Latest news with #antidepressants
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Everything you need to know about the risks of antidepressants in pregnancy – and why some top doctors say mums-to-be should stop taking them
Leading medical experts have called for women to stop taking antidepressants during pregnancy over fears that they could cause harm to unborn children. Doctors speaking at a prestigious panel of the US drugs safety watchdog, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), on Monday warned that there was 'accumulating evidence' that antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, were linked to birth defects and may harm the developing infant brain.
The Verge
22-07-2025
- Health
- The Verge
The Trump administration's war on antidepressants is still brewing.
Posted Jul 22, 2025 at 3:22 PM UTC The Trump administration's war on antidepressants is still brewing. An FDA panel on antidepressant medications and pregnancy on Monday 'largely amounted to misinformation or facts taken out of context,' NBC reports — and comes on the heels of RFK Jr. ordering an investigation into SSRIs earlier this year. OB/GYN Jen Gunter has a slightly more animated blow-by-blow livetweet thread, too. Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates. Adi Robertson Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Adi Robertson Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Science
New York Times
22-07-2025
- Health
- New York Times
First Pill for Postpartum Depression Shows Varied Real-World Results
Depression descended on Samantha Cohn about two months after her baby boy was born. He was thriving, but she became convinced she was a terrible mother. 'I felt like I wasn't doing enough, I wasn't doing anything right,' she said. She began to think her son and husband might be better off without her. When the baby was about 5 months old, she tried to take her life with a gun. Ms. Cohn, 30, who lives near Fayetteville, N.C., was hospitalized for weeks and underwent surgeries to repair damage to her jaw, nose, tongue and face. But her postpartum depression remained challenging to treat. The hospital's maternal mental health specialists decided to have her try a medication that had recently become available: the first pill specifically for postpartum depression. Clinical trials had found that the drug, zuranolone, marketed as Zurzuvae and taken daily for 14 days, can ease symptoms for some women in as little as three days, while general antidepressants can take weeks. For Ms. Cohn, its impact was swift and striking. On her fourth day of taking it, she said she suddenly 'felt so much clarity in my head, like I didn't have nagging thoughts about not being good enough.' Now, a year and a half after the drug became available, thousands of women have tried it, and their experiences have run the gamut. For some, symptoms improved remarkably. Others described a modest benefit that didn't last or said their depression persisted. And others didn't complete the two-week regimen because profound drowsiness, a common side effect of the drug, interfered with their ability to care for their babies or to fulfill other responsibilities. One in eight women in the United States experiences depression during pregnancy or in the year after giving birth, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates, and effective treatments are crucially needed. While the fast-acting pill shows promise, doctors say the challenge now is to determine which patients will benefit and why some don't. Clinical trials of the drug found that postpartum depression improved in about 60 percent of patients. 'It's not everyone,' Dr. Samantha Meltzer-Brody, a leader of the trials and director of the Center for Women's Mood Disorders at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said at a National Institutes of Health conference. 'So, what is it about the people that are going to respond versus those that don't?' Stacey, 42, of San Diego, who asked to be identified by her first name to protect her privacy, said Zurzuvae made her 'so tired' that after several days of taking it, 'I just felt like a zombie.' 'I actually felt more depressed while I was on it,' she said. To address Stacey's response to the medication, Dr. Alison Reminick, director of women's reproductive mental health at the University of California, San Diego, advised her to take half doses for the rest of the 14 days. But Stacey said she stopped Zurzuvae altogether, halfway through the regimen, because the sluggishness made it difficult to care for her baby. 'The medication is incredibly sedating,' Dr. Reminick said. 'There's a warning on the box. They can't drive for 12 hours after taking it and they can't really take care of their children without help.' Yet, some patients don't experience sedation and others welcome it because it helps them get much-needed sleep and feel less overwhelmed, said doctors who prescribe Zurzuvae. The week after Ms. Cohn started taking Zurzuvae, the turnaround of her symptoms was so obvious that she was discharged from the hospital. 'She had a really nice improvement of her postpartum depression with that medicine,' said Dr. Riah Patterson, a psychiatrist at U.N.C. Chapel Hill. Ms. Cohn finished the 14-day regimen at home and attended intensive outpatient therapy for months. Now, she has gone back to work as a tattoo artist, and she said that with weekly therapy and an anxiety medication, she is managing the aftermath of the crisis, including undergoing additional surgeries. 'I'm just excited to get a little bit closer to really being me again,' she said. She no longer feels anxious about her parenting ability and enjoys playing with her son and taking him to places like the local children's museum. 