Psychiatrists are writing the first prescriptions for zuranolone, which got approved last year.
It was supposed to be an exciting time. The new mother had just given birth at age 42, after a much-desired pregnancy. But within a week, she developed postpartum depression.
The medical condition — characterized by extreme sadness, anxiety or despair following childbirth — affects up to 1 in 5 women.
At five months postpartum, the woman was stuck in a haze, said Dr. Misty Richards, medical director of perinatal psychiatry at the Maternal Outpatient Mental Health Services Clinic at UCLA Health, who treated the patient and described her experience to NBC News.
I’m really glad they have this new drug, but what we also need is proper screening for postpartum depression and bipolar. I was never screened for it, and I had it hardcore. Wish I got the help I needed back then.
I swear it wrecked two of my sisters. Its like if its not dealt with it can just sorta morph into worse mental conditions. I mean im not sure but both had some seriously bad mental health that seemed to start with just acting a bit odd after childbirth. Granted I did not see them often given our respective living situations but so it was a bit on hindsite thing but its a bit like a see a clear change in the way the world has been pre and post 2000 and for them individually there is a big difference pre and post child.
Post partum destroyed my marriage. I wish this was available to my ex wife after our kid was born. We did counseling, tried SSRIs but it never quite helped enough. Hopefully, this will help some women going through this.