Raloxifene HCl (hydrochloride) is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that may assist with treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. It mimics estrogen’s effects on bone density, which may help maintain bone strength and reduce certain fracture risk.[1][2]
Raloxifene may have a positive effect on lipid profiles by decreasing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels.[3]
Raloxifene may also help reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis or those at high risk for breast cancer. The STAR (Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene) trial showed that raloxifene was as effective as tamoxifen over a period of 47-months at reducing the risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women over 35 at increased risk of developing breast cancer.[4] Although both tamoxifen and raloxifene increase risk of blood clot development, the raloxifene group had 28 percent fewer deep-vein thromboses and 20 percent fewer pulmonary embolisms than the tamoxifen group.[4] However, after an average of 81 months, raloxifene reduced risk of invasive breast cancer by about 38 percent compared to tamoxifen reduced breast cancer risk by about 50 percent.[4]