A breast cancer drug touted for carrying fewer side effects may increase the risk of stroke in post-menopausal women, Health Canada warned Thursday.

Raloxifene, sold as Evista, is a close relative of the older breast cancer drug tamoxifen.

In April, U.S. researchers reported raloxifene works as well as tamoxifen at cutting the risk of invasive breast cancer in half among post-menopausal women who take it every day.

Unlike tamoxifen, raloxifene was less likely to lead to uterine cancer or potentially dangerous blood clots.

But now the drug's manufacturer, Eli Lilly, says it has uncovered stroke risks. The finding was made during a study designed to see if raloxifene reduced the risk of heart disease and breast cancer in postmenopausal women who had heart disease or were considered at high risk.

The study of 10,000 women found the incidence of stroke mortality was 1.5 per 1,000 women per year taking a placebo, compared to 2.2 per 1,000 per year for raloxifene, the company said.

Under the name Evista, raloxifene is currently prescribed for the prevention and treatment of the bone-thinning effects of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, but it is not prescribed for the prevention of heart disease.

People who have concerns about the risks associated with Evista should check with their doctor.