Raloxifene (Evista) Side Effects

The most common side effects of raloxifene are listed below. Most side effects get better after your body has had time to adjust to the medicine. Call your doctor for medical advice if side effects are severe or persistent.

Hot flashes (especially in the first 6 months of taking raloxifene)

• Leg cramps
• Joint pain
• Flu-like symptoms
• Swelling of the hands, lower legs, ankles, or feet
• Sweating
• Insomnia (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep)

Some of the side effects of raloxifene are more serious. Stop taking raloxifene and call your doctor right away or seek emergency medical attention if you develop the following symptoms:

• Blood clot in the leg (deep vein thrombosis) with symptoms such as leg pain, swelling, and warmth
• Blood clot in the lung (pulmonary edema) with symptoms such as shortness of breath, sudden chest pain, or hemoptysis (coughing up blood)
• Blood clot in the eye with symptoms such as sudden changes in vision (blurred vision or loss of vision)
• Signs of a stroke or mini-stroke such as sudden numbness, weakness, severe headache, confusion, trouble walking or talking

The above list may not include all the potential side effects of raloxifene. Contact your health care professional if the adverse reactions are unusual or severe or they do not get better over time. You can also report unusual side effects to the Food and Drug Administration at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Raloxifene (Evista) Overdose: In case of an overdose of raloxifene, call your doctor immediately. You can also call your local poison control center or the national poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Overdose symptoms may include dizziness, loss of coordination, leg cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, tremor, flushing, or rash.

Source: FDA