Ushering in the New Year, Looking Back at 2019
We hope everybody is settling into the New Year. Here's a look back at what happened in 2019. Brexanolone takes the lead as our top story for 2019. Brexanolone (introduced as SAGE-547 by SAGE Therapeutics) is a neurosteroid, an analogue of allopregnanolone, which is a novel type of antidepressant, acting as an allosteric modulator of GABA-A receptors. Brexanolone, which is being marketed as Zulresso, was approved in March 2019 as the first FDA-approved treatment for...
The Next MGH Online Course on Women’s Mental Health Starts February 10, 2020
We completed our first MGH Women’s Mental Health online CME program in the Fall of 2019, and we are excited to offer the next round of the course in the series. Thank you for those who participated in the fall. The next course starts February 10, and we can again offer CME/CE to multiple disciplines. The next course opens on February 10, 2020. This online course will focus on the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders...
Don’t Forget About Brexanolone’s Little Sister: Zuranolone
While we have been talking about using brexanolone, marketed by Sage Therapeutics as Zulresso, for the treatment of postpartum depression, an oral version of this novel antidepressant - SAGE 217 or zuranolone - has been finishing up its Phase 3 trials. Like brexanolone, SAGE-217 is a neurosteroid, an analogue of allopregnanolone which is a positive allosteric modulator of the GABA-A receptor. What distinguishes SAGE-217 from brexanolone is that it has much better oral bioavailability and...
Transdermal Estrogen Benefits Cognitive Functioning in Perimenopausal Women
While earlier observational studies suggested that hormone treatment may improve cognitive functioning in peri- and postmenopausal women, studies from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) demonstrated that estrogen replacement therapy started in postmenopausal women (65 years or older) did not enhance cognitive functioning, nor did it decrease the risk of dementia. Because most of the women participating in the WHI were older, researchers hypothesized that there might be some sort of “critical window” such that hormone...
Weekly Roundup for JANUARY 3, 2020: Recent Publications in Women’s Mental Health
HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of our readers! Next week we will be reviewing our top stories for 2019. For more detailed descriptions of many of these topics, you can read the CWMH NEWSLETTER which comes out every Thursday. You can sign up for our newsletter HERE. Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD PMS AND PMDD No articles this week INFERTILITY AND MENTAL HEALTH No articles this week PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS...
You Asked: What Medications Can Be Used For Smoking Cessation in a Breastfeeding Woman?
Smoking is relatively common during pregnancy, with about 10% of all women smoking at some point during their pregnancy. The rates are even higher among women with psychiatric illness. While many women may be able to stop smoking or reduce their intake during pregnancy, most women resume smoking during the postpartum period. And women who suffer from postpartum depression are at even higher risk for smoking relapse. Nicotine and other chemicals from the tobacco are...