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Do Antidepressants Increase the Risk of Bone Fractures?

If you are taking any one of a number of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for depression, you may be at a higher risk for bone fractures. Antidepressants in this category include Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa and Luvox.

A recent study conducted by David Goltzman, MD, the director of the Centre for Bone and Periodontal Research at McGill University in Montreal, concluded that daily use of SSRIs doubles the risk of bone fractures in adults aged 50 and older. Goltzman and his research team monitored 5,008 participants in this age group throughout a five-year period; the average age was 65. Daily SSRI usage was reported by 137 of the participants. Those on the SSRIs proved twice as likely to experience fractures as those not taking SSRIs.

There are specific actions you can take to reduce your overall risk of fractures in the post-50 years, including making sure you have the proper amount of calcium and Vitamin D in your diet, exercising and remaining physically active, and avoiding cigarettes and the overuse of alcohol.

Although depression is common in older adults, there are numerous drug-free ways to treat it, including:

• Exercising because it helps to release norepinephrine and endorphins, the “feel good” chemicals that occur naturally in the brain.
  
  
• Eliminating sugars and refined foods from your diet because these foods can make you feel lethargic and anxious. Also avoid foods high in carbohydrates because they can affect your blood sugar level, making you feel tired or depressed after eating them.
  
  
• Seeking professional counseling or journaling your feelings to gain important insight into what is really bothering you and making you feel so low.
  
  
• Eating healthier foods that make you feel happy, such as oily fish (tuna, mackerel, and halibut) and foods that contain high levels of Vitamin B6 (fruits, poultry, soy beans).

Be sure to let us know if you have concerns about SSRIs and risk of fracture on your next visit. It is important for us to know your complete health history so we can serve you better.