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FDA Approves First Oral Treatment for Postpartum Depression

fda.gov

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Re: FDA Approves First Oral Treatment for Postpartum Depression

#41

Post by gillytech »

linuxftw wrote: post #39
_9pxx wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of all the things that seem wrong with solving this with a pill, I think this is the single most grotesquely negligent element of this approval. Is the FDA immune from suits if this results in a generation of damaged kids? Was it so hard to say "oh..... It ends up in breast milk. We should compare the kids"? Even if it defers the approval by some years?

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Re: FDA Approves First Oral Treatment for Postpartum Depression

#43

Post by CoastalCoder »

roody15 wrote: post #30

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> Is this really a pharmaceutical issue or a societal structure and support issue.

This seems like a weak criticism. You're vaguely referring to some other hypothetical solution that may or may not exist.

There may be a case for a two-pronged approach, but why complain about the prong that just got approved?

Re: FDA Approves First Oral Treatment for Postpartum Depression

#44

Post by tptacek »

quacked wrote: post #26
snvzz wrote: post #18

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Postpartum depression is much lower in places where mothers get a lot of sunshine, live among numerous family and friends, eat whole diets, walk a lot, and don't suddenly go from rat-race identity-capturing careers to soloing a screaming infant inside all day. I'm not saying PPD is non-existent in those societies, just that in western societies like the US I'm more surprised when new mothers don't get PPD than I am w…

This may be the opposite of true: metastudies show lower incidence of PPD in developed countries, and further the incidence of perinatal suicide is higher in developing and "non-western" countries.

Re: FDA Approves First Oral Treatment for Postpartum Depression

#45

Post by pc86 »

roody15 wrote: post #30

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The chemistry of your brain literally changes, so yes, it's an issue that pharmaceuticals can help with tremendously. I am often the first person to rail against overprescribing of medication, particularly psychiatric medication, but this is categorically a Good Thing. And nothing in the article suggests this is anywhere close to a "just take this pill" type of treatment. This is part of a holistic treatment plan.

All that being said, if you want spiritual support go to your church, you shouldn't be getting that from your OB or pediatrician.

Re: FDA Approves First Oral Treatment for Postpartum Depression

#46

Post by valec »

mise_en_place wrote: post #34
snvzz wrote: post #18

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I’m not a pharmacologist, but how is this any different than a benzo like alprazolam?

oftentimes if there is a difference in this sort of situation, it's preferring to bind to a specific subtype of receptor (GABAa is made of 5 different subunits which can be alpha, beta, gamma (or one of 16 other proteibs). the combo of which units are expressed determines the subtype). usually, receptor subtypes are expressed differently throughout the brain.

this is (probably) why benzos and z-drugs have qualitative differences for example--they act on different neurons as they have varying affinities to GABAa subtypes

Re: FDA Approves First Oral Treatment for Postpartum Depression

#48

Post by herrschnapps »

roody15 wrote: post #30

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My wife suffered from PPD after the birth of our first. She also suffered antenatal depression during her second pregnancy.

SSRIs literally saved her life.

The difference to her personality was profound: the woman I knew and loved came back.

Was it a societal structure and support issue? No. She had support from myself, our families, family doctor, her obstetrician and a psychologist. My work provided me with paid time off to manage it. We had no financial concerns; she had 12 months of legally protected maternity leave with the first 6 months fully paid.

She was ill and the medication worked.

Re: FDA Approves First Oral Treatment for Postpartum Depression

#50

Post by maxbond »

gillytech wrote: post #32
kstrauser wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

OK, fine, I'll bite. How have they been lying about AIDS?

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Absolutely amazing progress has been made in treating AIDS. There are medications available now that are able to reduce your viral load to below the limits of detection, you can live a reasonably normal life as someone HIV positive. A small number of people have even been cured.

Discrimination within the medical profession is real and a problem, but I have to doubt the sincerity of your concern for marginalized people when you spread FUD like this. I am forced to conclude you have some bone to pick with the medical profession and are deploying marginalized people as ammunition.

That's not cool. I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't do that.

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