Antidepressants May Help Fight Osteoarthritis, The Most Common Joint Disease

The antidepressant paroxetine can help fight osteoarthritis, the most common joint disease. About it reported American scientists in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Experts have found that the drug is able to stop and even partially heal the destruction of cartilage that occurs due to wear and tear of the articular tissues or damage from injuries.

Osteoarthritis worries every thirtieth inhabitant of the Earth, but until now in medical practice there was no effective way to treat the disease. Patients were usually given anti-inflammatory therapy to relieve symptoms.

Scientists’ new discovery could help cope with cartilage breakdown and reduce the number of people who need joint replacement over time. So far, the effect of paroxetine has been tested only in mice – they have noted partial tissue regeneration.

According to the researchers, the antidepressant slows the progression of osteoarthritis through neuronal serotonin uptake. This was confirmed by similar experiments using another drug of similar action – fluoxetine.

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