Protect patients’ bones when prescribing

Discussants: Sarah K. Rivelli, MD, and Andrew J. Muzyk, PharmD

Dr. Rivelli is associate program director, internal medicine-psychiatry residency, departments of internal medicine and psychiatry, and Dr. Muzyk is a clinical pharmacist, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.

Principal Source: Richards JB, Papaioannou A, Adachi JD, et al, and the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study Research Group. Effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on the risk of fracture. Arch Intern Med. 2007;167(2):188-194.

An increased risk of developing osteoporosis may be a hazard of some psychiatric medications and disorders. Osteoporosis is common among postmenopausal women, and additional risk factors for women and men include certain psychiatric disorders (anorexia nervosa and alcohol abuse) and medications such as lithium and some anticonvulsants. In addition:

• Tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are associated with decreased bone mineral density and increased risk of hip fractures.^1,2
• A population-based prospective cohort study found that community-dwelling adults age ≥50 who took SSRIs had double the risk of incident fragility fractures over 5 years,¹ although corticosteroid and anticonvulsant use was more common among those taking SSRIs compared with controls and may have contributed to the higher risk.
• Some studies have suggested that depression may be associated with bone loss.³

Osteoporosis is diagnosed by the presence of a low-impact fracture, a spontaneous fracture—also called fragility fracture—or by decreased bone mineral density testing measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the lumbar spine and proximal femur.⁴ Bone mineral density measured by DXA that is ≥2.5 standard deviations below the young adult female reference mean—called a T-score ≤-2.5—is consistent with a osteoporosis diagnosis. Blood tests are not necessary for diagnosis but may detect abnormal calcium or phosphorus metabolism related to comorbid disorders.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends osteoporosis screening for all women age ≥65 and women age <65 who have risk factors for fracture (Table 1).⁵ There is no consensus on when to screen men, although all adults with a fragility fracture should undergo bone mineral density testing.

Consider screening men and women age >65 if secondary causes of osteoporosis—such as hypogonadism, hyperparathyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, inflammatory arthritis, and hematologic cancers—are present.⁴

Table 1

Osteoporosis risk factors*

Prevention. A diet rich in calcium and vitamin D is essential for healthy bone growth.⁴ Daily requirements increase with age and are highest among adults age >50 (Table 2).⁶ Because the typical U.S. diet has poor calcium content, most adults and children will need calcium supplementation to meet daily requirements. Additional healthy bone lifestyle measures include avoiding caffeine and limiting alcohol consumption to <2 drinks/day.

Physical activity reduces the risk of falls and fractures by increasing muscle strength, coordination, and mobility. Weight-bearing exercise delays osteoporosis onset by promoting strong bone development. When possible, avoid prescribing medications that increase the risk of falls, such as sedative-hypnotics, benzodiazepines, and anticholinergics, or cause bone loss, such as phenytoin, glucocorticoids, and phenobarbital.

Table 2

Daily calcium and vitamin D requirements for adults by age

Treatment. First-line pharmacologic treatment of osteoporosis includes calcium plus vitamin D and a bisphosphonate.⁶

Calcium plus vitamin D increases calcium absorption and has been shown to significantly reduce fracture risk. Calcium typically is prescribed in a carbonate or citrate formulation.

• Calcium carbonate must be taken with meals because it requires an acidic environment for absorption.
• Calcium citrate may cause fewer gastrointestinal side effects, such as constipation.

Because one-time calcium absorption is limited to <600 mg, multiple daily dosing is required. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends >800 IU of vitamin D daily to reduce fracture risk in patients age >50 and in those with osteoporosis.⁷

Bisphosphonates have been shown to reduce fracture risk and increase bone mineral density, primarily in the spine and hip and sometimes within 6 months. Once-weekly alendronate and once-monthly risedronate and oral ibandronate are FDA-approved for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Quarterly ibandronate and once-yearly zoledronic acid injections are approved for osteoporosis treatment. Alendronate and risedronate also are approved to treat osteoporosis caused by glucocorticoid therapy and in men.

