Evista: Dangers and Side Effects

Introduction

Evista is the brand name of Raloxifene that is used to treat osteoporosis (loss of bone density) in menopausal women. It is taken once a day and tricks the body into believing there are increased levels of estrogen, a hormone that is essential to ensure bone thickness in women. Additionally, Evista can decrease the risk of developing invasive breast cancer.

What are some dangers associated with Evista?

There is an increased risk of blood clots and deep vein thrombosis for women taking Evista so this medication should not be prescribed to patients at high risk for these events. There is also an increased risk for ovarian cancer that the Cancer Prevention Coalition accused manufacturer Eli Lily of concealing from the general public.

Has Evista been marketed improperly?

The US Department of Justice fined Eli Lilly in excess of 36 million dollars in criminal and civil penalties for marketing Evista for unapproved uses such as cancer prevention and heart disease reduction. Evista has originally been marketed and approved as an osteoporosis drug and has only recently gained approval for the treatment of cancer. Prior to that, Eli Lily lobbied doctors to prescribe the drug for unapproved uses to boost its sales. This led to a lawsuit by pharmaceutical rival Zenaca that complained that their approve cancer medication was being undercut by the unapproved use of Evista. Eli Lily has since been dogged by complaints of improper and unapproved claims.

What should I do if I have experienced severe side effects from taking Evista?

Although Evista has finally gained approval for some uses of the drug that that they had been marketing for years they may still be held liable for damages due to intentional suppression of risks associated with the drug and unapproved claims about the potential uses of the drug. Doctors too, may have collaborated with Eli Lilly to irresponsibly prescribe the drug without regard for its potentially lethal side effects for women at danger for blood clots and stroke. An attorney can help you determine potential liability and your best course of action. There are potential class-action lawsuits that you may be to join.