Postpartum depression has long been difficult for patients and doctors alike. While it’s widespread, there have never been any medications specifically tailored to treat it. Now, though, the FDA has made history in approving a new therapy that could be a game-changer.
It’s a challenge for new parents.
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.
Typical treatments vary.
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.
Antidepressants are lacking.
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.
The FDA just made history.
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.
It’ll be sold under the trade name Zulresso.
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.
It contains a specific hormone.
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.
How’s it administered?
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.
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How effective will it be?
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.
There are a few hurdles.
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.
It’ll still be an appealing option.
“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.
How can women get this treatment?
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.
The turnaround time is impressive.
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.
An important new tool.
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 big news for millions of women.
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.
Moms, what do you think?
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!
