BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

First postpartum depression pill hits the market

  • The medication is designed to work quickly and be taken for two weeks
  • It comes with a hefty price tag of $15,900 before insurance
  • Postpartum depression can affect the ability of mothers to bond with their babies
FILE - A pregnant woman stands for a portrait in Dallas, Thursday, May 18, 2023. On Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, U.S. health officials approved the first pill, Zurzuvae, specifically intended to treat severe depression after childbirth, a condition that affects thousands of new mothers in the U.S. each year. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

FILE – A pregnant woman stands for a portrait in Dallas, Thursday, May 18, 2023. On Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, U.S. health officials approved the first pill, Zurzuvae, specifically intended to treat severe depression after childbirth, a condition that affects thousands of new mothers in the U.S. each year. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241114185800

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241115200405

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118165728

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118184948

(NewsNation) — The first oral medication to treat postpartum depression is now on the market, though it comes with a high price tag, raising concerns about access.

Zurzuvae, manufactured by Biogen and Sage Pharmaceuticals, received approval from the Food and Drug Administration in spring. The medication is designed to work quickly, with patients seeing results in days and potentially only needing a two-week course of the drug.

That’s a contrast to traditional anti-depressants, which have been used to treat both postpartum depression and major depressive disorder, which often take weeks before they begin to work and may require long-term use.

Postpartum depression is a serious disorder that affects women after birth. It can also have damaging impacts on women and impair their ability to bond with and care for their newborn. It is different than postpartum psychosis, which is a medical emergency that has led mothers to harm themselves or their children in some cases.

While doctors have expressed hope for the new treatment option, that hope is dimmed by the cost of the drug. A 14-day prescription for Zurzuvae is priced at $15,900 before insurance. That has led some experts to worry that many women will be unable to afford the drug even if it is available.

Sage Pharmaceuticals previously said the company was working with insurers to ensure coverage of the medication and planned to offer financial assistance programs for patients.

The company also said that if the drug were approved for major depression, a much more common condition, the price could drop below $10,000.

Health

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241119133138

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Fair

la

67°F Fair Feels like 67°
Wind
8 mph SSW
Humidity
43%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low near 50F. Winds light and variable.
50°F Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low near 50F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
2 mph ENE
Precip
15%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Last Quarter