Antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs are linked to an increased risk of fallen or broken hip leading to fractures in the elderly.
Depression and anxiety are a serious illness which has a major impact on the physical and mental well being. According to a recent study, older individuals who took medications for depression and anxiety had an increased risk of hip fracture when compared to the older population.
‘An increased risk of hip fracture was noted among the older individuals who took medications for depression and anxiety.’
The analysis measured drug levels in individuals’ blood samples, which provided investigators with a more precise measure than asking participants if they took the medications or examining their medical records. Indeed, the drugs were often present in these samples despite no information in patients’ medical records."We were surprised to find that so many patients had centrally-acting drugs in their blood without doctors being aware of this use. Several of the detected drugs increase the risk of falling, which underscores the clinical relevance of these findings," said Ragnhild Birkeland Waade, lead author of the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology study.
Source-Eurekalert