The US Food and Drug Administration last week approved a pill for treating postpartum depression. The first oral treatment designed specifically for treating postpartum depression, Zurzuvae’s approval has been welcomed as a likely much cheaper, specific treatment for a condition that affects as many as one in seven people after they give birth.
Dr. Sarah Oreck, a reproductive psychiatrist who practices in California and New York, said that it’s exciting to see a medication target a mechanism that “underpins” postpartum depression in a way that traditional antidepressants can’t.
“There’s gonna be a lot of people that need this medication, and I’m hoping we can do whatever we can to make it widely accessible,” Oreck said.
But despite being “incredibly excited” about a drug that’s proved to be fast-acting at treating PPD in clinical trials, Oreck says there’s still some “apprehension” over who’ll actually be able to use it. As of now, there’s no word on how much it’ll cost. The only other drug on the market specifically for treating postpartum depression is a $34,000 IV drip.
Here’s what to know about postpartum depression and Zurzuvae, the pill to treat it.
What is postpartum depression?
Postpartum depression is a condition that’s categorized by persistent feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and despair that interferes with daily tasks. In more severe cases, it can lead to suicide — which is one of the leading causes of maternal deaths that happen after birth.
PPD can affect anyone, but women with a history of a mood disorder like depression or mood changes associated with the menstrual cycle are at higher risk. Other factors like not having help with the new baby, having a difficult delivery, a recent move or more stress can also increase the risk of PPD. It typically starts within the first three weeks of delivery, but can occur up to a year after having a baby, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
A milder form of postpartum depression, called the “baby blues,” may affect more than half of people after they deliver, though it typically subsides by itself within a couple of weeks.
While the symptoms of PPD can overlap with other forms of depression, there is a link between the dramatic drop of hormones that happens after someone gives birth and the onset of depression with PPD. A pill that better narrows in on the cause of PPD means more effective treatment, as has been shown in clinical trials.
