Evista/Raloxifene IS USED FOR:

Treating and preventing osteoporosis (bone thinning) in women past menopause.

Evista/Raloxifene is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). It prevents osteoporosis by building bone and stopping the thinning of bone that occurs in women after menopause.

Evista/Raloxifene is as effective as Nolvadex/tamoxifen in reducing the incidence of breast cancer in certain high risk groups of females.

DO NOT USE Evista/Raloxifene IF:

• you are taking an anion exchange resin (eg, cholestyramine)
• you are pregnant, could become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• you are allergic to any ingredient in Evista/Raloxifene
• you have or have had blood clots

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF Evista/Raloxifene :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Depression; gas; hot flashes; indigestion; joint pain; laryngitis; leg cramps; muscle pain; sleeplessness; stomach ache; vaginal irritation, redness, or swelling.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); abnormal vaginal bleeding or spotting; bladder inflammation; breast pain, tenderness, or enlargement; changes in vision; chest pain; coughing up blood; pain in the calves; shortness of breath; swelling of the hands, feet, or legs; unusual weight gain; urinary tract disorder; vaginal bleeding or discharge.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:

• Being immobile for a long period of time while taking Evista/Raloxifene may increase your risk of blood clots. During long periods of travel, get up and move around as often as possible.
• Evista/Raloxifene should not be used in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
• It is important to have enough Phoslo/calcium and vitamin D in your diet. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about your diet or about taking dietary supplements, such as Phoslo/calcium or vitamin D.
• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Evista/Raloxifene before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Do not use Evista/Raloxifene if you are pregnant. Avoid becoming pregnant while you are taking it. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor right away. It is not known if Evista/Raloxifene is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Evista/Raloxifene.

BEFORE USING Evista/Raloxifene :

Some medical conditions may interact with Evista/Raloxifene. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are currently immobilized, have liver problems, congestive heart failure, or cancer, or have not passed menopause
• if your cholesterol and/or triglyceride levels increased when you took estrogens in the past
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Evista/Raloxifene. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Anion exchange resins (eg, cholestyramine) because they may decrease the effectiveness of Evista/Raloxifene
• Anticoagulants (eg, Coumadin/warfarin) or thyroid hormones (eg, Levoxyl/levothyroxine) because their effectiveness may be decreased by Evista/Raloxifene

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Evista/Raloxifene may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

HOW TO USE Evista/Raloxifene :

Use Evista/Raloxifene as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• If you miss a dose of Evista/Raloxifene , use it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use 2 doses at once.
• Take Evista/Raloxifene by mouth with or without food.
• An extra patient leaflet is available with Evista/Raloxifene. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Evista/Raloxifene.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.