratab) or
- Estrogens, transdermal (e.g., Climara, Estrace, Vivelle) Raloxifene should not be used with estrogens
- Warfarin (e.g., Coumadin) Raloxifene may decrease the effect of warfarin, and the dose of warfarin may need to be adjusted when adding or stopping raloxifene
Other medical problems The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of raloxifene. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Blood clot formation, active or history of, including deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and retinal embolism Raloxifene may slightly increase the chances of these conditions and, if they are already present, cause them to worsen
- Cancer or tumors or
- Congestive heart failure or
- Any other condition that increases the risk of blood clots Taking raloxifene while having one of these conditions may worsen the chance that blood clots can form
- Liver disease This condition may cause higher concentrations of raloxifene in the blood
In case of emergency overdose
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
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