Zuranolone: FDA-Approved Oral Treatment Option for Postpartum Depression

A new study aimed to evaluate the characteristics, efficacy, and safety of zuranolone in managing postpartum depression (PPD).

This study entailed literature searches from PubMed (1966-2023), EMBASE (1973-2023), and clinicaltrials.gov. The selection criteria focused on trials assessing zuranolone for treating PPD. 

Here, two phase III trials investigated zuranolone's efficacy for moderate to severe PPD. Both trials demonstrated statistically significant improvement in depressive symptoms by day 15. Sustained remission rates favoring zuranolone over placebo were noted at day 45 in both studies. The medication was well tolerated, with the most common side effects being somnolence, dizziness, headache, and sedation.

Zuranolone is the second medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for PPD. It offers a significant advantage over brexanolone as it can be administered orally in an outpatient setting. Its rapid onset of action is superior to traditional antidepressants––which take weeks to months to show results. However, there is limited information available on its safety during lactation.

The recent FDA approval of oral zuranolone for PPD introduces a second rapid-acting treatment option, enhancing the treatment accessibility for patients in outpatient settings.

Source: Barnes KN, Vogl CM, Nelson LA. Annals of Pharmacotherapy. 2024 Jul;58(7):728-34.