全球首款治療產後抑鬱的新藥問世了

The first drug for women suffering postpartum depression received federal approval on Tuesday, a move likely to pave the way for a wave of treatments to address a debilitating condition that is the most common complication of pregnancy.

首款治療女性產後抑鬱的藥物於週二獲得聯邦政府審批，這一舉動可能會爲一批治療常見妊娠併發症等使人衰弱的疾病的藥物審批鋪平道路。

The drug works very quickly, within 48 hours — a significant improvement over currently available antidepressants, which can take two to four weeks to have an effect, if they work at all.

這種藥可以在48小時內迅速見效，與當前可用的抗抑鬱藥相比，它的效果有明顯改進。目前的抗抑鬱藥即使有點成效，可能也得二至四周見效。

Experts say the new treatment will provide immediate relief for mothers whose depression keeps them from providing their babies with the care, bonding and nurturing that is crucial for healthy development. As many as one in seven American women experience depression during or after pregnancy.

專家表示，母親的關懷、親情和養育對孩子的健康發展是至關重要的，而對於那些因抑鬱症而無法關懷、養育孩子或是與其建立情感紐帶的母親而言，這種新療法會直接爲其緩解痛苦。而在美國，孕中或孕後的女性有多達1/7的人有抑鬱的經歷。

“Postpartum depression is a serious condition that, when severe, can be life-threatening,” Dr. Tiffany Farchione, acting director of the Division of Psychiatry Products at the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a statement.

“產後抑鬱症是一種很嚴重的疾病，甚至嚴重到可能會危及生命，”食藥局藥物評估研究中心精神病藥物研究分部的代理主管蒂芙尼•法爾基奧內博士在一份聲明中說道。

“This approval marks the first time a drug has been specifically approved to treat postpartum depression, providing an important new treatment option.”

“這份許可標誌着一款治療產後抑鬱症的藥物首次獲得專門審批，這也爲人們提供了一種重要的新療法。”

There are limitations to the new drug, brexanolone, which will be marketed as Zulresso. It is delivered by infusion over 60 hours, during which a new mother must remain in a certified medical center, under supervision should she get dizzy or faint, as several patients did in clinical trials.

Brexanolone這款新藥將以Zulresso的名稱推向市場，但目前它還有侷限性。這種藥需要在60多個小時裏進行注射，在此期間，新產婦必須留在一家有執照的醫療中心，在醫生的監督下接受治療，因爲她可能會像接受臨牀試驗的幾個病人那樣有眩暈或昏厥的症狀。

（翻譯：Dlacus）