Product Details

What you need to know before you take Raloxifene

Do not take this medicine: If you are being treated or have been treated for blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis), in the lungs (pulmonary embolism) or in the eyes (retinal vein thrombosis). • If you are allergic to raloxifene or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). • If there is still a possibility that you can get pregnant, this medicine could harm your unborn child. • If you have liver disease (examples of liver disease include cirrhosis, mild hepatic impairment or cholestatic jaundice). • If you have severe kidney problems. • If you have any unexplained vaginal bleeding. This must be investigated by your doctor. • If you have active uterine cancer, as there is insufficient experience of Raloxifene use in women with this disease. Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine: • If you are immobilised for some time, for example are wheel-chair bound, need to be admitted to a hospital or have to stay in bed while recovering from an operation or an unexpected illness, as your risk of blood clots may increase (deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism or retinal vein thrombosis). • If you have had a cerebrovascular accident (e.g. stroke), or if your doctor has told you that you are at high risk of having one. • If you have liver disease. • If you are suffering from breast cancer, as there is insufficient experience of raloxifene use in women with this disease. • If you are receiving oral oestrogen therapy. It is unlikely that Raloxifene will cause vaginal bleeding, so any vaginal bleeding that occurs while you are taking this medicine is unexpected. You should have this investigated by your doctor. This medicine does not treat post-menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes. This medicine lowers total cholesterol and LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol. In general, it does not change triglycerides or HDL (‘good’) cholesterol. However, if you have taken oestrogen in the past and had extreme elevations in triglycerides, you should talk to your doctor before taking Raloxifene. Other medicines and Raloxifene Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. If you are taking digoxin for your heart or anti-coagulants like warfarin to thin your blood, your doctor may need to adjust your dose of these medicines. Tell your doctor if you are taking cholestyramine, which is mainly used as a lipid-lowering medicine. You should not take cholestyramine at the same time as raloxifene because raloxifene may not work as well. Pregnancy and breast-feeding Raloxifene is for use only by post-menopausal women and must not be taken by women who could still have a baby. This medicine could harm your unborn child. Do not take this medicine if you are breast-feeding as it might be excreted in mother’s milk. Driving and using machines This medicine has no or negligible effects on driving or using machines. Raloxifene contains lactose If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine. Raloxifene contains sodium This medicine contains less than 1mmol sodium (23mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially “sodium free”