In tablet form, Quinolone has been approved by the FDA as a treatment for postpartum depression. This new medication can replace the current treatment option,, requiring an intravenous injection.
The FDA has recommended that patients take the medication, which goes by the trade name Zurzuvae, once daily for two weeks. The medication is anticipated to be made accessible later this year, according to Sage Therapeutics and Biogen, two of the drug’s producers. However, no official pricing has been disclosed.
According to the FDA and NYtimes, postpartum depression (PPD), also known as postnatal depression, can have symptoms comparable to other types of clinical depression, such as sorrow, fatigue, suicidal thoughts, a diminished capacity for enjoyment, and cognitive impairment.
Research indicates that one in seven American women has postpartum depression symptoms. Tiffany Farchione, who leads the psychiatry department at the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, has stated that postpartum depression is a severe and potentially life-threatening condition. Women may feel sad, guilty, and worthless; in severe cases, they may have thoughts of harming themselves or their children.
“Postpartum depression can also affect a child’s physical and emotional development since it can damage the attachment between a mother and her newborn. According to her, women dealing with severe and possibly dangerous emotions would benefit from access to oral medication.
According to clinical trials, Zurzuvae effectively decreased depression symptoms after three days, and the FDA reported that the drug’s effects persisted four weeks after the final dosage.
According to the BBC, typical adverse effects of the medication include tiredness, sleepiness, dizziness, diarrhea, the common cold, and urinary tract infections.
Additionally, the agency stated that a boxed warning on the drug’s labeling warns that Zurzuvae can impair a person’s ability to drive and engage in other potentially hazardous activities. It also advised that patients with postnatal depression not drive or operate heavy machinery for at least 12 hours after taking it.
The FDA rejected the effectiveness of Quinolone for treating major depressive disorder (MDD) owing to inadequate data, despite Sage Therapeutics and Biogen’s requests for clearance.
Sage Therapeutic stated it was “highly disappointed for patients, particularly amid the current mental health crisis and millions of people with MDD struggling to find symptom relief.” At the same time, the firms assessed their future moves. Source