News Alert: Antidepressant Raises Risk of Bone Fractures

Helen Holmes March 18, 2013

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Top-selling antidepressants such as Paxil, Prozac, Luvox, Zoloft, Effexor and Celexa, which are also prescribed to people with anxiety issues and other mental health disorders, could increase the risk of bone fractures by 50 per cent, a growing body of research found.

Other than the well-known side effects of pharmaceutical medications for depression such as nausea, nervousness, insomnia, and weight gain, more and more research are discovering the more harmful effects of these drugs. Not so long ago, researchers have linked antidepressant use with higher risk of suicide and suicide attempt. Now, it is also blamed for a number of people having bone problems.

Poor Bone Heath Linked to Antidepressant Use

Antidepressants are categorised under a class of varied chemicals known as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These drugs work by preventing the sudden surge in serotonin levels – the ‘feel-good’ hormones in the brain. In a Canadian study published this year, it was found that SSRI users are more likely to develop bone fractures than non-SSRI users.

This is not the first study to show a link between antidepressants and high risk of bone fracture. In a 2008 research published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine which involved some 90,000 women, scientists found that women who are taking SSRIs are at 30 per cent risk of sustaining a spine fracture and 20 per cent risk on other sites, such as the pelvis, femur, and hand. Two more studies published in Archives of Internal Medicine found similar results. In the first study conducted by University of Minnesota researchers in 2007, it was revealed that women who take antidepressants are twice more likely to develop bone fracture than those who do not use the said drugs. The second study carried out by the Oregon Health and Sciences University found that women who took SSRI medications tend to have low bone mineral density.

Scientists do not know yet how antidepressants affect bone health. Some believe that these drugs can increase the amount of serotonin between the spaces in nerve cells, which affects the constant build-up and breakdown of bone tissues.

Natural remedies for depression 

Numerous studies do not just point out the debilitating effects of using pharmaceutical depressants, but also its ineffectiveness. Because of this, more and more mental health experts are favouring the use of complementary therapies for depression and related illnesses. Psychotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy, along with proper diet, regular exercise and stress-free lifestyle are among the proven ways to manage and overcome depression.

 

Dear Readers,

What alternative ways are there to treat depression that really work?

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Sources of this article:

Top-selling antidepressants double your bone fracture risk

Antidepressants Increase Fracture Risk

Certain antidepressants may erode bone, reports the Harvard Mental Health Letter