Evista (Raloxifene Hydrochloride) Lawyers

Raloxifene is used to prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, and to reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women at high risk for invasive breast cancer, or in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. It is made and sold by Eli Lilly and Company under the brand name Evista.

Controversy over the drug surfaced when in May 2006, when Health Canada warned that the use of Evista carried an increase risk of death due to stroke in menopausal women at increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Then after Evista was approved for use in the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer, some of the media was confused over the interpretation of the trial results, and experts criticized the way information about the drug was released. There seemed to be no specific clinical evidence for its use for this purpose over established drugs.

In its September 14, 2007 announcement of approval of the new use for Evista, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cautioned that due to its potentially serious side effects, "the benefits and risks of taking Evista should be carefully evaluated for each individual woman." Side effects of Evista may include:

• Blood clots in the legs and lungs
• Death due to stroke
• Hot flashes
• Swelling of the feet and legs
• Leg cramps
• Joint pain
• Flu-like symptoms
• Sweating

In its announcement, the FDA also warned that women who have, or have had, blood clots in the lungs, legs, or eyes, women who are premenopausal, and women who are or may become pregnant should not take Evista. Evista should also not be taken with cholestyramine (Questran, Cholybar), which is used to lower cholesterol levels, or estrogens.

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of having been given Evista, you may be entitled to compensation. To find out, you may wish to consult with a qualified pharmaceutical injury attorney. But don't delay - by law you may have a limited time to act.