Femara and Hair Loss: What Users Say

• Lov...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 9, 2013

For Breast Cancer "After a lumpectomy for stage 1 breast cancer, I was prescribed two other aromatase inhibitors prior to Femara. I had occasional head pain in one spot from all of them. I also had trigger finger and terrible knee pain from Arimidex. My doctor then put me on brand name Femara and the joint pain, head pain, and trigger finger all went away. What is bothering me now is the hair loss (can see my scalp!), memory loss-constantly groping for words. Sometimes I do feel like I'm 'foggy' but mostly I just can't remember words. I feel it is getting worse as time goes on and I do not understand why others report the same but there is no mention of this in the patient information leaflet."

• tin...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 29, 2023

For Breast Cancer "Awful! I've been on Femara for about 8 months. And since I started, I seem to have every single side effect. My joint and muscle pain is excruciating. In no particular order, I suffer with body pain (fingers, hands, shoulders, chest, back, sides, hips, legs, feet - basically everything head to toe). Plus, weight loss, hot flashes, headaches, dizziness, thinning of hair, dry mouth, high BP, night sweats. Even my scalp is tender. Chest pain that radiates to upper arms, shortness of breath, overall depression. Chills, insomnia, intestinal pain - sharp pains, plus dull aching. Constant feelings of nausea, diarrhea, constipation. I'm afraid to eat but also have little appetite. Brain fog, shortness of breath. Feeling that I am just going to die. Sitting up in pain all night. I hurt everywhere - too sick to move; too sick to cry. Feels like I am going to have a heart attack. Can’t lie down, can’t stand up. Full body chills, hands shaking. Haven't slept through the night in months."

• Sho...
• September 21, 2016

For Breast Cancer "I've been taking letrozole (Femara) for 9 months, after a right-side mastectomy for stage IIA breast cancer. I'm ER & PR positive. No radiation or chemo. I'm 58 & this is the only drug I take, besides vitamins. The first 6 weeks I had trouble sleeping, occasional dizziness, some joint pain, & mild headaches. Around 4 months in, I started losing hair. I'd guess approximately 25% of my hair has fallen out. Besides the hair loss, I have dry eyes, genitals, & skin. There's some stiffness & joint pain in my hips. These side effects are tolerable, especially knowing that the drug is preventing a cancer recurrence. None of these side effects are enough for me to stop taking letrozole!"

• Mrs...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 21, 2013

For Breast Cancer "I was diagnosed with breast cancer (stage 2) - underwent 6 months of chemo and 6 weeks radiation. My hair regrowth was pretty quick but began thinning significantly after about a year of Tamoxifen usage (could see my scalp pretty clearly in the front and on top of my head). My doctor switched me to Femara about 2 months ago - side effects include lots of hot flashes (about 6-10 daily) and weight gain which I am combating by working out every day and cutting my calories. I am prayerful that I don't experience any more hair loss or the joint pain that I keep reading about. Everyone, hang in there!"

• mar...
• May 21, 2013

For Breast Cancer, Adjuvant "When I switched aromatase inhibitors from Arimidex to Femara, it was a world of difference! The terrible side effects I was experiencing made me question whether survival from breast cancer was worth it, if my life would be spent with Arimidex side effects of irritability, more hair loss, joint pains, etc. My oncologist switched me to Femara, and my life returned to be more pleasant and energetic. I have been suggesting this change to all my blogging support group members who are having problems with Arimadex. Later, adding OTC Biosil and SamE have also helped with the hair, joint, and mood issues."

• Anonymous
• December 13, 2009

For Breast Cancer "I am 52 years old, and I too feel older than I am. I already have problems getting out of bed, and I suffered with sarcoidosis, which affects the organs and causes joint pain, sending me constantly to different specialists. Now I am taking Femara, and it's not only causing me more pain, but it's causing my hair to fall out or thinning! I also notice that my vision is impaired sometimes when I'm driving, and I only drive when I have to, but sometimes I find myself trying hard to focus. This is scary! I am calling my oncologist tomorrow morning first thing."

• Anonymous
• December 13, 2009

For Breast Cancer "I am 52 years old, and I too feel older than I am. I already have problems getting out of bed, and I suffered with sarcoidosis, which affects the organs and causes joint pain, sending me constantly to different specialists. Now I am taking Femara, and it's not only causing me more pain, but it's causing my hair to fall out or thinning! I also notice that my vision is impaired sometimes when I'm driving, and I only drive when I have to, but sometimes I find myself trying hard to focus. This is scary! I am calling my oncologist tomorrow morning first thing."

• min...
• September 12, 2015

For Breast Cancer "In 2011, I was diagnosed with stage 3A invasive ductal breast cancer. I went through chemo for 4 months and had a double mastectomy in March 2012, followed by 6 weeks of radiation. I was put on tamoxifen for a year and then Femara, which I currently take now. The biggest thing with Femara is feeling constantly tired and 'foggy'. I can handle the hot flashes (we live in Minnesota, where the winter lasts for 6 months) - I just walk around outside with a t-shirt on, and I'm good to go! Lately, I have been experiencing hair loss, and I don't know if it's due to the Femara. Anyone else have this problem? Please let me know. Hang in there, beautiful ladies (& men)."

• apr...
• March 21, 2016

For Breast Cancer "I have been on this drug for about 3.5 months now. I was on Aromasin (exemestane) for 2.5 years prior to starting letrozole. I was so hopeful that some of the horrible side effects would not affect me like they did on the exemestane...and for a while, it was not too bad. Now, in month 3, the side effects of severe joint pain, brain fog, and shortness of breath are back with a vengeance, and the last 3 times my blood pressure was taken, it was inching back up even though I started BP meds after the exemestane raised my BP. I never had any issues with my BP prior to taking these aromatase inhibitors. I guess my PCP will have to raise my dose of BP meds. I am also peeing constantly on letrozole, and my hair is coming out more on my brush! UGH!"

• MVR...
• March 3, 2012

For Breast Cancer, Metastatic "After a year on Femara I am beginning to experience severe hair loss, bald patches on top of my head, and the hair is turning thin and brittle. Insomnia for the last 2 months, pain in my joints, I was diagnosed with Glaucoma and am very forgetful, i.e. find it difficult to concentrate. But, if Femara stops the recurrence of cancer, I'll keep taking it. If it just were not for the hair loss."

• Gon...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 2, 2018

For Breast Cancer "1.7 years, loss of hair, hot flashes, shoulder, elbow, hip pain, dry mouth, high cholesterol, high glucose, high BP... But if it keeps cancer from returning, the side effects, hopefully temporary, will have been worth it."

• Anonymous
• March 31, 2018

For Breast Cancer "Daily hot flashes and night sweats seem to be my worst side effects, especially when I'm hit with intense anxiety every time. My scalp is tender, and I've had hair thinning. I also have pain in my joints. But I do not want the cancer to come back. Invasive lobular carcinoma. Bilateral mastectomy."

• Jan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 29, 2015

For Breast Cancer, Adjuvant "Stage IIIc lobular breast CA, node, started generic Femara 18 months ago after radiation. Minor side effects - hair loss, nails, skin, vaginal dryness. Major - started out with tolerable joint, bone, and muscle pain. But about a month ago, these symptoms became severe enough to decrease my quality of life. My oncologist did blood work, all okay. She wanted a bone scan, but after reading reviews, this is the Femara, not bone cancer. She just has not had any patients do this, the literature is based on trials, not the general population. The literature (and she told me) the symptoms go away by 8 months! Not!! I also have MS (still mobile, but that has some same/similar side effects) but Femara more like arthritis. Knees, ankles. Stay on though!"