Certain antidepressants may erode bone, reports the Harvard Mental Health Letter

Evidence is growing that people taking the common antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be at risk for thin bones, reports the August 2009 issue of the Harvard Mental Health Letter.

In the past few years, well-designed studies have not only built a case for a biological link between bone and the brain, but also suggested that SSRIs may be particularly harmful to bone. Researchers have identified several possible mechanisms linking brain and bone. Studies have reported that depression elevates levels of both the stress hormone cortisol and various immune system cells that promote inflammation—changes that can harm bone. More recently, scientists have discovered that bone cells have receptors for various brain chemicals and may be responsive to changes in the brain.