New Medication for PPD on the Horizon

New Medication for PPD on the Horizon

Kristin Lasseter, MD

About our current read

Ruta Nonacs MD, PhD discusses a new medication that may play a significant role in the treatment of postpartum depression in this article.

What we love about it

Dr. Nonacs summarizes the recent trial results released from SAGE-217 and presents multiple discussion points that the reproductive psychiatric community needs to be thinking about.

Take away point

The company, SAGE, has recently received FDA approval for a medication, called brexanolone, to treat postpartum depression. This medication is novel in that it rapidly improves postpartum depression in a few days, rather than 4-6 weeks like traditional antidepressants. Unfortunately, this medication must be given by intravenous infusion in an inpatient hospital setting. This is both costly, and time-consuming, and we have no data on its safety while breastfeeding. There is also further criticism about brexanolone regarding the results of the study. Now SAGE is in phase 3 trial for an oral form of allopregnanolone analog hoping it will yield similarly quick results. To learn more about allopregnanolone, see our instagram post about it.

‍

You may also be interested in...

Making Sense of the Storm

Making Sense of the Storm

Written by Grace Rao, LMSW Many of us experienced a once-in-a-generation snow and ice storm last week. Like a slow moving train derailment, the storm caused a domino effect of consequences.

Read Blog Post
When Basic Needs Fall Short: Supporting Families’ Mental Health This Holiday Season

When Basic Needs Fall Short: Supporting Families’ Mental Health This Holiday Season

Read Blog Post