Evista (raloxifene)

Raloxifene hydrochloride is a second generation selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) of the benzothiophene family. This drug is similar in its effects to the drug tamoxifen (nolvadex), exhibiting estrogen receptor antagonist properties in some tissues while acting as an estrogen receptor agonist in others. The main point of variation between the two drugs is their tissue selectivity. While raloxifene hydrochloride is a strong anti-estrogen in breat and uterine tissues, it appears to be estrogenic in bone. This allows it to protect bone density, mimicking the effects of endogenous estradiol. This is quite different than nolvadex, which is anti estrogenic in both breast and bone. In a role that novel for an anti-estrogen, raloxifene was approved by the FDA for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in post menopausal women. It is also being investigated for several other potential uses, including the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease. Raloxifene was developed by Eli Lilly & Company, and the FDA approved for U.S sale in 1997. Its first indictated use was as that of an osteoporosis treatment, owing to its ability to increase bone density. In 2007, the FDA expanded the indicated uses for the drug to include reducing the risk of invasive breast cancer in two  populations. Today, the drug is a fairly popular drug in clinical medicine, and is approved for sale in over 50 countries. The most common brand name is Evista and dominates the global market.

There is some evidence that raloxifene hydrochloride may actually be more effective for the treatment of gynecomastia than is the drug nolvadex. In one study it was shown that while both tamoxifen citrate and raloxifene hydrochloride had relatively similar rates of success in reducing the size of gynecomastia in pubertal males, raloxifene hydrochloride had a higher rate of effectively reducing the size to noticeably significant smaller levels. Obviously when one is faced with the option of choosing which compound to use when a treatment for gynecomastia is needed this should indicate that raloxifene hydrochloride may indeed be the more effective choice. A second benefit of raloxifene hydrochloride is that it seemingly has the ability to lower low-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol levels in users. The drug is able to accomplish this by way of its agonist actions on lipid metabolism. However it appears that these effects may be marginal at best and may not be all that significant in terms of the health of the user. However in a minority of studies there is some evidence that improvements in cholesterol levels can be quite significant and should improve the health of the user. It appears that more research needs to be conducted in this area before any proclamations can be made about the effect of this drug on the cardiovascular health of users. Combine this with the fact that anabolic steroid use will have a significant impact on cholesterol levels and any attempt at reaching a conclusion about this issue for bodybuilders and strength athletes is even further away. For now the use of this drug for cholesterol lowering effects is questionable. A far less contentious issue is the ability of raloxifene hydrochloride to raise the levels of follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels in male users. Like tamoxifen citrate, clomiphine citrate and toremifene citrate raloxifene hydrochloride has been demonstrated to help raise the levels of these hormones when they are suppressed. The research regarding the ability of raloxifene hydrochloride to raise testosterone levels in males is limited when compared to both clomiphine citrate and tamoxifen citrate so it is difficult to compare their effects in this regard.

When used by athletes and bodybuilders to mitigate the side effects of anabolic/androgenic steroids, the most common dosage is 30-60mg per day during the course of the steroid cycle.