arimidex hair changes thinning

yes, the Arimidex does affect hair. Mine is becoming so thin now that I don't know how much longer I can go without going back to a wig - which I hate.

I have been on generic Arimidex for 14 months now.  My hair is thinning on top and getting frizzy.  Very concerned.

My hair was never my greatest asset -- coarse and wiry -- but I actually liked it when it grew back after chemo.  It was quite curly and very soft.  NOW, after being on Femara for a couple of years, and Tamox before that, it's getting so thin.  My hairdresser use to have use thinning shears but not anymore.  This is a very emotional thing for me.  I think everyone notices it, and I'm very embarrassed.  When I touch my head, I can feel the hardness, just like during chemo.  I wonder how bad it's going to get... 

Nioxin doesn't work - and it's expensive.  AIs cause hair loss and that's why we need better drug therapies - anyone anywhere listening?

The Nioxin doesn't deal with the hair loss.  It keeps the frizz under nice control. 

Am happy to be alive and to have to deal with these issues!

My onc just prescribed zinc and selenium. I haven't taken them yet. Will get back to you guys if they work. Ask your oncs though as one or the other can interfere with meds. And too much can be harmful.

I started on Armidex in March 2008.  Except for debilitating joint pain off and on, I noticed no hair issues until Summer of 2011, shortly after my med onc switched me to Femara - because it was so much cheaper.  By March of 2012, I had noticed significant hair loss - in fact it was my husband who first commented on how much of my hair was around the bathroom.  So glad to save some money in exchange for my hair!  Boo!! And this after being totally hairless for the entire 6 months of chemo!  Why doesn't it feel as if I've won the prize?  After being back on Armidex, my hair has only continued to thin, especially in the front and on top.  And it is so dry and just plan awful.  I have 8 months to go and am seriously considering rolling the dice and going off the Arimidex now and hope my hair will grow back in.

Hi Lori,

I to have sufferred your fustration with thinning hair.  Every time I wash my hair I get a handfull of hair.  It is getting very thin and wondering If I should go back to my wig.  I too have thought about going off my medicatin of arimidex.  My oncologist told me to stay on it for another year.  I will be 5yrs cancer free in October net month.  It is hard to look in the mirror anymore and see my thin hair. 

I've only been on Anastrozole (generic Arimidex) for three weeks, but in the forums about SEs I've read that the supplement Biotin can be helpful for thinning hair.

I'm really hoping I don't need it, but I picked some up just in case!

Well, after careful consideration and a bit of a tongue-lashing from my daughter (who happens to be a doctor!), I've decided to finish the recommended course of Arimidex.  Once this pack of pills is done, I have 5 months left.  What's another 5 months, I guess?  And I cut my hair super-short (too short, actually) and now it's at a great length that I feel it's not nearly as noticeable that it's quite thin.  My doctor-daughter advised me to give a lot of thought to the fact that, as a 50+ year old, I should expect to experience age-related "issues", one of them being thinning hair.  Her comments/advice gave me pause to wonder whether going off Arimidex would improve the condition of my hair.  And it I go off the med and my hair doesn't change, then I'll be pissed - and SCARED!!  That's where I'm at!  Take care everyone!! 

I took Arimidex and tamoxifin for 18 months. Four years later, I noticed severe hairloss.  I feel it fall as I walk.  I wasted two years with MD telling me that it could be thyroid.  I began taking thyroid medicine for hypothyroidism.  He finally said it's not thyroid.  I went to a dermatologist and endocrinologist.  The dermatologist (and endocrinologist) said my DHEA was high which causes male pattern baldness.  When your estrogen is suddenly, chemically stopped; the male hormone levels will rise causing male pattern baldness (hormone inbalance).  The endocrinologist said no doctor would give me estrogen because of the BC.  The derma put me on spirolactin about 3 weeks ago.  They say it takes 6 months to do anything.  She also told me to use men's strength rogaine.  I also take every supplement I know of for hair including biotin, zinc, saw palmetto, L-lysine, etc.  I use an organic shampoo with biotin.  So far, nothing really helps, but it's too soon to tell for the spirolactin or rogaine.

If anyone has answers please let us know.

Sandy 

I am on Anastrozole for past 7 months and started noticing a hair thinning too among with other bunch of side effects such as joint pain and stiffness, chronic fatique and insomnia, hot flushes, weight gain - all that makes me feel like I am 90-years old (I will be 52 next month)... Right after I lossed my hair during chemo I started taking Hair, skin, and nails vitamin supplements with huge ammount of daily value (1700%) of Biotin, and I used a Nioxin system #2 shampoo and conditioner, and my hair came back nice and thick first, but now that I am on Anastrozle  I know it is very fine and thinning, the only body I have on my head is from my curls...I am considering to quite Anastrozole. It cripples me...

I also want to color my hair, it came back pretty gray, and I feel that I look older now, but again with soft and frain hair should I take a chance of damaging them more with coloring....My hair is about 3-4 inches in length now.

I’ve just been on Arimidex for 7 weeks but just had my usual hair coloring done. It has always come out dark brown but this time it came out very dark black. Looked horrendous. I went back to the salon and they assured me they used the same formula so don’t know what happened, but they did a clarifying shampoo for me and it lightened it just a shade but enough that I didn’t look ridiculous. Could it be the Arimidex? My hair has been falling out as well but that started before I had radiation and before I started the Arimidex. I thought maybe it was low thyroid but that tested ok. So I can’t blame the Arimidex for hair falling out.