The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the drug, called Zurzuvae, in August. But the shed will cost $15,900 before insurance, raising concerns about how people will be able to access it.
Zurzuvaed is taken twice daily in doses of 25 milligrams for 14 days to treat adults with postpartum depression.
The drug’s makers reported that people who took Zurzuvae had a greater reduction in depressive symptoms than those who took a placebo tablet. The alleviation of symptoms was observed as early as the third day of taking the pill.
Postpartum depression is a mental health disorder and its consequences affect not only the woman, but the well-being of the entire family and the development of the child. The disease can begin within 12 months of a child’s birth and can last for years without treatment. According to research, this affects at least 10% of new mothers and 5% of fathers during the first year of the child’s life.
In severe cases, sufferers may be unable to cope with daily activities and may have frequent thoughts of suicide, self-harm or harming a child. Such symptoms require immediate help.
Other options for treating postpartum depression are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, antidepressants that take weeks to work and must be taken daily for at least 6 to 12 months.
Of course, the price of Zurzuvae is insane compared to these drugs: the price of SSRIs in the US is usually less than 20 dollars a month (in Estonia, even less than 5€ with the health insurance discount).
It is not yet known whether and how much insurance companies will cover this, or whether they will require you to try SSRIs before paying for the drug.
However, the drug, which costs nearly $16,000, costs nearly double that of an earlier alternative called Zulresso. The $35,000 drug is administered via infusion over 60 hours in a hospital.
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2023-12-16 14:23:00
the-first-pill-against-postpartum-depression-has-been-launched-in-the-united-states
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