Raloxifene for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis

Abstract

Raloxifene is used to prevent or treat postmenopausal osteoporosis at a dose of 60 mg daily. Compared with calcium plus vitamin D, raloxifene seems more effective in reducing vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women. Compared with calcium plus vitamin D, raloxifene is not more effective in reducing nonvertebral fractures in postmenopausal women. Raloxifene may be associated with venous thromboembolic events and fatal strokes in postmenopausal women, although the association with fatal strokes was only seen in one study of women at high risk of cardiac events. No excess risk of coronary events is seen with raloxifene. Raloxifene may be less effective than certain bisphosphonates in preventing nonvertebral fractures, although no head-to-head comparisons are available.