Researchers reported that the use of antidepressants doubled the risk of bone fractures in older patients. This raises new concerns about the safety of the widely used drugs.
The study, which appears in Archives of Internal Medicine , found that about 10 percent of people who are over 50 years old and take antidepressants daily fractured at least one bone in the span of five years. For people the same age who didn’t take antidepressants, the rate of bone fractures was about five percent.
What Should I do if I’m Taking Antidepressants?
The researchers concluded that patients should know the risk, but they should not necessarily stop taking the drugs simply to avoid a bone fracture.
Dr. Michael Bliziotes, from the Oregon Health & Science University said that these patients should get plenty of calcium, and exercise often to keep their bones healthy.
He also said there is a chance that there may be something about depression that weakens bones, so the medication might not be the sole cause.
“What this study points to is a need for heightened surveillance of these people,” said Bliziotes.
The Study
The study, conducted by researchers from Montreal’s McGill University, looked at antidepressants belonging to the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This class includes drugs like Prozac and Zoloft. Sales of drugs of this class came to almost $11 billion in 2004, the report said.
The study found that the drugs increased the chance of a fracture in two ways: by increasing the likelihood of fainting, and by lowering bone density in the spine and hip.
The study’s author, Dr. David Goltzman, said the falls were likely caused by decreased blood pressure or fainting spells, which are both known side effects of these drugs.
The study accounted for the increase in falls, and the decrease in bone density, and still determined that the drugs doubled the risk of bone fractures.