7.PPD Treatment: Therapy
Many women with postpartum depression find relief through talk therapy. A therapist is there to listen and give you strategies to cope with the negative thoughts and feelings you’re having. One type, called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), has been tested and compared with the use of an antidepressant medicine. A short course of CBT worked as well as medicine in easing symptoms of postpartum depression.
8.PPD Treatment: Medicine
Your doctor may recommend one of the antidepressant drugs to help lift postpartum depression. These drugs can be very effective, but they don’t work overnight, and they may have unwanted side effects or react badly with other medications you may be taking. Ask your doctor how long it will take before you feel better, what side effects you might experience, how long you’ll need to take the medication, and how to taper off when you’re ready. For severe cases, the drug brexanolone (Zulresso) has been shown to bring dramatic and almost immediate improvement in postpartum depression. It is administered via infusion over a course of 3 days.
