Brexanolone (Zulresso): Finally, an FDA-Approved Treatment for Postpartum Depression.

To review the safety and efficacy of brexanolone for the treatment of moderate to severe postpartum depression (PPD). A literature search through PubMed was conducted (January 2012 to July 2019) using the keyword for clinical trials published in the English language. Articles were selected if they were related to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of brexanolone or provided novel clinical information regarding this drug entity. The findings of the review show that brexanolone administered via IV infusion is both an effective and a fairly safe option for the treatment of PPD. There are several antidepressants currently used to treat PPD; however, this is the first with FDA approval for this indication. The rapid onset of action of brexanolone may offer a quicker relief of these symptoms and may possibly lead to improved quality of life for both the mother and the child. The recent FDA approval of brexanolone may offer an effective treatment of moderate to severe PPD and has been shown to rapidly decrease depression symptoms.