New drug promises help for women suffering from postpartum depression

[MPR News, May 08, 2019] Next month, the first and only FDA-approved treatment for postpartum depression will hit the market in the U.S. It's needed. Up to 1 in 7 women experiences depression after her baby's birth—making it one of the most common complications of pregnancy.

The drug offers almost immediate relief. Some women reported a mood change in as little as 48 hours — a huge improvement over the current treatment of conventional antidepressants, which can take a month or more to kick in. But the new drug brings its own set of hurdles. It has to be administered through an IV for 60 continuous hours, and it's estimated to cost $34,000 for one treatment. Will that keep it out of reach for those who need it most?

Allina Health psychiatrist Dr. Elizabeth LaRusso from the Mother Baby Center talked with MPR News about postpartum depression and how it's treated.