Fix one thing, break another
And so it goes in the ongoing saga of antidepressant drugs, with yet another disturbing side effect uncovered. In this case, it could be your bones in danger of breaking.
A couple of new studies found that these drugs are leading to bone loss in elderly folks—particularly drugs of the class known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Of all antidepressant medications, SSRIs make up 60 percent of the prescriptions taken.
Two separate teams of researchers did two different studies on the effects of SSRIs on bone loss. One team followed a group of women, and the other followed just men. The first team tracked 2,722 women who had an average age of 78. Of this group of women, 198 used SSRIs. Their bone density was measured at the beginning of the study and again five years later.
The 198 women who were on SSRIs experienced a decrease in hip-bone density of 0.82 percent per year, while the women who were not on SSRIs showed a decrease of only 0.47 percent per year.
In the second group that was studied, the research team tracked 5,995 men who had an average age of 74. Of this group of men, 160 were taking SSRIs. The men who were on SSRIs had 3.9 percent lower hip-bone density and 5.9 percent lower spinal-bone density as compared with those men not taking SSRIs.
These studies follow one that was released earlier this year in which it was found that folks on SSRIs had twice the risk of fracturing a bone than those who were not on SSRIs. And hip fractures are deadly. Research shows that one in four patients who suffer a hip fracture die within one year. Even more startling, a recent study showed that if you’re over the age of 65, you have a significantly higher risk of dying from a hip fracture than from diagnosed breast cancer. You are, in fact, three times more likely to do so!
Also, this isn’t the first time that research has found a link between a decrease in bone density and these drugs. The link may be a result of what this drug is designed to d inhibit. It does just that—it inhibits a specific protein that is responsible for transporting serotonin, that mood messenger I mentioned earlier. This same protein is found in bone, and therein lies the probable reason for this greater risk of bone loss.
When you consider the increased chance of bone loss, along with other side effects, such as an increased risk of suicidal thoughts, you’ll see the importance of working closely with a doctor to see whether the risks outweigh the benefits. I recommend a stepped approach to treatment—especially since studies support the premise that in some depressed folks, exercise could reduce depression just as well as drugs or psychotherapy can. As you can probably imagine, I have a lot more to say about bone loss and what you need to know about it. You’ll find more in the upcoming August issue of my newsletter, Health Revelations. Be sure to check it out.
