DEPRESSION AND BROKEN BONE RISK
Dear Reader,
Prescription drugs often have side effects that seem completely unrelated to their function. This is because they affect the entire body, not just the part that's being treated. Examples are antacids causing pneumonia and osteoporosis, eye drops causing heart arrhythmias, thalidomide causing deformities, and now depression drugs causing fractures in older adults.
We have long known about this side effect, but a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine (January 22, 2007) brings it back into focus. It showed that drugs like Zoloft, Prozac, and others doubled the risk of broken bones. And researchers did their best to eliminate other fracture risks in the study participants.
Prescription drugs often have side effects that seem completely unrelated to their function. This is because they affect the entire body, not just the part that's being treated. Examples are antacids causing pneumonia and osteoporosis, eye drops causing heart arrhythmias, thalidomide causing deformities, and now depression drugs causing fractures in older adults.
We have long known about this side effect, but a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine (January 22, 2007) brings it back into focus. It showed that drugs like Zoloft, Prozac, and others doubled the risk of broken bones. And researchers did their best to eliminate other fracture risks in the study participants.
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Antidepressants have been linked with low blood pressure and dizziness, which can obviously cause falls and broken bones. But the fracture risk in this study was independent of these factors. For years medical researchers have felt that these pills actually have a direct effect on bone cells themselves–making them smaller and weaker.
An Increasing Danger Since millions of Americans are prescribed antidepressants annually, and in steadily increasing numbers, these results have major public health implications. And just what does it mean to you? Well for starters, severe depression is serious indeed. And while drugs are rarely the long-term solution, they are often necessary– even if temporary. |
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Naturally everyone with anxiety/depression problems should try to resolve these problems at their root cause. For immediate starters, good nutrition is essential.
It is also necessary to address the underlying emotional causes of anxiety/depression syndromes.
Protect Your Bones
If you do need drugs, take the necessary steps to protect your skeleton by increasing your nutrition for healthy bones. This means a healthy diet; lots of exercise, including weight lifting.
Health Alert Dr Bruce West Vol 24 Issue 4
It is also necessary to address the underlying emotional causes of anxiety/depression syndromes.
Protect Your Bones
If you do need drugs, take the necessary steps to protect your skeleton by increasing your nutrition for healthy bones. This means a healthy diet; lots of exercise, including weight lifting.
Health Alert Dr Bruce West Vol 24 Issue 4