DEPRESSED -- CHECK YOUR BONES

If you're taking an SSRI antidepressant (such as Prozac or Zoloft) ask your doctor about getting a bone density test. A study recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that older women who took SSRI's for about five years lost more bone density in their hips than those who used another type of antidepressant or nothing at all. SSRI's may interfere with the cells that break down and rebuild bone. Several other studies have also confirmed the link between antidepressants and osteoporosis. - by Barbara Brody