The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first pill to treat postpartum depression. According to The Washington Post, the FDA announced Friday that zuranolone, brand name Zurzuvae, has been approved as a once-daily pill to be taken for 14 days. Maternal health experts say the move is a welcome development in caring for mothers and will help improve access to treatment for postpartum depression.
Faculty experts at the George Washington University are able to offer insight, commentary and analysis on the approval of this medication and its impact for mothers and families. If you would like to schedule an interview, please contact GW Media Relations at gwmedia
gwu [dot] edu (gwmedia[at]gwu[dot]edu).
Linda Cassar is a clinical assistant professor at the GW School of Nursing. She has worked primarily with the maternal and child health patient population over her 30 years as a nurse, working in Labor and Delivery, Mother/Baby, High-Risk Antepartum, and Outpatient Community Perinatal Education. Cassar can explain what postpartum depression is, as it’s a topic she teaches in her classes every semester. She explains that before this newly approved pill, there was only an IV-type treatment that had a lot of limitations, so only a small number of patients were able to receive this medication. With this announcement, Cassar says she hopes the pill will improve access for women who need it.
WATCH: Prof. Cassar explains the signs and symptoms of postpartum depression and the importance of addressing the societal stigma around postpartum depression. She also discusses the potential impact this new pill might have for mothers.
Nancy Gaba is professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences and is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is available to connect reporters with an expert in Obstetrics and Gynecology for medical questions about postpartum depression.
Caitlin Murphy is a research scientist in the department of Health Policy and Management at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at The George Washington University. She is available to discuss the drug approval’s additional benefits to the existing services to treat maternal mental health and gaps in coverage that currently exist.
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