I have been on Anastrozole for the past 10 months and experiencing severe hair loss and thinning. Any suggestions what I can to to prevent this. Thanks

I have had hair thinning. Been on a anastrozole almost 2 years. I shampoo and conditioner with free sulfate and use cool setting on my hair dryer and I use a pix on my hair and cool setting on my hair dryer and use a curling iron everyday. I try not use hairspray too much. Weekends I let it air dry.
It seems to be growing a little.
I also take my multivitamins and vitamin d every day. Don’t know if that helps.

As I'd been on Anastrozole (14 months) and am currently on Letrozole (28 months) since losing all my hair to chemo, I find it difficult to know what to attribute my thinner hair - drugs or age (I'm 69). I used to have rather thick hair; currently it's a bit on the thin side. As it was growing back from chemo (total hair loss) my hairdresser recommended Nioxin shampoo and Nioxin Scalp Therapy (applied to and meant to moisturize the scalp). I think the goal is to brush your hair a lot to stimulate the scalp and hair follicles and improve blood circulation. Scalp massage is also valuable. The shampoo I believe is also meant to be a clarifying shampoo to rid the scalp of old skin cells. My take is clarify, moisturize and stimulate by whatever means works best for you. I buy my Nioxin at my hairdresser, but I've also seen it at Ulta and on Amazon. I hope you find something that helps.

Could you please share these studies. I would love to do half a dose - I’m to start mid-January. Thank you!

We are not a forum of doctors this. Decision is up to your doctor i took anastrazoke for five years and was nwver offered an option of every other day talk to your doctor. Good luck

I don’t take chemo meds, but suffered hair shedding called telogen effluvium due to weight loss. Supposedly, once weight is stable, it’ll grow back. My dermatologist prescribed Minoxidil. Tiny dose of oral med. This week she saw early hair regrowth on examining my scalp. Plus, excessive shedding has stopped. Will take a year to get real results. Still….I’m relieved. It might be something you could explore with your doctor.

I personally do not, but that's just my opinion. Again, ask your oncologist.

Good point and an important distinction. I've been on anastrozole for two years with no significant side effects. Having had an aggressive estrogen-fed cancer, I will be staying on this drug for another three years- while continuing to improve my DEXA scores with an ONERO type supervised exercise program. My breast surgeon, medical oncologist and general practitioner- all women- recommend this approach. Everyone is different, but not everyone experiences severe side effects from AIs.

I also had a problem with thinning hair while taking anastrozole. I’ve read numerous articles which indicated that thinning hair can be caused by low estrogen. Since taking aromatase inhibitors, (anastrozole, letrozole, and exemestane) leaves us with a very small amount of estrogen, it seems logical that hair loss is a common side effect.

Cognitive decline secondary to Anastrozole;

Relatives in my paternal family live to their 60s-90s. None of them have had cognitive problems, or dementia—except my cousin Nancy, age 66. She just completed 5 years of anastrozole and last week her husband had to place her in a “memory care” home due to “unspecified dementia.”

In January I began taking this same dangerous drug myself and I’m frightened. Online I found peer review literature about cognitive decline associated with anastrozole. So far the side effects noticed since beginning taking it (and never before) have been a sequence of heavy rapid heart beats and possibly (?) a TIA. So my oncologist refers me to a cardio oncologist. What specialist can prevent dementia?

ANASTROZOLE may prevent a further breast cancer, but at what expense to the rest of my body and quality of life? 🥹