Before Using

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Geriatric

This medicine has been tested only in women past menopause and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in elderly people than it does in adults who have just gone through menopause.

Breastfeeding

Studies in women breastfeeding have demonstrated harmful infant effects. An alternative to this medication should be prescribed or you should stop breastfeeding while using this medicine.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Blood clot formation, active or history of, including deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and retinal embolism—Raloxifene may slightly increase the chances of these conditions and, if they are already present, cause them to worsen. This medicine should not be used in patients with these conditions .
  • Cancer or tumors or
  • Congestive heart failure or
  • Heart rhythm problems (e.g., atrial fibrillation) or
  • High blood pressure or
  • Stroke, history of or
  • Transient ischemic attack (TIA), history of or
  • Any other condition that increases the risk of blood clots—Taking raloxifene while having one of these conditions may worsen the chance that blood clots can form .
  • Kidney disease or
  • Liver disease—These conditions may cause higher concentrations of raloxifene in the blood .

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