Zurzuvae Capsule: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Zurzuvae Capsule (zuranolone) is a prescription medicine used to treat postpartum depression (PPD) in adults. It belongs to the neuroactive steroid GABA-A receptor positive modulator drug class and is taken once a day in the evening for a full 14-day treatment course. It may help reduce persistent sadness, improve mood, and restore interest in daily activities.

What is Zurzuvae Capsule

Zurzuvae is a prescription capsule medicine used to treat postpartum depression (PPD) in adults. It is taken once a day in the evening for 14 days.

Zurzuvae Capsule uses

• Treats postpartum depression after childbirth.
• Helps reduce persistent sadness after delivery.
• May improve mood and emotional well-being.
• May help restore interest in daily activities.
• May improve daily functioning when postpartum depression symptoms improve.

Benefits of Zurzuvae Capsule

• Treats postpartum depression after childbirth.
• May reduce persistent sadness.
• May improve mood and emotional well-being.
• May help restore interest in daily activities.
• May improve daily functioning as symptoms improve.

How Zurzuvae Capsule works

Zurzuvae works by boosting the activity of GABA, a brain chemical that helps control mood, at GABA-A receptors in the brain. Scientists don't fully understand how this helps PPD, but it's thought to be linked to this calming effect on brain receptors.

Zurzuvae Capsule dosage

Take this medicine once daily in the evening for the full 14-day treatment course. Take it with food that contains fat, such as a meal or snack, to help your body absorb it properly. Swallow the capsule whole; do not chew, crush, or open it.

If you miss a dose, skip it and take your next dose at your regular time the next evening; do not take extra capsules to make up for a missed dose. Continue taking it once daily until you finish the full 14-day treatment course.

Do not change your dose without talking to your healthcare provider. Your provider may lower your dose if you have certain side effects.

Available forms and strengths

• Capsules (20 mg, 25 mg, 30 mg)

Side effects of Zurzuvae Capsule

Common

• Sleepiness or drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Common cold symptoms
• Diarrhea
• Feeling tired, weak, or having no energy
• Urinary tract infection

Serious

• Confusional state (feeling confused, not thinking clearly)
• Memory impairment
• Tremor
• Numbness (hypoesthesia)
• Muscle twitching
• Muscle pain (myalgia)
• Rash
• Anxiety
• Severe allergic reaction (hives, trouble breathing, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat)

Warnings and precautions

• This medicine can seriously affect your ability to drive or do other risky activities safely, even if you feel fine. Wait at least 12 hours after each dose before driving or operating machinery.
• This medicine can cause sleepiness, slow thinking, dizziness, confusion, and trouble walking, which raises your risk of falling.
• This medicine is a controlled substance because it can be misused or lead to dependence. Keep it in a safe place and never share or sell it.
• Antidepressants like this one can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and actions in people 24 years of age and younger. It is not approved for use in children.
• Taking alcohol, opioids, or other medicines that slow the central nervous system along with this medicine can worsen side effects and may cause breathing problems.
• Stopping this medicine suddenly after taking higher than recommended doses or using it longer than recommended may cause withdrawal symptoms, including in rare cases, seizures.
• Zurzuvae may harm an unborn baby based on animal studies. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant, and use effective birth control during treatment and for one week after your last dose.
• Zurzuvae passes into breast milk in small amounts. It isn't known if this can harm a nursing baby, so talk with your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits before breastfeeding during treatment.
• Tell your healthcare provider if you have kidney problems before starting this medicine, since your dose may need to be lowered.
• Tell your healthcare provider if you have liver problems before starting this medicine, since your dose may need to be lowered.
• Do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine without talking to your healthcare provider, since it can worsen sleepiness, dizziness, and breathing problems.
• Do not drive, operate machinery, or do other activities that need full alertness until at least 12 hours after each dose, for the whole 14-day treatment. You may not be able to tell on your own how much this medicine is affecting you.

Storage

• Store at room temperature (20–25°C).
• Keep in the original packaging.
• Protect from moisture and direct sunlight.
• Keep out of reach of children.
• Do not use after the expiry date.

When to see a doctor

• Get medical help right away if you have thoughts about suicide or dying, attempt suicide, or notice new or worsening depression, agitation, anxiety, irritability, aggression, mania, or other unusual mood or behavior changes.
• Call your healthcare provider if you develop increasing sleepiness, confusion, dizziness, or trouble walking, since your dose may need to be lowered or stopped.
• If you take too much of this medicine, contact your healthcare provider or call your local poison control center right away, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
• Get emergency medical help right away if you have signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Alternatives

• Fluoxetine
• Escitalopram
• Sertraline