'He makes everything worth pushing through.' Importance of quick intervention Zurzuvae is a synthetic version of a steroid called allopregnanolone that originates in the brain. The theory behind the medication is that perinatal depression often arises as hormones that surge in pregnancy plummet during childbirth. Some women seem particularly sensitive to that sudden drop-off, which also lowers levels of the steroid, Dr. Meltzer-Brody said. Zurzuvae can be taken with other antidepressants, and, since it is prescribed for only a single 14-day course, some doctors use it as an adjunct or bridge to ease severe symptoms before longer-term use of antidepressants. Some patients who are breastfeeding have declined to take the drug because its penetration of breast milk has not yet been studied. Doctors said it is likely safe, but if patients are concerned, they might pump two weeks' worth of milk before starting Zurzuvae. Initial logistical hurdles in obtaining Zurzuvae frustrated doctors who said the delays undermined the purpose of a quick-acting medication. Some insurers initially set strict conditions for covering the drug, which has a list price of $15,900. Doctors said some insurers required patients to try other antidepressants first or to obtain prescriptions from psychiatrists, steps that went beyond the F.D.A. requirements for Zurzuvae. Joy Burkhard, chief executive of the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, said most insurers and Medicaid no longer have such barriers, but a few still require extra steps. Zurzuvae is not available in retail pharmacies, only specialty pharmacies that require patients to take various measures to validate insurance and delivery information, according to a spokeswoman for the drug's manufacturer, Sage Therapeutics, which markets Zurzuvae in partnership with Biogen. Chris Benecchi, the chief operating officer of Sage, which is expected to be acquired by Supernus Pharmaceuticals later this year, said Sage had worked to resolve logistical issues and prescriptions had increased. More than 10,000 orders have been sent to patients so far, Sage said, adding that about 80 percent of the prescriptions were issued by obstetrician-gynecologists, Sage said. 'The majority of patients are able to get the medication within days,' Mr. Benecchi said, adding that if patients encounter delays, Sage will ship Zurzuvae directly 'as rapidly as possible.' Quick access is crucial, doctors say. Hannah Ginther was hospitalized for a week last summer at U.N.C. Chapel Hill for symptoms that included obsessively worrying that her second child, then 10 months old, had a neurological disorder, even though doctors said the baby did not. 'I just couldn't get out of that loop of jumping to worst-case-scenario,' Ms. Ginther, 36, said at her home in Wilmington, N.C. 'I would throw up. I struggled to get out of bed, struggled to do basic, daily-living things.' When she was discharged from the hospital, doctors prescribed Zurzuvae, but her insurance rejected coverage, saying she would qualify only if she had developed postpartum depression in her last trimester of pregnancy, or within four weeks after childbirth, Dr. Patterson said. Ultimately, the hospital appealed to Sage, which sent the drug to Ms. Ginther at no cost. But the insurance hiccups had caused a two-week delay, during which, Ms. Ginther said, her symptoms 'spiraled again.' She was rehospitalized for nine days. Dr. Julia Riddle, a psychiatrist at U.N.C. Chapel Hill, said the second hospitalization might have been avoided if the Zurzuvae had arrived sooner. By the time it reached Ms. Ginther, she had been stabilized with other medications and intensive therapy. She said Zurzuvae didn't add much, except possibly further improving her mood and sleep. 'I think if we had been able to have access to Zurzuvae sooner, it would have shortened some of the pain, but they were able to find other medications that helped me,' Ms. Ginther said. She has since reduced her workload and continues taking Prozac. She has no intrusive thoughts and is 'doing much better,' she said. Effective for some, but not all As doctors try to determine which patients Zurzuvae can help, Jenny Sharma's experience illustrates the complexity. Ms. Sharma, 43, of San Diego, had a history of depression, especially linked to menstruation, but it was not as severe as the depression she experienced after giving birth in August 2023. Several months later, she began feeling suicidal and she said she also had 'homicidal thoughts toward the baby,' vivid and terrifying images. She sought help from Dr. Reminick's program, trying different medications over several months. While taking Zurzuvae, her symptoms improved. 'I felt wonderful,' she said. Dr. Reminick said Ms. Sharma's response to Zurzuvae was 'the best I've ever seen her.' But, she said, about 11 days into the 14-day regimen, Ms. Sharma started speaking haltingly and appeared to have 'cognitive difficulties, whole body shaking and twitching, confusion and dizziness.' Dr. Reminick said it was unclear whether those symptoms were linked to Zurzuvae or to another medication. Overall, she said she considered Zurzuvae a 'good fit' for Ms. Sharma, but her improvement didn't last. 'About a month later, my symptoms all came raging back,' Ms. Sharma said. Afraid that she would harm her baby, she visited an emergency room and then had several psychiatric hospitalizations and electroconvulsive therapy. Eventually, with other medications and some supplements, her mental health stabilized, although she occasionally experiences brief periods of depressive thoughts, she said. In clinical trials, patients helped by Zurzuvae continued doing well 45 days later. About half of those who took Zurzuvae were considered to be in remission. Dr. Riddle is following patients to see if the benefit can last longer. 