Two studies link SSRIs to substantial bone loss: patients taking the antidepressants had bone loss comparable to that associated with glucocorticoid tx.(Gynecology)

SEATTLE -- Use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors is associated with bone loss comparable to that associated with glucocorticoid therapy, according to the findings of two studies.

In the first study (involving nearly 6,000 men), the mean bone-mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine for the 158 participants using an SSRI at the time of a baseline dual energy x-ray absorptiometry scan was 4.6% lower than in nonusers, Elizabeth McKinstry Haney, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

By comparison, the 240 glucocorticoid users had a mean baseline BMD 2.9% lower than that of nonusers.

Relative to nonusers, mean total hip BMD was 3.9% lower in the SSRI users and 2.6% lower in the glucocorticoid users.

At the femoral neck, mean BMD was 4.5% lower for the SSRI users and 2.2% lower for the glucocorticoid users.

Use of tricyclic antidepressants or trazodone was not associated with significantly different BMD findings, compared with nonusers, said Dr. Haney of Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland.

Another study presented at the meeting reported similar findings in women. That study looked at a cohort of 2,556 elderly women who were part of longitudinal investigation of fracture risk.