OSTEOPOROSIS: Antidepressant Alert
Tips on drug interaction and other behavior affecting those with the disease
BY:MYRA DEMBROW
If you take certain antidepressants, be especially on guard against osteoporosis, a recent study concludes.
SSRIs-or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (Paxil and Prozac)-have been linked to increased risks of both falling and bone breakage. Researchers at McGill University in Montreal found in a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine that the higher the dose of SSRIs, the higher the likelihood of stumbling. Patients were particularly vulnerable to breaking an arm, ankle or foot. They also displayed a four percent decrease in bone-mineral density at the hip and a two percent decrease at the spine.
But don't stop taking SSRIs, which are often prescribed for anxiety and depression, says David Goltzman, MD, director of the McGill Centre for Bone and Periodontal Research. You should, however, "have a bone-density measurement before starting SSRIs and periodically after that, and take general steps to prevent osteoporosis," he says.
The National Osteoporosis Foundation, suggests these steps:
Get your daily recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D.
Engage in a regular weight-bearing exercise regimen.
Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
Talk to your healthcare provider about bone health.