SSRI's and stunted growth in kids (and thinner bones?)

[EAMom]

The children experienced either growth delay or arrest while taking SSRIs, but weight gain had progressed as expected, as did puberty in 3 children. Neuroendocrine testing indicated decreased growth-hormone levels or responsiveness and low levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Cortisol function and thyroid and prolactin levels were normal. Growth rates increased after SSRIs were discontinued or after somatropin treatment was added. The authors note that SSRIs may reduce growth-hormone levels by antagonism at alpha noradrenergic receptors, which stimulate the release of growth hormones; this mechanism would be similar to that of tricyclic antidepressants.

http://psychiatry.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2002/807/5

 

AND...Mice/prozac-->thinner bones http://news.healingwell.com/index.php?p=news1&id=522315 :

 

Compared to normal mice, these animals had bones that were between 6 percent to 13 percent narrower on average. Their bones were also weaker and less dense.

and

"When we gave Prozac to really young mice that were still rapidly growing, it reduced the amount of bone they gained," Warden said. "It reduced their bone growth -- not how long the bones were, but how wide, and how thick."

and

But Warden believes that larger clinical trials are warranted. He pointed to studies in adults that linked long-term SSRI use with an increased risk for hip fracture, as well as reduced bone mineral density in the neck and spine.

however

For their part, representatives at Lilly said the study is far from conclusive. They point out, for example, that mice exposed to Prozac were somewhat less active than unexposed mice, offering an alternate explanation as to differences in bone mass.

 

AND here's a 19 week study on children. Amazingly, no follow-up longer studies (that I can find) were EVER done!

 

and http://www.healthsentinel.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=413:trial-finds-that-prozac-may-stunt-childrens-growth&catid=6:other-sources&Itemid=7

 

 

The Sunday Herald has uncovered details of a 19-week trial carried out by Eli Lilly where children aged between eight and 17 years old who were given the drug gained an average of 1cm less in height and 1.1kg less in weight than others treated with a placebo.

 

The results revealed that treatment with fluoxetine, the generic name for Prozac, was also linked to a decrease in levels of alkaline phosphatase, an enzyme crucial to bone development.

 

Despite concerns from America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2001, which requested that Lilly carry out a further one-year trial to ensure the drug was safe to be used by children, no such test has ever been done.

 

 

dd is on 15 mg/day of prozac. She was on 10mg/day for a long time. Not sure if she is "better" on 15 mg (but we want to recheck her cholesterol first...who 'nother post).

 

When we tried to decrease to 5mg (a couple of months ago) from 10mg/day, her anxiety greatly increased.

[Mayzoo]

I wonder if supplementing calcium/vit D would help with the bone density issue. My kiddo is a girl and is genetically prone to being short anyhoo, so likely the height issue is not a deal breaker (she has always been 5% or less on height even prior to treatment.) Currently she is 10 yrs old and 51" tall, about 52lbs so slight and short already .

 

A study would be great to know if increased dose increases risk, all SSRIs a risk, etc.....

Edited May 27, 2012 by Mayzoo

[EAMom]

I wonder if supplementing calcium/vit D would help with the bone density issue. My kiddo is a girl and is genetically prone to being short anyhoo, so likely the height issue is not a deal breaker (she has always been 5% or less on height even prior to treatment.) Currently she is 10 yrs old and 51" tall, about 52lbs so slight and short already .

 

A study would be great to know if increased dose increases risk, all SSRIs a risk, etc.....

 

 

yes...I wish they would study this more, rather than just leaving us all wondering.

 

I do supplement with D/calcium as best as I can.

 

I'm kind of worried. I'm 5'5", dh is 5'10"...so if you average our heights dd should end up to be 5'5" (I think you take away 5" from dh's height for a girl)....I was always a tall kid, but stopped growing by 8th grade.

 

Dd was 58 1/4 in January (11.5 years) when she 1st got her period (TMI!). I mention it b/c girls aren't supposed to grow much (or for more than 2 years) after they get their period. Since then, she's only grown 1 " (she's now 59 1/4) but that was all in a 1mo. spurt between Jan/feb. She hasn't grown since Feb. Dd is just finishing 6th grade, so I worry that she only has another year to grow (7th grade).

[Mayzoo]

I wonder if supplementing calcium/vit D would help with the bone density issue. My kiddo is a girl and is genetically prone to being short anyhoo, so likely the height issue is not a deal breaker (she has always been 5% or less on height even prior to treatment.) Currently she is 10 yrs old and 51" tall, about 52lbs so slight and short already .

 

A study would be great to know if increased dose increases risk, all SSRIs a risk, etc.....

 

 

yes...I wish they would study this more, rather than just leaving us all wondering.

 

I do supplement with D/calcium as best as I can.

 

I'm kind of worried. I'm 5'5", dh is 5'10"...so if you average our heights dd should end up to be 5'5" (I think you take away 5" from dh's height for a girl)....I was always a tall kid, but stopped growing by 8th grade.

 

Dd was 58 1/4 in January (11.5 years) when she 1st got her period (TMI!). I mention it b/c girls aren't supposed to grow much (or for more than 2 years) after they get their period. Since then, she's only grown 1 " (she's now 59 1/4) but that was all in a 1mo. spurt between Jan/feb. She hasn't grown since Feb. Dd is just finishing 6th grade, so I worry that she only has another year to grow (7th grade).

 

I am 5'7" and hubby is 5'6". His dad is 5'5", his brother is 5'5", his mom is 5'4", his sister is 4'11" and my sister is 5'3", so DD had little chance of ever reaching my height .

 

Now for the laugh, my sister (5'3") was married to hubby's brother(5'5")--sisters married brothers --and they had two boys. One is 6' and the other is 5'11. In my family the men are overall taller.

 

I am pretty sure I grew some past the one year mark you mentioned.