FDA approves first drug for treating postpartum depression

Last edited Thu Mar 21, 2019, 12:32 PM - Edit history (1)

FDA approves first drug for treating postpartum depression
by LINDA A. JOHNSON AP Medical Writer

Tuesday, March 19th 2019


TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first drug specifically developed for severe depression after childbirth.
The agency on Tuesday approved Sage Therapeutics' Zulresso, an IV drug given over 2 1/2 days.

Sage said Zulresso will cost $34,000 without insurance, plus costs for staying in a hospital or infusion center. Whether the treatment gets covered by insurance is determined by each insurance company, which also sets the out-of-pocket costs, depending on the plan.

In a company-funded study of new mothers with moderate or severe postpartum depression, half the women given Zulresso had depression end within 2 1/2 days, about double the rate of those in a comparison group given dummy treatments.

Postpartum depression affects about 400,000 American women a year. It often ends on its own within a couple weeks, but it can continue for months or even years. It can be treated with antidepressants, which can take six to eight weeks to work and don't help everyone, or with counseling.


Much more at the link.

http://kmph.com/news/nation-world/fda-approves-first-drug-for-treating-postpartum-depression

From PBS Newshour:
Hat tip Arkansas Granny.