Full Answer
How long should you take raloxifene for breast cancer?
The current recommendation is that raloxifene should be used for at least 5 years to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Making a commitment to 5 years of SERM therapy is not easy because several potentially severe adverse reactions can be associated with this therapy as we have seen, and the optimal age at which to start therapy is unknown.
Is raloxifene better than tamoxifen for breast cancer prevention?
In a recent comparative study, a similar efficacy between raloxifene and tamoxifen for breast cancer prevention was demonstrated, but raloxifene showed a more favorable safety profile. Animals Anticarcinogenic Agents / adverse effects
Is raloxifene safe for postmenopausal women?
Raloxifene, on the other hand, offers significant benefit because of its lack of effect on the uterus of a postmenopausal woman. Women at elevated or high risk of developing breast cancer are those who have an RR of 1.5–five-fold.
How long should you take tamoxifen for breast cancer?
The optimal duration of risk-reducing therapy is not known, and whether using tamoxifen or raloxifene for longer than 5 years is more effective than only 5 years, to prevent the recurrence of breast cancer is the subject of ongoing clinical trials.
How long does it take for raloxifene to work?
6. Response and effectiveness. Research has shown that raloxifene significantly and consistently suppressed bone turnover within three months and this persisted for the duration of the trial (24 or 36 months).
How much does raloxifene reduce breast cancer risk?
This means that in raloxifene reduces risk of invasive breast cancer by about 38 percent compared to tamoxifen reducing breast cancer by about 50 percent over almost 7 years; or, raloxifene is about 76 percent as effective as tamoxifen in reducing risk for invasive breast cancer over almost 7 years.
When did FDA approve raloxifene?
Approval Date: 9/13/2007.
How long should you be on raloxifene?
Abstract. Background: Due to the chronic nature of osteoporosis and the risk of invasive breast cancer, raloxifene 60 mg/day (raloxifene) is intended to be used for long-term treatment (treatment >3 years).
Does raloxifene have less side effects than tamoxifen?
Raloxifene is associated with less side effects than tamoxifen in women with early breast cancer: a questionnaire study from one physician's practice. J Womens Health Gend Based Med.
What is the black box warning for raloxifene?
WARNING: Raloxifene may rarely cause serious blood clots, especially in the legs or lungs. Women who have or had blood clots (including in the legs, lungs, or eyes) should not take raloxifene.
Does raloxifene affect immune system?
These data suggest that raloxifene and tamoxifen may decrease the strength of immune responses in vivo through modulation of DC differentiation and activation.
Is raloxifene a chemo drug?
Tamoxifen and raloxifene are the only FDA-approved drugs for breast cancer risk reduction in women who do not have breast cancer, but are at higher than average risk. You may also hear the term “chemoprevention” to describe these drugs, but they aren't chemotherapy drugs.
Is raloxifene an immunosuppressant?
Decreased levels of mRNA for both tumor necrosis factor alpha and RANKL in spleen cells from raloxifene-treated arthritic mice indicated an immunosuppressive action of this SERM.
What happens when you stop taking raloxifene?
discontinuation). Patients, who discontinued alendronate therapy experienced an increase in bone turnover. Bone turnover increases were less pronounced in patients taking raloxifene and were absent in those who continued alendronate.
What is a serious adverse effect that may occur with use of raloxifene?
Seek immediate medical attention if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: leg swelling/pain, trouble breathing, chest pain, sudden vision changes, severe headache, weakness on one side of the body, confusion. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.
Who should not use raloxifene?
38 Do not take EVISTA if you: 39 • have or have had blood clots in your legs, lungs, or eyes. Taking EVISTA may increas 40 the risk of getting blood clots. e 41 • are pregnant or could become pregnant. EVISTA could harm your unborn child.
Is raloxifene used for breast cancer?
Use in Cancer. Raloxifene hydrochloride is approved to prevent: Breast cancer. It is used to decrease the chance of invasive breast cancer in post menopausal women who have a high risk for developing the disease or who have osteoporosis. Raloxifene hydrochloride is also approved to prevent and treat: Osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
Is raloxifene hydrochloride approved for osteoporosis?
Raloxifene hydrochloride is also approved to prevent and treat: Osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Raloxifene hydrochloride is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.
Is raloxifene safe for breast cancer?
Results/conclusions: Different placebo-controlled trials indicated that raloxifene is effective in reducing invasive breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women. In a recent comparative study, a similar efficacy between raloxifene and tamoxifen for breast cancer prevention was demonstrated, but raloxifene showed a more favorable safety profile.
Is raloxifene an estrogen agonist?
Background: Raloxifene is a benzothiophene, selective estrogen receptor modulator with estrogen-agonist effects in the skeleton and the cardiovascular system but estrogen-antagonist effects in the uterus and the mammary gland. This compound was first approved in different countries for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
What is the difference between raloxifene and tamoxifen?
These drugs are used more often for other things. Tamoxifen is used mainly to treat hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (breast cancer with cells that have estrogen and/or progesterone receptors on them). Raloxifene is used mostly to prevent and treat osteoporosis (very weak bones) in post-menopausal women.
What is the best medicine for breast cancer?
Tamoxifen and raloxifene are the only drugs that are approved in the US to help lower the risk of breast cancer, although for some women, drugs called aromatase inhibitors might be an option as well.
Does tamoxifen cause pulmonary embolism?
Both tamoxifen and raloxifene increase your risk of developing blood clots in a vein in your leg (deep venous thrombosis) or in your lungs (pulmonary embolism). These clots can sometimes cause serious problems, and even death. In the major studies looking at these drugs for breast cancer prevention, the overall risk of these blood clots ...
What is the risk of breast cancer in the next 5 years?
For example, if you had a 5% risk of getting breast cancer in the next 5 years, you would be considered to be at increased risk. A 5% risk would mean that over the next 5 years, 5 of 100 women with your risk would be expected to get breast cancer. A 40% reduction in your risk would mean your risk goes down to 3%.
Can you take raloxifene during menopause?
Raloxifene is used mostly to prevent and treat osteoporosis (very weak bones) in post-menopausal women. To lower the risk of breast cancer, these drugs are taken for 5 years. Both drugs are pills taken once a day. Tamoxifen also comes in a liquid form. Tamoxifen can be taken whether or not you have gone through menopause, ...
Does tamoxifen lower breast cancer risk?
Tamoxifen and Raloxifene for Lowering Breast Cancer Risk. Tamoxifen and raloxifene have been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer in women with a higher than average risk, but these drugs can have their own risks and side effects. Tamoxifen and raloxifene are the only drugs that are approved in the US to help lower the risk of breast cancer, ...
Does tamoxifen cause vaginal discharge?
The most common side effects of these drugs are symptoms of menopause. These include hot flashes and night sweats. Tamoxifen can also cause vaginal dryness and vaginal discharge. Pre-menopausal women taking tamoxifen can experience menstrual changes. Menstrual periods can become irregular or even stop. Although periods often start again after the drug is stopped, they don’t always, and some women go into menopause. This is more likely in women who were close to menopause when they started taking the drug.