Raloxifene belongs to the Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator, or SERM, class of medications. SERM drugs act as estrogen in some organs, while blocking estrogen from others. In the case of Raloxifene, it acts as estrogen in the bones---preserving bone density---while blocking estrogen from the breasts and uterus, reducing risk of certain cancers.

The overwhelming majority of patients prescribed Raloxifene are postmenopausal women; use in pre-menopausal women and men is quite rare, though it does happen in some scenarios.

Postmenopausal women buy Raloxifene to:

• Reduce risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women;
• Reduce risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women who have osteoporosis;
• Reduce risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women who are high risk.

Patients should generally not use Raloxifene to:

• Treat existing breast cancer;
• Treat men or pre-menopausal women for any condition;
• Address menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes.

In treating or preventing osteoporosis and preventing breast cancer, treatment must continue. This means many patients will need to buy Raloxifene for years, sometimes for the remainder of life.

Patients often buy Raloxifene under its brand names of Evista or Optruma. It may be available under a variety of other names depending on location.

Raloxifene versus Tamoxifen

Another commonly-used SERM is tamoxifen. Tamoxifen has been on the market much longer than Raloxifene, so it is often the go-to treatment even though benefits and drawbacks are very similar between the two.

One difference that will matter to some women is:

• Raloxifene is less likely than tamoxifen to cause uterine cancer.
• Raloxifene is more likely than tamoxifen to cause blood clots.

Though both blood clots and uterine cancer are very rare side effects, women at elevated risk for uterine cancer may wish to buy Raloxifene, while those at elevated risk for blood clots may want to buy tamoxifen instead.

Both Raloxifene and tamoxifen have the side-benefit of lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood, though neither increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. While this is a beneficial side effect, due to the other actions of these medications they are not prescribed solely as a cholesterol treatment.

Taking Raloxifene

Raloxifene is only available in 60 mg tablets. One of these per day is the standard dose, though this may deviate to some degree according to doctor instructions.

Doses can be taken with or without food as desired, unless a doctor instructs otherwise. If a dose is missed, it should be skipped entirely. Do not take a double dose to compensate for a skipped dose.

Treatment typically spans years, and may be indefinite.

Numerous studies have indicated that Raloxifene does very well at preserving bone mineral density, and women at high risk of breast cancer were 50 percent less likely to develop it.

Women who buy Raloxifene to treat osteoporosis should also make sure enough calcium and vitamin D are being consumed. Supplements can be very helpful in these cases, as it can be difficult to acquire enough through diet alone. The exact amounts will vary according to weight, other medical conditions, and so forth, but in general postmenopausal women need 1500 mg per day of calcium and 400 to 800 IU (10 to 20 mcg) of Vitamin D per day. A doctor can give more personalized recommendations.

Warnings & Side Effects

Raloxifene is a potent medication that does carry risk, however slight, of serious adverse effects. It may also interact with other medications, including over-the-counter varieties; to be on the safe side, always double-check with a doctor or pharmacist before mixing treatments.

Some side effects from Raloxifene are fairly common, experienced by 10 to 30 percent of women who take it. Fortunately these are usually mild and not cause for concern, including:

• Dry skin
• Hot flashes
• Sweating
• Cold-like symptoms
• Difficulty sleeping
• Leg cramps
• Joint pain

Rarely more serious side effects will develop, which are cause for concern. Seek immediate medical attention if experiencing:

• Blood clots - often first noticeable by swelling, warmth, or pain in the calf
• Swelling of the legs, feet, or hands
• Vision changes
• Severe weakness or fatigue
• Difficulty speaking or understanding
• Confusion or disorientation
• Severe headache

All patients who buy Raloxifene should expect routine doctor visits to be scheduled, to make sure the medication is working as intended as well as to monitor for developing side effects. Bone density tests will also be performed at least every 2 years. Patients are strongly encouraged to attend all doctor checkups.

While it is only rarely prescribed to pre-menopausal women or to men, those who do buy Raloxifene should be aware that it will very likely cause birth defects. At least two birth control methods should be utilized if pregnancy is a possibility---and this includes men taking Raloxifene even if the woman isn't. Women who discover they're pregnant while taking Raloxifene should stop taking it immediately and speak with a doctor about the best course of action.

Buy Raloxifene from the Comfort of Home

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Our clients do need a prescription to buy Raloxifene. If you don't have one, our online doctor may be able to issue one to qualifying clients; simply add the desired product to your cart, begin checkout, and answer the questions on the following page. There is no charge for our online doctor services.

Patients who already have a prescription to buy Raloxifene will be provided with options to transfer it to us after completing checkout.

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