IT IS THE HUMIDITY.
IT COULD FEEL LIKE IT IS AROUND
100 TO 150 DEGREES DOWN SOUTH.
>> THANK YOU.
NOW TO AN IMPORTANT UPDATE ON A
STORY WE TOLD YOU LAST WEEK.
THE FDA APPROVED THE FIRST EVER
PILL FOR POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION,
WHICH AFFECTS 1 IN 8 NEW
MOTHERS.
THIS PILL COULD BE A GAME
CHANGER BECAUSE IT WORKS FAST.
IT IS ACCESSIBLE AND EASY TO
TAKE.
AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF
MEDICINE AT NYU.
>> GOOD MORNING.
POSTPARTUM IS SO COMMON.
SO MANY WOMEN ARE GOING THROUGH
THIS AS WE SPEAK.
WHAT IS THIS PILL CALLED?
>> RIGHT.
THIS IS AN ORAL MEDICATION FOR
THE TREATMENT, THE FIRST-EVER
FDA APPROVED ORAL MEDICATION FOR
POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION.
IT ACTS AS A NEUROACTIVE
STEROID.
WE KNOW RIGHT AFTER YOU DELIVER
THE BABY, THERE IS A REAL
PLUMMETING OF SO MANY HORMONES,
WHICH FOR MANY WOMEN CAN CAUSE
THE BABY BLUES.
BUT THE MORE INTENSE FORM OF
THAT IS POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION.
YOU CAN HAVE MILD, MODERATE.
AND THIS MED RATION IS APPROVED
FOR SEVERE POSTPARTUM
DEPRESSION.
WHY IT IS POTENTIALLY A GAME
CHANGER IS BECAUSE THE ONLY
OTHER MEDICATION APPROVED IS AN
IV INFUSION OF THE SAME KIND OF
DRUG.
IT REQUIRES AN IV AND IT NEEDS
TO BE GIVEN IN A HOSPITAL FOR 60
HOURS STRAIGHT.
YOU CAN IMAGINE HAVING A NEWBORN
AT HOME AND HAVING TO GO TO THE
HOSPITAL FOR 60 HOURS STRAIGHT.
THIS WILL OPEN UP TREATMENT FOR
SO MANY OTHER WOMEN.
>> YEAH.
SUPPOSEDLY IT WORKS FOR 14 DAYS.
>> EXACTLY.
>> SO THIS KEY MOMENT YOU COULD
GET IT.
COULD YOU GET A SECOND COURSE OF
IT IF YOU CONTINUE TO NEED IT?
>> THEY STUDIED IT FOR THE
14-DAY TREATMENT.
JUST ONCE A DAY PILL.
AND THE EFFECTS LASTED FOR 45
DAYS AFTER THAT.
THEY’RE NOT SURE WHAT THE
EFFECTS ARE IN TERMS OF LONG
LASTING TREATMENT AND WHETHER
YOU MIGHT NEED ANOTHER COURSE.
POSTPARTUM DOES GO AWAY AS TIME
PASSES AS WELL.
IT COULD BE THE TWO WEEKS.
>> REAL QUICKLY, WE DON’T KNOW
IF YOU CAN BREAST-FEED WHILE ON
IT.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, THEY DIDN’T