Can Sertraline cause joint pain?
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
In this article, we will discuss joint pain associated with Sertraline use – a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). We will also discuss what research says about this side effect and what one should do in case it occurs.
Can Sertraline cause joint pain?
Sertraline may cause joint pain in some individuals. It is a listed side effect but is uncommon or rare. The incidence of this side effect is also not well-established as inconsistent cases of joint pain with Sertraline have been reported.
This antidepressant may also cause muscle tension and pain in some people. However, in some cases, Sertraline might help with arthritis-induced joint pain.
It is important to note that people can respond differently to Sertraline and they have different factors affecting their health – that may contribute to Sertraline-induced side effects. If you’re taking Sertraline and your joints hurt, please talk to your healthcare provider.
What does research suggest?
There is limited research on joint pain associated with Sertraline use. However, research studies have linked antidepressants to potential bone damage.
One research review indicated that people exposed to serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) had a higher risk of developing low bone density (which includes osteoporosis or osteopenia) compared to those who didn’t take these drugs (3).
This link remained even after accounting for other factors, suggesting that SRIs can independently increase the risk of osteoporosis.
Recent users of SRIs had a 1.44 times higher risk of low bone density, and former users had a 1.07 times higher risk compared to those who didn’t use SRIs (3).
This finding, based on a large study of almost 75,000 men and nearly 260,000 women, suggests that the use of SRIs may indeed be connected to a greater risk of bone loss. Given how commonly SRIs are used, this could have significant implications for clinical care (3).
Some other recent studies indicate that older adults, both men and women, who take certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Sertraline are at risk of experiencing greater bone loss (4).
In elderly men, SSRIs were linked to lower bone density, while in elderly women, they were associated with higher annual bone loss (4).
In another study conducted in 2019, researchers used dental volumetric tomography to investigate bone density in men who had been taking antidepressants, specifically SSRIs, for a long time (5).
The participants were divided into two groups: one without antidepressant use (control group) and the other taking antidepressants.
The results showed that the group on antidepressants had lower bone density values, which suggests a risk of osteoporosis with long-term SSRI use in men (5). These research studies suggest that SSRIs, including Sertraline, can cause joint-related problems.
What to do if Sertraline causes joint pain?
If you’re experiencing joint pain while taking Sertraline, it’s important to discuss this with your healthcare provider.
They can investigate if there are other factors contributing to the pain and might consider reducing your dosage, especially if you’re new to the medication or if your dose was recently increased. If you have any mineral deficiencies, your doctor may recommend supplements.
However, it is important to make sure not to make any changes to your treatment plan on your own. If the joint pain persists, your doctor may decide to discontinue Sertraline as a possible solution.
Your doctor’s guidance is essential in finding the best approach to manage joint pain while on this medication.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed joint pain associated with Sertraline use. We have also talked about some research studies related to this side effect and what you should do if this side effect occurs.
Was this helpful?
References
1.-
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA). HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION. ZOLOFT (sertraline hydrochloride) tablets, for oral use. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2016/019839s74s86s87_20990s35s44s45lbl.pdf
2.-
National Library of Medicine. Sertraline: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. National Library of Medicine. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a697048.html
3.-
Kang, S., Han, M., Park, C.I. et al. Use of serotonin reuptake inhibitors and risk of subsequent bone loss in a nationwide population-based cohort study. Sci Rep 11, 13461 (2021). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-92821-9
4.-
Oregon Health & Science University. “Antidepressants Linked To Bone Loss, Study Suggests.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 27 June 2007. Available from: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070626115436.htm
5.-
Agacayak KS, Guler R, Ilyasov B. Evaluation of the effect of long-term use of antidepressants in the SSRI group on bone density with dental volumetric tomography. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2019;13:3477-3484. Available from: https://doi.org/10.2147/DDDT.S216822
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