Please watch this video.

Imagine my excitement when I read the following headline this morning: “Zulresso Approved as First Treatment for Postpartum Depression.” “The Food and Drug Administration has approved Zulresso [also known as Brexanolone]…for the treatment of postpartum depression in adult women.” Zulresso is “an analogue of the endogenous human hormone allopregnanolone.” Actually, it’s a combination of allopregnanolone and a solubilizing agent. It is administered over two and a half days through an IV by an approved healthcare provider in a certified healthcare facility under close monitoring.

You just have to make sure that you don’t get too sleepy, have dry mouth, lose consciousness or have flushing. Not a big deal. The most serious risks, of course, are excessive sedation or sudden loss of consciousness. That would be a problem. So because of those risks, it is only available to patients through a restricted distribution program at certified healthcare facilities.

Don’t tempt me. This report is making me wish I could have a baby, and get depressed, just so I can try this new drug when it comes on the market in June. No, I’m not mocking women whose hormones take such a nosedive following delivery that they become non-functional, suicidal, and even psychotic. This is a serious condition that deserves serious treatment. Thankfully, you can get your dose of Zulresso today by convincing your insurance company to cough up $34,000, unless of course you want to take out a second mortgage on your house each time you have a baby. Oh yeah, and then you have to pay a hospital to carefully watch you lay there for 60 hours while this IV runs.

Because allopregnanolone is a human hormone, it can’t be patented. Your brain makes it every day from progesterone. But when you mix it in the laboratory with a solubilizing drug, and inject it intravenously, you get a drug called Zulresso and it’s suddenly worth $34,000 for one dose. I’m sorry, but I don’t carry that much around in my back pocket. Call me cheap if you want. If you don’t have that much in your back pocket either, you might consider pellet hormone therapy instead. For years, women have said goodbye to postpartum depression using bioidentical pellets. It only takes 10 minutes and costs around a hundredth of the price of Zulresso. Before long, chances are good that you’ll be enjoying that little bundle of joy, instead of wishing you were dead… and you won’t have to take out a second mortgage on your house.

Mind you, I’m not making any claims about curing, treating, preventing or diagnosing any disease. I have not paid the government to evaluate any of the statements in this video. I am just telling you what I’ve seen. Take it for what it’s worth. See a competent physician before making any decisions about your health.

I am Dr. Ray Andrew, and this has been the Medical Minute. Thanks for watching.