What are the side effects of Evista?
The drug EvistaŽ (raloxifene) acts like estrogen in certain places in the body, but is not a hormone. EvistaŽ helps prevent osteoporosis in women who've reached menopause. Osteoporosis causes bones to gradually grow thin, fragile, and more likely to break. EvistaŽ slows down the loss of bone mass that occurs with menopause, lowering the risk of spine fractures due to osteoporosis.
EvistaŽ side effects
Evista's most commonly reported side effects are mild, and include flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough, runny nose, or sore throat. Other common side effects are hot flashes (sweating and flushing), joint pain, leg cramps, nausea, and weight gain. Studies have shown that as many as 24% of women taking EvistaŽ experience hot flashes. This can be uncomfortable for women who already have hot flashes due to menopause. The risk of blood clots is a rare, but a potentially serious side effect.
Avoiding side effects
Women who expect to spend long periods of time in bed, such as after surgery, may need to
temporarily stop taking EvistaŽ. It's also
recommended that women who take the drug get up and move around every one to two hours during
long airplane or car trips to help prevent blood clots. Women who are pregnant, breast-feeding,
or who have a history of blood clots should not take EvistaŽ.
Read an In-Depth Report on osteoporosis in the
Health Encyclopedia.
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