'No one's illness is exactly the same,' Dr. Riddle said. So far 'no one has said they'd never take it again, it's just varying levels of how helpful it was.' For Kara Fiscus, 37, of Sacramento, the benefit has lasted more than a year. Her depression began about five months after her son was born in May 2023. She felt so overwhelmed that she wrote in her journal, 'I should kill myself.' Ms. Fiscus, a former N.F.L. cheerleader, said she had been prepared for some depression because she had mental health challenges in her teens and 20s. But her postpartum symptoms, especially anxiety over not producing enough breast milk and about her baby's weight, were worse than anything she had experienced. 'When you have a child and you're not able to meet their needs, it's no longer that your life is not meeting your own standards — you feel like an impediment to other people,' she said. Her obstetrician, Dr. Hailey MacNear, prescribed Zoloft and, when that didn't work, Prozac. But before enough time had passed to know whether Prozac could help, Ms. Fiscus began planning to take her own life. After calling Dr. MacNear, she entered a partial hospitalization program followed by intensive outpatient treatment, but continued thinking of ending her life. Then, Dr. MacNear prescribed Zurzuvae, which had just become available. On the third day, Ms. Fiscus realized, ''Oh my god, I haven't thought about killing myself in at least 20 minutes.'' And 'by Day 7, I was feeling really, really great.' Dr. MacNear said that not every patient experienced similar improvement and that some declined to try it because of the sedative effects. But she said Ms. Fiscus called her and 'cried with relief' after taking it. While taking Zurzuvae, Ms. Fiscus continued breastfeeding and returned to work, eventually becoming an official at a nonprofit. She still takes Prozac, but credits Zurzuvae with ending her thoughts of self-harm. She even saved the box. 'It's a comfort seeing it,' she said. 'There's hope in that box.' If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach a lifeline for help, or go to If you or someone you know is struggling with a perinatal mental health condition like postpartum depression, call the Postpartum Support International Helpline (1-800-944-4773) or go to
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
FDA panel promotes misinformation about antidepressants during pregnancy, psychiatrists say
A Food and Drug Administration panel discussing the use of antidepressants during pregnancy Monday largely amounted to misinformation or facts taken out of context, according to several psychiatrists who tuned in to the meeting. The panel had promised to feature diverse viewpoints about antidepressants and pregnancy. But nearly all of the 10 panelists bucked medical consensus on the drugs' safety and emphasized what they said were risks of taking the drugs while pregnant — such as causing autism, miscarriages or birth defects. In some cases, they claimed that antidepressants don't work at all and that depression goes away on its own. Three of the 10 panelists were from outside the United States. Another runs a clinic to help people taper off of psychiatric drugs. 'They were really rousing concerns about safety that are not evidence-based or established and not at all balanced with concerns about the risks of untreated depression,' said Dr. Joseph Goldberg, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Dr. Jennifer Payne, director of the Reproductive Psychiatry Research Program at the University of Virginia, said, 'I'm disappointed that the FDA brought people in from outside of the United States when there's so many experts here in the United States who truly know this [medical] literature inside and out.' A spokesperson for the FDA said in a statement that the claim that the panel was one-sided was 'insulting to the independent scientists, clinicians, and researchers who dedicate their expertise to these panels.' The spokesperson added that FDA Commissioner Martin Makary 'has an interest in ensuring policies reflect the latest gold standard science and protect public health.' Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has called for a probe into the risks of antidepressants. His 'Make America Healthy Again' report in May claimed there were 'potentially major long-term repercussions' associated with use of the drugs in childhood. The panel discussion focused on a class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, which includes Lexapro, Prozac and Zoloft. The medications increase levels of serotonin, a chemical messenger in the brain that can improve mood. Psychiatrists often advise women who are taking SSRIs to continue doing so during pregnancy, since the risks of untreated depression tend to outweigh the potential risks of the medication to mother and child. However, the decision is a personal one. For ethical reasons, there are no randomized-control trials of SSRIs in pregnant women, meaning data on potential risks mostly comes from observational studies and drug registries. Some babies born to mothers taking SSRIs may develop symptoms such as jitteriness, irritability or difficulty eating or sleeping that resolve quickly — what's known as 'neonatal adaptation syndrome.' The symptoms may be caused by medication in the babies' systems or withdrawal from it. Certain studies have also found a slightly elevated risk of miscarriage associated with antidepressant use in pregnancy, though others have found no association. However, there's no convincing evidence to suggest that SSRIs are linked to autism or birth defects. 