Common Questions
What drugs may interact with raloxifene?
Levothyroxine: There has been a case report of raloxifene interfering with the absorption of levothyroxine when these medications are taken at the same time but not when taken at different times of the day (1). The mechanism is unclear.
Warfarin: Raloxifene may decreases the INR by unknown mechanism, therefore close monitoring of the INR is indicated with either initiating or discontinuing raloxifene (2).
Cholestyramine: This may cause a 60% reduction in the absorption and enterohepatic cycling of raloxifene due to binding. If both medications are needed, then it is best if these are taken at different times of the day (3).
- Siraj ES, Gupta MK, Reddy SSk. Raloxifene causing malabsorption of levothyroxine. Arch Intern Med 2003; 163: 1367-70.
- Miller JW, Skerjanec A, Knadler MP, et al. Divergent effects of raloxifene HCL on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of warfarin. Pharm Res 2001; 18: 1024-8.
- Product Information: Evista(R), raloxifene hydrochloride. Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN 2000.