26 Jun Menopausal SSRIs Increases Risk of Bone Fractures
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr Matthew Miller
Department of Health Science Northeastern University
Department of Health Policy and Management,
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Harvard University
Boston, Massachusetts
and Yi-Han Sheu
Department of Epidemiology
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Harvard University Boston, Massachusetts
Medical Research: What is the background for this study?
Response: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were recently approved by the FDA to treat vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause. No prior study has directly examined whether fracture risk is increased among perimenopausal women who initiate SSRIs or among a population of women without mental disorders more generally..
Medical Research: What are the main findings?
Response: We found that SSRIs treatment for non-psychiatric conditions at doses customarily used to treat depression is, all else equal, associated with higher rates of fractures — an effect that first became evident several months after beginning treatment and, importantly, persisted over the five year study period.
Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?
Response: These findings suggest that shorter duration of treatment might mitigate the risk of developing excess fractures. The extent to which our findings would manifest among women treated at lower doses is not certain
Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Response: Future efforts should be made to examine how SSRI dose (cumulative, daily or both) might modify fracture risk over time.
Citation:
SSRI use and risk of fractures among perimenopausal women without mental disorders
Yi-han Sheu, Amy Lanteigne, Til Stürmer, Virginia Pate, Deborah Azrael, Matthew Miller
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Dr Matthew Miller and Yi-Han Sheu, Department of Epidemiology, & Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (2015). Menopausal SSRIs Increases Risk of Bone Fractures
Last Updated on June 26, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD