The Food and Drug Administration has approved a pill specifically to treat postpartum depression, a potentially fatal condition that affects hundreds of thousands of new parents in the United States each year.
The manufacturers Sage Therapeutics and Biogen Inc. say that the drug, Zurzuvae (zuranolone), will be commercially available in the fourth quarter of this year, which could happen as early as October.
The pill – to be taken once a day for 14 days – has shown promising results in two studies, with some patients experiencing benefits after just three days of using the medication.
This is considerably faster than other antidepressants and much less invasive than the only other FDA-approved medication for postpartum depression on the market, which is also from Sage, costs $34,000, and has a long and complicated administration process (intravenous administration over 60 hours).
The manufacturers did not disclose how much Zurzuvae will cost – therefore, it is unclear how much health insurance will cover or how accessible the medication will be for low-income individuals.
Medical experts and maternal health groups say the medication could be a potentially revolutionary option – especially if it is more affordable. The nonprofit organization Postpartum Support International called it “good news for the approximately 500,000 women in the United States who report experiencing symptoms of this devastating and often misunderstood illness each year.”
Postpartum depression is a growing problem
Postpartum depression, also known as PPD, affects up to 1 in 7 mothers and 1 in 10 fathers. It is the most common complication for women who have just given birth, according to the nonprofit health organization March of Dimes.
And it seems to be on the rise: a recent analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the diagnosis rate of postpartum depression was seven times higher in 2015 than in 2000.
What is postpartum depression?
PPD typically begins within one to three weeks after the baby is born and brings strong feelings of anxiety, sadness, and fatigue that can make it difficult for new parents to care for themselves and their baby.
Experts emphasize that the condition needs treatment – in the form of therapy, antidepressants, or other medications – to improve.
Possible causes of PPD include genetics and changes in hormone levels after pregnancy. Risk factors include previous physical or sexual abuse, diabetes, complications during pregnancy, and other life events (such as dealing with grief or illness, being unemployed, or having low income).
Source: npr.org