Psychotropic drugs and bone

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the effects of psychotropic medications on bone metabolism, bone mineral density (BMD), and fracture risk. Methods. The literature search was carried out in PubMed. The keywords used were “osteoporosis”, “bone”, “fracture”, “psychotropic medic...

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Main Authors: R.W. Gasser, H. Resch
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Zaslavsky O.Yu. 2024-12-01
Series:Bolʹ, Sustavy, Pozvonočnik
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Online Access:https://pjs.zaslavsky.com.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/441
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author R.W. Gasser
H. Resch
author_facet R.W. Gasser
H. Resch
author_sort R.W. Gasser
collection DOAJ
description The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the effects of psychotropic medications on bone metabolism, bone mineral density (BMD), and fracture risk. Methods. The literature search was carried out in PubMed. The keywords used were “osteoporosis”, “bone”, “fracture”, “psychotropic medication”, “antidepressants”, “antipsychotics”, “neuroleptics”, “hyperprolactinemia”, and “lithium”. Results. Psychotropic drugs from the group of antidepressants or neuroleptics (antipsychotics) and lithium preparations have different effects on the bone. On the one hand, they can trigger the development of osteoporosis with an increased risk of fractures (antidepressants, neuroleptics); on the other hand, some of the compounds also show a bone-protective effect (lithium preparations). Antidepressants, in general, lead to an increase in serotonin and/or noradrenaline in the synapses. On bone, they cause a decrease in BMD and, consequently, an increase in the risk of fractures. Neuroleptics act as dopamine receptor antagonists and lead to hyperprolactinemia and, thus, to secondary hypogonadism. This has a direct negative effect on osteoblasts, leading to decreased BMD and an increased risk of fractures. Lithium salts, on the other hand, are bone-protective. Therapy with lithium preparations is associated with a decrease in fracture risk. In case of therapy with psychotropic drugs, particularly antidepressants or neuroleptics, attention should also be paid to bone health, especially in patients at risk (age, tendency to fall, comedication, preexisting osteoporosis, fractures). Conclusions. The increased tendency to fractures during psychotropic drug therapy is usually multifactorial since, in addition to the direct adverse effects of the medication on the bone, there can also be an increased tendency to fall and a decreased BMD due to mental illness per se. Psychotropic drug therapy should be optimized, taking into account the potential side effects, including the increased risk of fractures.
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spelling doaj-art-2d151ac22c714f748801d301362c474f2025-01-12T12:21:46ZengZaslavsky O.Yu.Bolʹ, Sustavy, Pozvonočnik2224-15072307-11332024-12-0114422623510.22141/pjs.14.4.2024.441441Psychotropic drugs and boneR.W. Gasser0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7580-0705H. Resch1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0236-9998Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, AustriaMedical Faculty, Sigmund Freud University, Vienna, AustriaThe purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the effects of psychotropic medications on bone metabolism, bone mineral density (BMD), and fracture risk. Methods. The literature search was carried out in PubMed. The keywords used were “osteoporosis”, “bone”, “fracture”, “psychotropic medication”, “antidepressants”, “antipsychotics”, “neuroleptics”, “hyperprolactinemia”, and “lithium”. Results. Psychotropic drugs from the group of antidepressants or neuroleptics (antipsychotics) and lithium preparations have different effects on the bone. On the one hand, they can trigger the development of osteoporosis with an increased risk of fractures (antidepressants, neuroleptics); on the other hand, some of the compounds also show a bone-protective effect (lithium preparations). Antidepressants, in general, lead to an increase in serotonin and/or noradrenaline in the synapses. On bone, they cause a decrease in BMD and, consequently, an increase in the risk of fractures. Neuroleptics act as dopamine receptor antagonists and lead to hyperprolactinemia and, thus, to secondary hypogonadism. This has a direct negative effect on osteoblasts, leading to decreased BMD and an increased risk of fractures. Lithium salts, on the other hand, are bone-protective. Therapy with lithium preparations is associated with a decrease in fracture risk. In case of therapy with psychotropic drugs, particularly antidepressants or neuroleptics, attention should also be paid to bone health, especially in patients at risk (age, tendency to fall, comedication, preexisting osteoporosis, fractures). Conclusions. The increased tendency to fractures during psychotropic drug therapy is usually multifactorial since, in addition to the direct adverse effects of the medication on the bone, there can also be an increased tendency to fall and a decreased BMD due to mental illness per se. Psychotropic drug therapy should be optimized, taking into account the potential side effects, including the increased risk of fractures.https://pjs.zaslavsky.com.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/441antidepressantsneuroleptics (antipsychotics)lithium preparationsosteoporosisfracture risk
spellingShingle R.W. Gasser
H. Resch
Psychotropic drugs and bone
Bolʹ, Sustavy, Pozvonočnik
antidepressants
neuroleptics (antipsychotics)
lithium preparations
osteoporosis
fracture risk
title Psychotropic drugs and bone
title_full Psychotropic drugs and bone
title_fullStr Psychotropic drugs and bone
title_full_unstemmed Psychotropic drugs and bone
title_short Psychotropic drugs and bone
title_sort psychotropic drugs and bone
topic antidepressants
neuroleptics (antipsychotics)
lithium preparations
osteoporosis
fracture risk
url https://pjs.zaslavsky.com.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/441
work_keys_str_mv AT rwgasser psychotropicdrugsandbone
AT hresch psychotropicdrugsandbone