One in five women experiences postpartum depression, a condition that affects not only the mother but also the newborn.
The hallmark of postpartum depression is feelings of sadness, anxiety, and even desperation following childbirth. According to unofficial statistics, approximately one in five women suffers from this condition.
Postpartum depression can have serious consequences for both mother and child. For mothers, it can increase the risk of suicide, high blood pressure, diabetes, or stroke. Babies born to such mothers are more likely to experience developmental delays and have issues with emotional and behavioral regulation, with a heightened risk of death before their first birthday.
A woman who gave birth at the age of 42 in the United States is among those affected. She experienced postpartum depression just one week after her baby was born.
Postpartum depression leads to significant repercussions for mothers, newborns, and families – (Illustrative image from Getty).
Dr. Misty Richards, the medical director at UCLA Health, who has extensive experience treating patients with this syndrome, shared that her patients often neglect personal hygiene and basic needs. The husband of one patient had to take leave from work to care for his wife and the newborn.
Dr. Richards’ clinic has treated hundreds of such patients. Initially, she implemented intensive outpatient treatment programs, but these did not achieve high effectiveness, as even with participation, patients still had suicidal thoughts.
Dr. Richards decided to prescribe the world’s first postpartum depression treatment pill called zuranolone for this female patient.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved this medication in August 2023, but it took several months for the drug to become available.
Some psychiatrists reported that they began prescribing zuranolone after researching its effects and how to combine it with other medications. They hope zuranolone will bring significant changes due to its rapid effects and suitability for home use.
Richards stated that her first patient using zuranolone saw a reduction in depression symptoms after about three days. The patient felt a significant effect of the medication by the eighth day and did not experience any side effects.
“She said it felt like she had just woken up from a deep sleep,” Dr. Richards said. “The patient’s husband cried and was incredibly grateful. This is a significant success in the field of psychiatry,” she shared.
Before zuranolone, the only approved treatment was intravenous infusion, which was approved in 2019. However, this method carries risks of excessive sedation and sudden loss of consciousness, so only a few licensed treatment centers can administer it, and patients must stay in the hospital for 2.5 days.
Additionally, some women using standard antidepressants typically take several weeks for the medication to begin working. In contrast, zuranolone can be used alongside other common antidepressants and provides faster results.
Concerns About Side Effects of Postpartum Depression Medication Although zuranolone may offer many benefits, psychiatrists note that some patients are hesitant to use it due to concerns about side effects and other reasons. The medication can cause drowsiness, dizziness, diarrhea, fatigue, and urinary tract infections. Therefore, patients are advised not to drive or operate heavy machinery for at least 12 hours after taking the medication. Some other patients refuse to take the medication due to a lack of data on its safety during breastfeeding. A small amount of zuranolone may transfer from mother to child through breast milk, but studies have not assessed whether it is harmful. Moreover, the drug may not be effective for patients with mild postpartum depression. Doctors recommend that these patients seek other medical interventions to care for themselves and their children. |
