"FDA Approves Groundbreaking Postpartum Depression Pill in the US"

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first pill, zuranolone (sold as Zurzuvae), for the treatment of postpartum depression (PPD). Previously, PPD treatment was only available as an intravenous injection. Clinical trials showed that the pill significantly reduced depressive symptoms within three days, with effects lasting up to four weeks after the last dose. Common side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, and diarrhea. The medication can affect a person's ability to drive and perform hazardous activities, and patients are advised not to drive or operate heavy machinery for at least 12 hours after taking it. The manufacturers, Sage Therapeutics and Biogen, had also sought approval for the use of zuranolone in major depressive disorder (MDD), but the FDA determined that further studies were needed.