Federal health officials in the United States have approved the first pill specifically aimed at treating severe postpartum depression, a condition affecting thousands of new mothers each year.
**Treatment Details**
On Friday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the drug "Zurzova" for adults experiencing depression related to childbirth or pregnancy. The pill is taken once a day for 14 days.
Dr. Tiffany فارشيون, director of psychiatric drugs at the FDA, stated in a release that "having an oral medication will be a beneficial option for many of these women to cope with severe feelings, which can sometimes be life-threatening."
The new pill is produced by "Sage Therapeutics" and contains a medication similar to one that is injected intravenously over three days in a medical facility. The FDA approved this treatment in 2019, although it has not been widely used due to its price of $34,000 and the logistics of administration.
Postpartum depression affects approximately 400,000 individuals annually, and while it often resolves on its own within two weeks, it can persist for months or even years.
The FDA's approval of the new medication was based on two studies showing that women taking Zurzova had lower signs of depression over four to six weeks compared to those taking placebo pills. The benefits, measured using a psychological test, appeared within three days for many patients.
