The European Commission agreed to the drug “Zoranolone”, allowing women who suffer from postpartum depression the opportunity to obtain a drug dedicated to treating this type of depression within the European Union countries.
Postpartum depression is a mental health disorder that can affect women after childbirth. Its symptoms include feeling sad, anxious, tired, and difficult to perform daily jobs and tasks.
The Commission indicated in a press statement, yesterday, Wednesday, that “this disorder can be severe and long for a long time, which leaves negative effects on the mother and her child.”
Until now, there are no approved medications to treat postpartum depression, and traditional antidepressants often take a long time before they reduce symptoms.
The UNHCR said that the new medicine, a drug that is taken orally and is only dispensed with a prescription, can reduce the symptoms of depression two weeks after the start of treatment.
Zoranolone was approved after an evaluation conducted by the European Pharmaceutical Agency.