Any woman of a certain age knows what happens when menopause strikes: Hot flashes, mood swings, irritability and night sweats. When these symptoms occur, it’s tempting to take the antidepressant your doctor prescribes to ease them.
However, new research is showing a particular class of antidepressants may boost bone fracture risk. These drugs are SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
The study authors used the PharMetrics Claims Database. This system contains detailed information on medical and drug treatment claims made by 61 million patients in the US.
They focused on over 137,000 women with no mental health issues. The women ranged in age from 40 to 64. They started treatment with SSRIs between 1998 and 2010. The SSRIs included drugs like Celexa®, Lexapro®, Prozac®, Paxil® and Zoloft®.
A second group of women was selected for comparison purposes. This group involved more than 236,000 other women of the same age who took H2 antagonists or proton pump inhibitors. These drugs are typically used to treat indigestion.
Researchers found the fracture rate was…
- 76 percent higher among those prescribed SSRIs one year after starting treatment
- 73 percent higher after 2 years
- 67 percent higher after 5 years
“SSRIs appear to increase fracture risk among middle aged women without psychiatric disorders, an effect sustained over time, suggesting that shorter duration of treatment may decrease [this],” the study concludes.
The authors believe antidepressants may alter bone turnover, shifting the balance in favor of bone thinning rather than bone strengthening activities.
They also point out that the number of women prescribed SSRIs for menopausal symptoms is likely to increase in coming years. This is because another SSRI has received the green light for treating menopausal symptoms.
SOURCE: SSRI antidepressants taken for menopausal symptoms may boost bone fracture risk. Press Release. BMJ via EurekAlert. Jun 2015.
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