Novel, Rapid-Acting Antidepressant Awaits FDA Approval

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Although we typically chat about postpartum melancholy, it is notable that depression rising in the course of the postpartum period of time is often involved with stress and anxiety and/or sleeplessness signs and symptoms.  Primarily when PPD is severe, panic and insomnia can considerably interfere with operating.  Due to the fact standard antidepressants — serotonin reuptake inhibitors — can take up to 4-6 weeks to demonstrate effective results, the acute remedy of PPD may possibly also have to have the use of other prescription drugs, this kind of as benzodiazepines, to goal stress and sleep complications.   

Neuroactive steroids, such as brexanolone which has been marketed as Zulresso for the cure of PPD, are productive for despair but seem to vary from common antidepressants in that they have effective results typically within 48 to 72 several hours.

A single issue with regards to the rapid efficacy of the neurosteroids is no matter whether the early advancements noticed with neurosteroids like brexanolone are relevant to the effects of these medicines on stress and anxiety and slumber.    A current analyze seems especially at the results of the neurosteroid zuranolone on panic signs and symptoms, insomnia signs and symptoms and useful well being in females with PPD.  

Zuranolone, like brexanolone, is a spinoff of allopregnanolone and is a optimistic allosteric modulator of GABA-A receptors.  Info from the Period 3 SKYLARk analyze demonstrated that a 15-working day system of zuranolone was top-quality to placebo in women with severe PPD. By day 3, women of all ages acquiring zuranolone professional a bigger reduction in HAM-D scores than females receiving placebo.

Write-up-Hoc Evaluation of Info from the ROBIN Review

Deligiannidis and colleagues analyzed knowledge from the Period 3, double-blind, randomized, placebo-managed ROBIN study of zuranolone.  This research included ladies 18-45 decades of age who have been considerably less than 6 months postpartum and who experienced expert the onset of PPD in the 3rd trimester or within just the 1st 4 weeks postpartum.  Gals gained oral zuranolone 30 mg (n = 77) or placebo (n = 76) for 14 times with observe-up by working day 45. 

Stress and anxiety signs and symptoms improved to a increased diploma with zuranolone compared to placebo (P < .05) at days 3 through 45.  Rates of concurrent remission of depression and anxiety symptoms (Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale total score ? 7) were higher with zuranolone compared to placebo at days 3, 15, and 45 (18.9% vs. 2.7%, 40.5% vs. 19.2%, 52.1% vs. 23.2%, respectively).  Participants also reported beneficial effects of zuranolone on insomnia symptoms and overall quality of functioning.   

Clinical Implications

In this study, women with PPD receiving zuranolone experienced improvements in both depression and anxiety symptoms, with higher rates of improvement and remission of symptoms seen at days 3, 15, and 45 compared to women receiving placebo. Beneficial effects of zuranolone on insomnia and patient-reported functional health and well-being were also observed. 

Given the high rates of concurrent anxiety and/or insomnia symptoms observed in women with PPD, the findings of the study suggest that zuranolone may be particularly useful in this population.  This study demonstrates that rapid improvements in depression, anxiety, and insomnia symptoms may be achieved without the use of other medications.  

While this study was not able to determine whether improvements in anxiety and/or sleep precede the antidepressant effects of zuranolone, other studies have shown that insomnia (difficulty falling asleep when baby is sleeping or returning to sleep after waking to care for baby) can be a risk factor for, as well as a symptom, of PPD, and insomnia may predict or contribute to increased severity of PPD.  Sleep disturbance and poor sleep quality are also associated with more frequent self-harm thoughts in women with PPD.  Furthermore, poor sleep quality has also been associated with increased postpartum anxiety symptoms.  Thus, effective treatment of PPD often hinges upon the effective management of anxiety symptoms and insomnia.  

 

Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD

 

Deligiannidis KM, Citrome L, Huang MY, Acaster S, Fridman M, Bonthapally V, Lasser R, Kanes SJ.   Effect of Zuranolone on Concurrent Anxiety and Insomnia Symptoms in Women With Postpartum Depression.   J Clin Psychiatry. 2023 Jan 30 84(1):22m14475.

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