US approves first oral drug for postpartum depression

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of an oral medication to treat postpartum depression, which represents a radical change in its treatment, since “it was only available as an intravenous injection administered by a health care provider”. Its most common side effects are dizziness, diarrhea, drowsiness and fatigue, among others.. In addition, the medicine will also include a notice stating that it may affect the ability to drive and operate machinery.. Improvement sustained for four weeks after completion of treatment.

According to 2018 data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in eight women who have recently given birth develop symptoms of postpartum depression.

“It is a serious and potentially fatal disease that leads women to experience sadness, guilt, worthlessness or even, in severe cases, to think about harming themselves or their children,” the division director explained in a statement. of Psychiatry at the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation, Tiffany Farchione.

“Having access to an oral medication will be a beneficial option for many of these women,” he concluded..