Although bisphosphonates do not cause adverse psychiatric effects or interactions with psychotropic medications, bisphosphonates must be taken at least 30 minutes before any other medications. Adverse effects from oral bisphosphonates often are gastrointestinal—such as nausea, heartburn, pain, irritation, and ulceration—and patients should take these medications with only a glass of water and remain upright for at least 30 minutes after ingestion.

Other therapeutic options include teriparatide—a synthetic form of parathyroid hormone injected daily—calcitonin, and raloxifene. Estrogen therapy increases bone density in postmenopausal women but is not recommended for routine use because of increased risk of stroke, thromboembolism, heart disease, and breast cancer.

Related resources

• World Health Organization Fracture Risk Assessment tool. www.shef.ac.uk/FRAX.
• National Osteoporosis Foundation. www.nof.org.

Drug brand names

• Alendronate • Fosamax
• Calcitonin • Miacalcin
• Ibandronate • Boniva
• Lithium • various
• Phenobarbital • various
• Phenytoin • Dilantin
• Prednisone • Deltasone, Meticorten
• Raloxifene • Evista
• Risedronate • Actonel
• Teriparatide • Forteo
• Valproic acid • Depakene
• Zoledronic acid • Reclast

Disclosure

The authors report no financial relationship with any company whose products are mentioned in this article or with manufacturers of competing products.

Discussants: Sarah K. Rivelli, MD, and Andrew J. Muzyk, PharmD

Dr. Rivelli is associate program director, internal medicine-psychiatry residency, departments of internal medicine and psychiatry, and Dr. Muzyk is a clinical pharmacist, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.

Principal Source: Richards JB, Papaioannou A, Adachi JD, et al, and the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study Research Group. Effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on the risk of fracture. Arch Intern Med. 2007;167(2):188-194.

An increased risk of developing osteoporosis may be a hazard of some psychiatric medications and disorders. Osteoporosis is common among postmenopausal women, and additional risk factors for women and men include certain psychiatric disorders (anorexia nervosa and alcohol abuse) and medications such as lithium and some anticonvulsants. In addition:

• Tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are associated with decreased bone mineral density and increased risk of hip fractures.^1,2
• A population-based prospective cohort study found that community-dwelling adults age ≥50 who took SSRIs had double the risk of incident fragility fractures over 5 years,¹ although corticosteroid and anticonvulsant use was more common among those taking SSRIs compared with controls and may have contributed to the higher risk.
• Some studies have suggested that depression may be associated with bone loss.³

Osteoporosis is diagnosed by the presence of a low-impact fracture, a spontaneous fracture—also called fragility fracture—or by decreased bone mineral density testing measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the lumbar spine and proximal femur.⁴ Bone mineral density measured by DXA that is ≥2.5 standard deviations below the young adult female reference mean—called a T-score ≤-2.5—is consistent with a osteoporosis diagnosis. Blood tests are not necessary for diagnosis but may detect abnormal calcium or phosphorus metabolism related to comorbid disorders.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends osteoporosis screening for all women age ≥65 and women age <65 who have risk factors for fracture (Table 1).⁵ There is no consensus on when to screen men, although all adults with a fragility fracture should undergo bone mineral density testing.

Consider screening men and women age >65 if secondary causes of osteoporosis—such as hypogonadism, hyperparathyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, inflammatory arthritis, and hematologic cancers—are present.⁴

Table 1

Osteoporosis risk factors*

Prevention. A diet rich in calcium and vitamin D is essential for healthy bone growth.⁴ Daily requirements increase with age and are highest among adults age >50 (Table 2).⁶ Because the typical U.S. diet has poor calcium content, most adults and children will need calcium supplementation to meet daily requirements. Additional healthy bone lifestyle measures include avoiding caffeine and limiting alcohol consumption to <2 drinks/day.

