BIOCHEMISTRY. Both of these can contribute to hair loss. I hope doctors will begin to listen to their patients and register their concerns. 2019. In general, complete hair loss does not occur with aromatase inhibitors like Femara; however, hair thinning has been reported. I would suggest, if you notice an inability to tolerate side effects, you talk to your doctor and seek advice. Tax ID Number: 13-1788491. When I explained my desire to stop taking the medication to my oncologist, he assured me the side effects would lessen over time and even if they did not, there were other medications that could be added to combat unwanted side effects. UpToDate. I would never suggest you stop taking your medication. V.1.2019. The American Cancer Society is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. For the next few weeks, I took tamoxifen once a day. We all deserve a good quality of life, don’t we? No longer do I suffer from gigantic mood swings, depression, bouts of constant crying, and overall fatigue. I shudder to think how I’d be feeling if I were still taking those drugs today. Visvanathan K, Fabian CJ, Bantug E, et al. One difference however, is that Aromasin® is an irreversible aromatase inhibitor (stops aromatase enzyme’s production process permanently) while the other two are not. National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). Anastrozole for prevention of breast cancer in high-risk postmenopausal women (IBIS-II): An international, double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial. Exemestane for breast-cancer prevention in postmenopausal women. Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are a class of drugs used in the treatment of breast cancer in postmenopausal women and gynecomastia in men. They may also be used off-label to reduce estrogen conversion when using external testosterone. More studies are needed Gallicchio L et al. I didn’t want to spend the next five to 10 years feeling physically uncomfortable.It’s been a little over two years since I made the decision to stop taking arimidex, aromasin and tamoxifen. aromatase inhibitors and hair loss/thinning. My main complaint with tamoxifen was uncontrollable mood swings and joint pain. I made another call to my oncologist. What are the risks and side effects of aromatase inhibitors? Reference Aromatase inhibitor therapy and hair loss … A survey of 868 patients receiving endocrine therapy with an aromatase inhibitor or tamoxifen found hair loss in 22.4% and hair thinning in 31.8%. Estrogen loss due to these products may lead to hair thinning or hair loss. Aromatase inhibitors may cause muscle and joint aches and pains. Accessed at https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/breast_risk.pdf on July 31, 2019.Nelson HD, Fu R, Zakher B, Pappas M, McDonagh M. Medication use for the risk reduction of primary breast cancer in women: Updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. In the last 3 months, I've lost about 50% of my hair - it was fine before. Aromatase, a member of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme family, is a product of the CYP19 gene and is the rate-limiting step in the conversion of androstenedione to estrone and of testosterone to estradiol.