FDA Approves The First Drug For Treating Postpartum Depression

Ask any mom who's dealt with postpartum depression (PPD) and she'll tell you that it's no joke. Experiencing an acute combination of sadness, anxiety, low energy, and trouble sleeping — all while juggling the demands of being a new parent — add up to a big challenge.

Because it's a form of depression, doctors typically recommend a similar range of treatments — namely forms of social or psychological therapy or antidepressant medication in some case, along with lifestyle changes.

These medications can take a few weeks to kick in, if they're helpful at all. More crucially for new moms, they don't account for any of the hormonal changes that women go through during childbirth.

They've approved a new drug for postpartum depression. It's big news because it's the first time the agency has ever approved a drug specifically for the treatment of postpartum depression.

The drug, developed by the pharma company Sage Therapeutics, carries the generic name of brexanolone. One of its ingredients is the key to why it could be a game-changer for new moms.

Allopregnanolone is a natural hormone that develops through pregnancy, then disappears after a woman gives birth. The new drug contains a synthetic form of this hormone, which could help ease women off of a hormone they've become acclimatized to.

Unfortunately, people who have been prescribed this treatment won't find that it's as as convenient as simply popping a pill. It's delivered using an intravenous system, under a clinician's supervision.

Dr. Samantha Meltzer-Brody, director of North Carolina's perinatal psychiatry program cautioned that it shouldn't be seen as a "silver bullet", and is really intended only for women with severe cases of PPD.

With any new therapy, there are questions about how many insurers will cover it. This drug faces the same questions, along with issues of accessibility for women who don't live near clinics.

"For many women that are suffering, if you tell them, 'We can treat you in 2.5 days'," they don't see [getting to the clinic] as a huge inconvenience at all," points out Meltzer-Brody.

Since it's designed for women whose PPD is significant and preventing them from functioning, the new treatment won't be prescribed for any women who haven't tried other forms of therapy first.

Since traditional antidepressants take a long period of time to become effective, new therapies like Zulresso are a big deal since they promise to work within a few days rather than a few weeks.

Meltzer-Brody called it an "important new tool in the toolbox" for doctors, adding, "We want all moms that are suffering to reach out and get help. It is not OK to suffer with postpartum depression. It is a medical condition, and treatment is vital for the mom, baby and her family."

It's estimated that one in nine women deal with PPD symptoms after giving birth. The symptoms can vary from person to person, but they aren't just "baby blues" — they can be debilitating.

Have you dealt with postpartum depression? If so, was there anything you found to be effective in dealing with it? Let us know your thoughts and stories in the comments!