Physical activity reduces the risk of falls and fractures by increasing muscle strength, coordination, and mobility. Weight-bearing exercise delays osteoporosis onset by promoting strong bone development. When possible, avoid prescribing medications that increase the risk of falls, such as sedative-hypnotics, benzodiazepines, and anticholinergics, or cause bone loss, such as phenytoin, glucocorticoids, and phenobarbital.

Table 2

Daily calcium and vitamin D requirements for adults by age

Treatment. First-line pharmacologic treatment of osteoporosis includes calcium plus vitamin D and a bisphosphonate.⁶

Calcium plus vitamin D increases calcium absorption and has been shown to significantly reduce fracture risk. Calcium typically is prescribed in a carbonate or citrate formulation.

• Calcium carbonate must be taken with meals because it requires an acidic environment for absorption.
• Calcium citrate may cause fewer gastrointestinal side effects, such as constipation.

Because one-time calcium absorption is limited to <600 mg, multiple daily dosing is required. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends >800 IU of vitamin D daily to reduce fracture risk in patients age >50 and in those with osteoporosis.⁷

Bisphosphonates have been shown to reduce fracture risk and increase bone mineral density, primarily in the spine and hip and sometimes within 6 months. Once-weekly alendronate and once-monthly risedronate and oral ibandronate are FDA-approved for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Quarterly ibandronate and once-yearly zoledronic acid injections are approved for osteoporosis treatment. Alendronate and risedronate also are approved to treat osteoporosis caused by glucocorticoid therapy and in men.

Although bisphosphonates do not cause adverse psychiatric effects or interactions with psychotropic medications, bisphosphonates must be taken at least 30 minutes before any other medications. Adverse effects from oral bisphosphonates often are gastrointestinal—such as nausea, heartburn, pain, irritation, and ulceration—and patients should take these medications with only a glass of water and remain upright for at least 30 minutes after ingestion.

Other therapeutic options include teriparatide—a synthetic form of parathyroid hormone injected daily—calcitonin, and raloxifene. Estrogen therapy increases bone density in postmenopausal women but is not recommended for routine use because of increased risk of stroke, thromboembolism, heart disease, and breast cancer.

Related resources

• World Health Organization Fracture Risk Assessment tool. www.shef.ac.uk/FRAX.
• National Osteoporosis Foundation. www.nof.org.

Drug brand names

• Alendronate • Fosamax
• Calcitonin • Miacalcin
• Ibandronate • Boniva
• Lithium • various
• Phenobarbital • various
• Phenytoin • Dilantin
• Prednisone • Deltasone, Meticorten
• Raloxifene • Evista
• Risedronate • Actonel
• Teriparatide • Forteo
• Valproic acid • Depakene
• Zoledronic acid • Reclast

Disclosure

The authors report no financial relationship with any company whose products are mentioned in this article or with manufacturers of competing products.

Discussants: Sarah K. Rivelli, MD, and Andrew J. Muzyk, PharmD

Dr. Rivelli is associate program director, internal medicine-psychiatry residency, departments of internal medicine and psychiatry, and Dr. Muzyk is a clinical pharmacist, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.

Principal Source: Richards JB, Papaioannou A, Adachi JD, et al, and the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study Research Group. Effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on the risk of fracture. Arch Intern Med. 2007;167(2):188-194.

An increased risk of developing osteoporosis may be a hazard of some psychiatric medications and disorders. Osteoporosis is common among postmenopausal women, and additional risk factors for women and men include certain psychiatric disorders (anorexia nervosa and alcohol abuse) and medications such as lithium and some anticonvulsants. In addition:

• Tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are associated with decreased bone mineral density and increased risk of hip fractures.^1,2
• A population-based prospective cohort study found that community-dwelling adults age ≥50 who took SSRIs had double the risk of incident fragility fractures over 5 years,¹ although corticosteroid and anticonvulsant use was more common among those taking SSRIs compared with controls and may have contributed to the higher risk.
• Some studies have suggested that depression may be associated with bone loss.³

Osteoporosis is diagnosed by the presence of a low-impact fracture, a spontaneous fracture—also called fragility fracture—or by decreased bone mineral density testing measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the lumbar spine and proximal femur.⁴ Bone mineral density measured by DXA that is ≥2.5 standard deviations below the young adult female reference mean—called a T-score ≤-2.5—is consistent with a osteoporosis diagnosis. Blood tests are not necessary for diagnosis but may detect abnormal calcium or phosphorus metabolism related to comorbid disorders.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends osteoporosis screening for all women age ≥65 and women age <65 who have risk factors for fracture (Table 1).⁵ There is no consensus on when to screen men, although all adults with a fragility fracture should undergo bone mineral density testing.

