Zuranolone has been approved for treatment of postnatal depression in the USA. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a once daily oral medication for a fortnight. It allegedly showed marked improvement in depressive symptoms within three days and was maintained for tour weeks after the last dose.

However the side effects include sedation poosibly not wanted with a new baby.

The FDA have not approved zuranolone for depression.

The trials used subjects who were depressed in the last trimester or within four weeks of delivery.

Zuranolone is believed to rapidly restore and maintain excitatory-inhibitory balance in brain networks. This hopefully allows the brain to respond appropriately to internal and external stimuli.

Post-natal depression is often missed, as it occurs at a very stressful time in the mother’s life and often she and her close ones expect her to feel overwhelmed, exhausted and not to sleep well. It can result is difficulties in bonding between the mother and child, as well as increased risk to the health of them too. There has been and continues to be an education drive and increased services for peri-natal psychiatry.