• Angela F Jarman, Joanna V MacLean, Rebecca J Barron, Rachel S Wightman, and Alyson J McGregor.
• Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA. Electronic address: angela.jarman@gmail.com.
• Clin Ther. 2020 Jan 1; 42 (1): 231-235.

AbstractBrexanolone recently became the first medication to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration specifically for treating postpartum depression. In contrast to traditional antidepressants, however, brexanolone is a neurosteroid that is believed to mimic allopregnanolone, a product of endogenous progesterone. Although early clinical trials have shown success, the medication remains largely unavailable due to its extremely high cost and formulation (it must be given as a continuous intravenous infusion over 3 days in a monitored, inpatient setting). The efficacy data surrounding brexanolone are encouraging; there is also evidence, however, that postpartum depression may be mitigated by a number of social policies that provide support to new parents. We suggest a comprehensive approach to postpartum wellness that includes investing in evidence-based social interventions that may be much more accessible to the millions of Americans experiencing postpartum mood disturbance.Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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