Consider screening men and women age >65 if secondary causes of osteoporosis—such as hypogonadism, hyperparathyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, inflammatory arthritis, and hematologic cancers—are present.⁴

Table 1

Osteoporosis risk factors*

Prevention. A diet rich in calcium and vitamin D is essential for healthy bone growth.⁴ Daily requirements increase with age and are highest among adults age >50 (Table 2).⁶ Because the typical U.S. diet has poor calcium content, most adults and children will need calcium supplementation to meet daily requirements. Additional healthy bone lifestyle measures include avoiding caffeine and limiting alcohol consumption to <2 drinks/day.

Physical activity reduces the risk of falls and fractures by increasing muscle strength, coordination, and mobility. Weight-bearing exercise delays osteoporosis onset by promoting strong bone development. When possible, avoid prescribing medications that increase the risk of falls, such as sedative-hypnotics, benzodiazepines, and anticholinergics, or cause bone loss, such as phenytoin, glucocorticoids, and phenobarbital.

Table 2

Daily calcium and vitamin D requirements for adults by age

Treatment. First-line pharmacologic treatment of osteoporosis includes calcium plus vitamin D and a bisphosphonate.⁶

Calcium plus vitamin D increases calcium absorption and has been shown to significantly reduce fracture risk. Calcium typically is prescribed in a carbonate or citrate formulation.

• Calcium carbonate must be taken with meals because it requires an acidic environment for absorption.
• Calcium citrate may cause fewer gastrointestinal side effects, such as constipation.

Because one-time calcium absorption is limited to <600 mg, multiple daily dosing is required. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends >800 IU of vitamin D daily to reduce fracture risk in patients age >50 and in those with osteoporosis.⁷

Bisphosphonates have been shown to reduce fracture risk and increase bone mineral density, primarily in the spine and hip and sometimes within 6 months. Once-weekly alendronate and once-monthly risedronate and oral ibandronate are FDA-approved for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Quarterly ibandronate and once-yearly zoledronic acid injections are approved for osteoporosis treatment. Alendronate and risedronate also are approved to treat osteoporosis caused by glucocorticoid therapy and in men.

Although bisphosphonates do not cause adverse psychiatric effects or interactions with psychotropic medications, bisphosphonates must be taken at least 30 minutes before any other medications. Adverse effects from oral bisphosphonates often are gastrointestinal—such as nausea, heartburn, pain, irritation, and ulceration—and patients should take these medications with only a glass of water and remain upright for at least 30 minutes after ingestion.

Other therapeutic options include teriparatide—a synthetic form of parathyroid hormone injected daily—calcitonin, and raloxifene. Estrogen therapy increases bone density in postmenopausal women but is not recommended for routine use because of increased risk of stroke, thromboembolism, heart disease, and breast cancer.

Related resources

• World Health Organization Fracture Risk Assessment tool. www.shef.ac.uk/FRAX.
• National Osteoporosis Foundation. www.nof.org.

Drug brand names

• Alendronate • Fosamax
• Calcitonin • Miacalcin
• Ibandronate • Boniva
• Lithium • various
• Phenobarbital • various
• Phenytoin • Dilantin
• Prednisone • Deltasone, Meticorten
• Raloxifene • Evista
• Risedronate • Actonel
• Teriparatide • Forteo
• Valproic acid • Depakene
• Zoledronic acid • Reclast

Disclosure

The authors report no financial relationship with any company whose products are mentioned in this article or with manufacturers of competing products.