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Hi Cheerful: I have been on Arimidex for almost 18 months now and have not had any hair loss associated with it. My hot flashes come and go and seem to be worse with some spicy foods or alcohol drinks but not always. Lately I've just been having flashes off and on and haf not had any for quite some time. I think our bodies give us these extras every once in awhile. Did you talk to your oncologist about the hair loss? Is it a side effect of the drug for sure? Lots of women find their hair thins as they age and because the drug we take is to block our bodies from taking up estrogen from "whatever" it is possible that you are having that aging type of thinning.
For me the things that I figure the drug causes are some joint pain, an increase in my chlosterol levels but I'm not prepared to go without the drug for now. I want the insurance against recurrence by taking it. I know it is not a for sure thing but I want to see my grandkids grow up so I take it.
I found that my memory was off too more so while on the tamoxifen than the arimidex. I felt like I was in a fog all the time just like I felt when first experiencing menopause syptoms. However, I've come to believe that a lot of the memory is related to my stress levels and when I control my stress, my memory is a lot better. Keep a notepad close and just make lots of notes and learn to destress. I have some great breathing, relaxation cds that talk me through a pattern of relaxation. They take about 30 mins. and after surgery that was my rest time just after lunch. Now I can do the breathing anyplace but if I am feeling especially tense I usually lay down flat and put the head phones on and do the process through and I sure feel so much better afterward.
Wishing you a very good day. Hugs.

Affiché par bittersweet le 6 oct. 2008 16 h 3

Thank you bittersweet for your response. My hot flashes have greatly decreased this week so hopefully my body is acclimatizing and the hair loss will slow down as well. I saw my oncologist in July and we discussed the hot flash problem and I decided to hang in there and see what happened. My hair has been thinning over the last few years but was not significantly worse then. Hair loss is a fairly common side effect of Arimidex. I do have other stresss in my life as well at the moment which probably isn't helping so I must learn to relax more. I want the insurance against reoccurence too.

Affiché par cheerful le 9 oct. 2008 20 h 44

Hello Cheerful!!!
I have been on it for almost a year and i have had no hair lose. My hotflushs are very very bad though!!!! Been to a hotflush clinic and they didnt help me at all. They wanted me on more meds and i refused due to the fact that i HATE meds and that i am on enough to put a elephant down {haha} I have put alot of pounds on as well, i wounder if anyone else has being on this medication. {45 pounds} I am sure your hair with become more stable in the future and i hope you are feeling much better real soon!!!! Merry Christmas to you :) You take care ok xoxo

Affiché par rottielover33 le 17 déc. 2008 12 h 49

Thanks rottielover33.
My hot flashes have greatly decreased lately which is a relief. The cooler weather helps too. I have grown my hair longer on top and changed my hairstyle a little and it looks much better and I think the hair loss has slowed down too (fingers crossed). I was sleeping very poorly for a while but that has improved too. My weight is stable. I exercise and try to eat well and hope that I can be good over Christmas. I hope that your side effects will decrease too. Hang in there. Merry Christmas and all the best for 2009.

Affiché par cheerful le 17 déc. 2008 21 h 6