Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Media Relations >
  • News Releases >
  • 101520 Zulresso
Media Relations
News Releases
Central Pa. News
North Central Pa. News
Contact Us
Experts
Community-Focused News
Media Kits
Media RSS
Media Relations
News Releases
Central Pa. News
North Central Pa. News
Contact Us
Experts
Community-Focused News
Media Kits
Media RSS

UPMC Now Offers Novel Drug for Postpartum Depression

For Journalists

Ashley Trentrock
Director
412-586-9776
trentrockar@upmc.edu

Amy Charley
Director
412-586-9778
charleya@upmc.edu

Want to Make an Appointment or Need Patient Information?
Contact UPMC at

1-800-533-8762.

Go to Find a Doctor to search for a UPMC doctor.

WPIC MAGEE

10/15/2020

PITTSBURGH – In collaboration with UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital is the only hospital in the Pittsburgh region to offer Brexanolone, the first-ever U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug designed specifically for the treatment of postpartum depression (PPD).

 

Depression after having a baby can be common and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports about one in seven women experience symptoms of PPD. While psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of both, have been proven to be helpful in treating PPD for many women, the approved FDA medication is designed to help women who struggle to get their PPD symptoms to subside, despite trying a variety of therapies. The fast-acting drug is administered via IV over a 60-hour period, requiring patients to stay at the hospital for the duration.

 

Priya Gopalan release“This is an exciting treatment option for women who struggle with postpartum depression. For women who have acute symptoms, it’s crucial to intervene quickly, and this medication has a rapid onset with most patients reporting effects within 24 hours after completing  the infusion,“ said Priya Gopalan, M.D., medical director of psychiatry services for UPMC Western Psychiatric and UPMC Magee. “This will not be the first line of treatment for moms with mild to moderate postpartum depression because options like psychotherapy and antidepressants have proven to be effective in those cases, but this medication provides another option for mothers and is another tool in our toolbox.”

 

Experts at UPMC Western Psychiatrics’ outpatient perinatal psychiatry program determine if a woman is a prime candidate for this therapy based on the severity of her PPD and what the response has been to other treatment options. If a woman qualifies, she will receive her treatment at UPMC Magee, under the supervision of a psychiatrist and a maternal-fetal medicine specialist. 

 

For follow-up care after the treatment, mothers will work with their established mental health team or will be connected with UPMC Western Behavioral Health postpartum mental health programs. 

 

“Postpartum depression is a serious and sometimes difficult-to-treat disorder,” said James Schuster, M.D., M.B.A., associate chief medical officer and senior vice president of Medical and Behavioral Services at UPMC Health Plan, and chief medical officer of Community Care Behavioral Health. “UPMC Health Plan recognizes that this medication is an important new treatment option for our members and covers this treatment whenever indicated by our clinical guidelines and requested by their physician.”

 

“Very few drugs are designed specifically for pregnant and postpartum women. This patient population often is excluded from clinical trials and research because of the possible risks for the developing fetus. However, it’s important to include moms in research so that their needs—along with the needs of their baby—are appropriately addressed” explains Hyagriv Simhan, M.D., executive vice chair of obstetrical services at UPMC Magee. “Moms deserve more and offering this unique drug designed specifically for postpartum women is certainly a step in the right direction.”

 

Additionally, UPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg is the only provider in central Pennsylvania to offer this treatment. 
PHOTO INFO: (click image for high-res version)

 

CREDIT: UPMC

CAPTION: Priya Gopalan, M.D., medical director of psychiatry services for UPMC Western Psychiatric and UPMC Magee.

UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE