Evista (generic name: raloxifene; brand names include: Ralista) 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, estrogen (oestrogen), goes down. Evista mimics some of the beneficial effects of estrogen after menopause.

Evista has been prescribed by doctors for over 10 years to help keep bones strong and help prevent spinal fractures due to postmenopausal osteoporosis. Evista stops the thinning of the bones, increases bone mineral density, and helps restore the bone turn-over rate (the process of breaking down and rebuilding bone) to normal, premenopausal levels.

Evista is the only medicine proven to reduce both the risk of spinal fractures due to osteoporosis and the risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

In a major clinical study of 7,700 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, Evista was shown to significantly reduce their risk of getting a first spinal fracture. It even reduced the risk of subsequent fractures in postmenopausal women who had already experienced one.

In the same clinical trial of 7,700 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, Evista was proven to have a second benefit - reducing the risk of invasive breast cancer, the most common kind of breast cancer. Additional large studies have confirmed these results.

Recommendations

Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your doctor. Take Evista exactly as directed.

The usual dose of Evista is one tablet per day. You may take Evista with or without food.

Evista tablets should be swallowed whole with a glass of water. Evista should be taken in conjunction with supplementary calcium if daily calcium intake is inadequate.

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.

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 Evista, take it as soon as you remember then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the tablet you missed. Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.

Evista is only for use by women after menopause and must not be taken by women who could still have a baby.

Keep your tablets at room temperature, away from light and moisture.

Precautions

Before taking Evista, tell your doctor if:

you are allergic to any medicines; or you have intolerance to lactose;
you are being treated or have been treated for blood clots; or you have had a stroke;
you are on oestrogen or hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Ingredients

Active ingredient: raloxifene.