Medications For Depression May Cause Bone Loss

Serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as Zoloft, Lexapro and Prozac, are commonly used to treat depression and anxiety. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, a chemical in the brain that relays messages from one area to another. These chemicals travel between brain cells (neurons), relaying messages. As the chemical is released from one side of the brain cell, it travels to a receptor on the next brain cell. The interaction between the chemical and the receptor causes an electrical message to be sent through the nerve. The electrical message sent by serotonin has affects on mood, appetite, sleep, memory, temperature regulation, social behavior and metabolism. Serotonin is usually taken up by the nerve ending it was released from and reused (recycled). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) function by blocking the reuptake of serotonin, increasing the availability of serotonin to bind with the receptor, which results in repeated electrical messages being sent by the receiving brain cell. Continue Reading »