Hair Loss Remedies for Thinning Hair on aromatase inhibitors?

Posted by nd14 @nd14, Jun 6, 2023

Hi! I’m about to start endocrine therapy (AI plus Lupron) and am wondering if anyone has used any topical creams that helped with hair thinning, something I am afraid of (along w all the other side effects)!

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@dgayle

I always had thick hair, but when I started taking Anastrazole my hair began to come out by the handful when washed, brushed, combed or just running my fingers through it. I was switched to Exemestane after three months of taking Anastrazole and the loss came to a halt. The thinning stopped and some growth is returning.
I now have some stiffness in various joints (they keep changing as to which joint), but I will put up with that not to have such thinning hair.

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I have been on Anastrozole and am now on Exemestane. I have not noticed any thinning of my hair.

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@loraine28

Hi Everyone. Does anyone know which of the 3 aromatase inhibitors (Anastrozole, Letrozole, or Exemestane) is least likely to cause hair loss/thinning? Thanks so much.

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I am taking letrozole and definitely noticed thinning, not as bad as hairloss from chemotherapy, but emotionally devastating to lose so much hair after it had grown back. My oncologist recommended Viviscal and warned me it world be at least three months before I'd notice a difference. She was right on both counts! By the third month I "thought" it was better. By the fourth month I "knew" it was. I continue to take one pill with breakfast and one with dinner and my hair is back to the quantity I had before cancer treatments.

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@dgayle

I always had thick hair, but when I started taking Anastrazole my hair began to come out by the handful when washed, brushed, combed or just running my fingers through it. I was switched to Exemestane after three months of taking Anastrazole and the loss came to a halt. The thinning stopped and some growth is returning.
I now have some stiffness in various joints (they keep changing as to which joint), but I will put up with that not to have such thinning hair.

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I started with Anastrozole in May 2024 - I hated it! I couldn’t even walk. I was switched to Letrozole. My first month I had Letrozole by Accord, was much more lenient on joint pain, I didn’t notice hair loss. I now take Letrozole by Aurobindo which so far barely any joint pain. Once in a while a few weird tingles. I do walk every other day for about 25 minutes too.

Jane W.

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@loraine28

Hi Everyone. Does anyone know which of the 3 aromatase inhibitors (Anastrozole, Letrozole, or Exemestane) is least likely to cause hair loss/thinning? Thanks so much.

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I've been on letrozole & ibrance for 8 months now. Just in the past 2 weeks my curly hair suddenly went straight and my comb has more hair in it then I like. Seems strange to me. BUT my MBC in my sternum, liver and some lymph nodes has significantly shrunk as per PET scan, so I'm very thankful for that.

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@loraine28

Hi Everyone. Does anyone know which of the 3 aromatase inhibitors (Anastrozole, Letrozole, or Exemestane) is least likely to cause hair loss/thinning? Thanks so much.

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@loraine28, I moved your question about hair loss and thinning when on an aromatase inhibitor to this helpful and active discussion:
- Hair Loss Remedies for Thinning Hair on aromatase inhibitors?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/hair-loss-remedies-for-thinning-hair-on-ais-and-lupron/
Click the link to see helpful tips and to connect with members.

Here are some related older discussions too:
- Talking about hair loss with children
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-have-had-a-mastectomy-and-am-about-to-start-chemotherapy-i/
-Biotin, Hair loss, Thyroid and Multivitamins
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/biotin-hair-loss-thyroid-and-multivitamins/
- Anastrozole and side effects...hair loss/thinning and hair regrowth
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anastrozole-and-side-effects-hair-lossthinning-and-hair-regrowth/
- Anyone feel devasted about how you look & feel? And guilty too?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/oncology-doctors-reply-to-0-625-propecia-prescription/

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@dlmdinia

Just a thought. Talk to your oncologist about taking Anastrazole every other day instead of every day. There are studies of all three AI's showing that half dosages are just as effective. Perhaps this might mitigate the hair loss a bit.

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Can you please share where you found the studies saying taking Anastrozole every other day is just as effective as taking every day?

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@dlmdinia

https://www.drugs.com/pro/anastrozole.html
I've cut and pasted the pertinent information below

(estradiol=estrogen)

Mean serum concentrations of estradiol were evaluated in multiple daily dosing trials with 0.5, 1, 3, 5, and 10 mg of Anastrozole tablets in postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer. Clinically significant suppression of serum estradiol was seen with all doses. Doses of 1 mg and higher resulted in suppression of mean serum concentrations of estradiol to the lower limit of detection (3.7 pmol/L). The recommended daily dose, Anastrozole tablets 1 mg, reduced estradiol by approximately 70% within 24 hours and by approximately 80% after 14 days of daily dosing. Suppression of serum estradiol was maintained for up to 6 days after cessation of daily dosing with Anastrozole tablets 1 mg.

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Can you please provide the link to the full study? I'd like to read the whole thing please. Thanks so much.

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@loraine28

Can you please provide the link to the full study? I'd like to read the whole thing please. Thanks so much.

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The link is at the top of my post.

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@loraine28

Can you please share where you found the studies saying taking Anastrozole every other day is just as effective as taking every day?

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The link I've provided shows the same efficacy at lower doses including half the standard dose. Therefore my oncologist gave me the option of taking a full dose every other day or taking a half dose (half tablet) everyday.
https://www.drugs.com/pro/anastrozole.html
The half life is 50 hours so it wouldn't appear that there should be much if any significant drop-off in the level of the drug present in the body. In fact, because I was not tolerating the drug well, my oncologist suggested that I take the drug for 6 months and then take a month off. I no longer have the link, but I also ran across a study concluding that 9 months on and 3 months off had
the same or similar outcome as taking it continuously.

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I am taking both letrozole and Kisqali for MBC that I started in February 2024. I noticed my hair starting to thin a few months later. I started taking Nature's Bounty Womens Multi Vitamins w/50 mg Collagen, Vital Proteins Collegen Peptides, and also starting washing my hair with Kitsch brand Rice Water protein shampoo and conditioner. When I got my hair cut in August even my hairstylist commented on how much thicker my hair was getting and I have noticed a big difference. I am still losing alot of hair when I brush and wash but it isn't nearly as thin as it was before starting this regimen.

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