Antidepressants linked to osteoporosis
Older people who take antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may risk developing osteoporosis, according to two new studies.
The jointly released research by US scientists, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found that elderly men taking SSRIs had lower bone mineral density, and that elderly women taking the antidepressants had a higher rate of yearly bone loss.
The studies "raise some concern about people taking SSRIs and whether they may need additional screening or extra protection for their bones," said Dr Elizabeth Haney who led the men's study and co-authored the women's study. But she cautioned that the studies' results don't confirm a "cause-and-effect relationship" between SSRIs and bone loss.
"Depression is a serious condition and it's important not to stop antidepressants abruptly or without talking to your physician," Haney said. "However, it may be worth paying special attention to the things we know can prevent osteoporosis, such as exercise, taking adequate calcium and vitamin D, and it might be worth consideration of screening for low bone density."
SSRIs - including brand name drugs like Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft - are widely prescribed to treat depression and other disorders. The drugs work by inhibiting the protein that transports serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in both depression and sleep.
Find out more about osteoporosis from the National Osteoporosis Society.
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