'Well-controlled studies continue to not find an association,' Payne said. Women with histories of depression are also at an increased risk of symptoms' recurring during pregnancy, and depression can come with its own risks — including thoughts of self-harm or low birth weight. 'The best thing a pregnant individual could do for herself and her baby is to get the treatment that they need,' said Dr. Nancy Byatt, a perinatal psychiatrist at UMass Chan Medical School, who wasn't part of the panel. In addition to raising concerns about side effects, several panelists questioned the efficacy of antidepressants or suggested that data favoring the use of SSRIs was manipulated by the pharmaceutical industry. 'It's been said that SSRIs help people who are severely depressed. They don't,' said David Healy, an FDA panelist and fellow at the Royal College of Psychiatrists in the United Kingdom. Goldberg and other psychiatrists said that's simply untrue. 'You can say the moon landing was faked. Conspiracy theories abound in our world. But there is not a doubt about whether SSRIs work,' said Goldberg, a past president of the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology who has previously consulted for pharmaceutical companies. He said he was invited to join the FDA panel but declined because the language of the invitation suggested it wouldn't be a fair discussion. Healy, the panelist, also claimed that some people 'recover spontaneously' from depression. Another panelist, psychologist Roger McFillin — who hosts a podcast that challenges conventional mental health advice — suggested that depression wasn't an illness but rather a product of 'women just naturally experiencing their emotions more intensely.' He added, without evidence, that many women feel coerced into taking antidepressants. Psychiatrists who weren't part of the discussion broadly decried those characterizations. 'I have never, ever, ever, ever heard of a third party pushing a prescription in pregnancy,' Goldberg said. However, he said he is aware of some obstetrician-gynecologists who aren't as familiar with SSRIs who have wrongly told pregnant patients to stop taking the medications. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said in a statement Monday that SSRIs can be lifesaving for some pregnant people. 'Today's FDA panel on SSRIs and pregnancy was alarmingly unbalanced and did not adequately acknowledge the harms of untreated perinatal mood disorders in pregnancy,' it said. 'On a panel of 10 experts, only one spoke to the importance of SSRIs in pregnancy as a critical tool, among others, in preventing the potentially devastating effects of anxiety and depression when left untreated during pregnancy.' One panelist, Dr. Kay Roussos-Ross, a psychiatrist and an OB-GYN at the University of Florida College of Medicine, was the most vocal advocate for using SSRIs, often pushing back against others' assessments of the risks. Psychiatrists who weren't on the panel praised her science-backed commentary. 'All of us can find a study that agrees with exactly what we think,' Roussos-Ross told the panel. 'But we need to look at the data very objectively.' Several psychiatrists who weren't on the panel said they worry that the discussion could lead to regulatory action that makes it harder to access SSRIs. For example, one panelist, Dr. Adam Urato, chief of maternal-fetal medicine at MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham, Massachusetts, called for stronger warnings on SSRI labels. 'I am just very nervous that some of the discourse around the risks of antidepressants could lead to even more barriers for people seeking care,' said Dr. Lindsay Lebin, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, who wasn't part of the FDA discussion. This article was originally published on Solve the daily Crossword
New York Times
21-07-2025
- Health
- New York Times
F.D.A. Panel Debates ‘Black Box' Warning for Antidepressants in Pregnancy
Over nearly four decades since Prozac was approved for the treatment of depression, waves of concern about the effects of antidepressants during pregnancy have resulted in a practical consensus: Though use of the drugs may be associated with a slight rise in the odds of birth defects, the risk of leaving a mother's depression untreated is often greater. But a high-level shift is taking place within the Department of Health and Human Services under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has made reducing the prescription of psychotropic drugs a policy priority. Among the select group of experts convened by the Food and Drug Administration on Monday to discuss the safety of antidepressants during pregnancy, around half said that women should receive a more clear and forceful warning about potential risks to the fetus. Andrew Nixon, an H.H.S. spokesman, said the agency would not comment on whether there were plans to require a so-called black box warning about the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or S.S.R.I.s, in pregnancy. In his introductory remarks, F.D.A. commissioner Dr. Marty Makary said that 'some women are not aware' of the risks of taking antidepressants in pregnancy, suggesting openness to the idea. Around 5 percent of pregnant American women take antidepressants, he said. 'Serotonin might play a crucial role in the development of organs of a baby in utero,' Dr. Makary said. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
