Postpartum depression pill showing positive results in trials

women’s health

To Brooke Steinberg

Jul 31, 2023 | 8:57am

A first-of-its-kind pill for postpartum depression has shown promising results in recent trials and could be approved as early as next week.

New research published in American Journal of Psychiatry The pill had a positive effect on depressive symptoms and was shown to be “generally well tolerated.”

“Postpartum depression is underrecognized, undertreated, and disruptive for those living with the condition. We are working to develop a faster and more effective treatment for the many women in need,” Dr. Christina Derigiannidis said in a release. The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research at Northwell Health.

“We have been working on neuroactive steroid research in PPD for nearly 15 years. It’s a culminating moment,” continued Derijiannidis, principal investigator of the trial and lead author of the paper, and director of women’s behavioral health at Zucker Hillside Hospital in Queens.

The drug, called zranolone, is an antidepressant taken for only two weeks and is a type of drug that targets GABA receptors in the brain (which control signaling in the central nervous system) using substances called neurosteroids. is.

Zranolone is currently being evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, with a decision due on August 5.

The study, funded by pharmaceutical partners Sage Therapeutics and Biogen, divided 196 mothers with postpartum depression into two groups, half taking zranolone, half taking a placebo pill, Checked for 2 weeks.

All mothers showed positive progress in their depression systems on day 15, but those who actually took the medication had significantly better outcomes. Improvements have also been reported after 4 and 6 weeks.

A small number of participants experienced side effects such as dizziness and drowsiness. The long-term effects are the least clear about the pill, according to the study authors, and it’s unclear whether it affects breastfeeding.

The 14-day neuroactive steroid drug ultimately “demonstrated rapid and clinically meaningful improvement in depressive symptoms at the time points measured,” according to the release.

If zranolone is approved, it will be the first drug explicitly approved for postpartum depression. Currently, the only other drug available to treat postpartum depression is Zurresso, which he gives continuously for 60 hours by an IV.

“The results of these clinical trials are evidence that many years of perseverance and dedication have led to major advances in medicine,” said Feinstein Institute president and CEO and Carlzeez family medical director. Research Task Force Chair Kevin J. Tracy, Ph.D., said in a release.

Zranolone is designed to rebalance brain networks that govern mood, arousal, behavior and cognition. Take a fast-acting tablet once daily for 2 weeks.

Depression imbalances the neurotransmitters GABA and glutamate, affecting neuronal activity. Treatments for depression usually focus on boosting serotonin levels, but research is beginning to show that GABA receptors may work as well.

Approximately 1 in 7 women experience PPD. National Institutes of Health.

Postpartum depression, which may initially be mistaken for “baby blues,” lasts only a few days to a week after the baby is born, whereas PPD symptoms are more severe and last longer. .

Symptoms usually start within the first few weeks after giving birth, but can also start during pregnancy or within the first year after giving birth. mayo clinic.

These symptoms include excessive crying, difficulty bonding with the baby, separation from friends and family, loss of interest in enjoyable activities, severe anxiety, and panic attacks.