New parents are part of a patient population that can fall through the cracks of the health care system. Each year in the United States, it is estimated that more than 400,000 young children are born to depressed people.
Postpartum depression goes undiagnosed and untreated. Now, doctors are hopeful that the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of a postpartum depression tablet called zuranolone (under the logo called Zurzuvae) can raise awareness and develop remedy features for this debilitating disease. .
“The approval of zuranolone is a very exciting development in the treatment of postpartum depression,” says Lauren Gimbel, MD, an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and clinical obstetrical lead of perinatal mental health at University of Utah Health. “It adds another option for medication treatment for patients who don’t want to use traditional antidepressants.”
Postpartum depression is when you feel a deep sadness after the birth of a child that lasts longer than two weeks. People may feel depressed, guilty, irritable, or angry. They may show little interest in things they used to enjoy, revel in a lack of energy, are afraid of hurting themselves or others, or have adjustments in their concentration, appetite, and sleep that impede their ability to function. It is a common pregnancy complication that can affect both women and men. Symptoms of postpartum depression can interfere with daily life.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 8 women experience symptoms of depression after giving birth.
While treatment features for postpartum depression are individualized and developed only with a healthcare provider, zuranolone is the first FDA-approved medication specifically developed for the treatment of postpartum depression.
In studies of zuranolone, patients with severe postpartum depression reported an improvement in temperament and relief from depressive emotions as early as 3 days after treatment.
“For some patients, the main benefit of zuranolone might be that it acts faster,” Gimbel says. “Symptom improvement was observed approximately two weeks after the start of treatment and maintained its effect until forty-five days studied. “
It can usually take two to four weeks for antidepressants to see an improvement in symptoms.
Another novelty of zuranolone is that the drug is prescribed over a period of two weeks instead of months. This makes it less complicated for patients to comply with orders about how and for how long to take the drug. It can also improve access, as it can be difficult to get long-term psychiatric care across the country.
When trying the oral drug zuranolone, patients who took it experienced minimal side effects. The most common symptoms included dizziness, fatigue, drowsiness, and an upset stomach.
However, like any medication, zuranolone may not be the most productive option for each and every individual. Women who have been treated with other medications in the past and have responded well may need to use a medication they know works rather than looking like a new drug, such as zuranolone.
When testing zuranolone, the studies were not done with women who were breastfeeding. Therefore, for now, it is recommended not to breastfeed while you are taking the medication. This is because it is not yet known how much of the medication passes into breast milk. People should also take effective birth control while taking the medication and for a week afterward, as it is not known if it is safe to take the pregnancy.
The approval of zuranolone may simply remove the stigma surrounding postpartum depression and start a deeper discussion about how new parents are going through this critical time in their lives and that of their baby and mother. your family.
This is a time of adjustments in an individual’s physical and intellectual health.
“We know that untreated perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are associated with negative outcomes for the birthing individual, their partner, and for their offspring,” Gimbel says. “Untreated, it impacts quality of life, engagement with medical care, increased use of substances, difficulty with attachment to the infant, and long-term developmental risks.”
That’s why it’s vital for moms to talk about their temperament and any depressive symptoms or anxiety that may affect their ability to function. This conversation is especially critical if you’re thinking about hurting yourself or your baby. It also allows each individual to make possible decisions about their treatment.
“The fact that zuranolone was developed specifically for postpartum individuals speaks to how prevalent the condition is and how important it is to develop treatment options that are more accessible to help individuals feel better sooner,” Gimbel says.