You can wear a patch to quit smoking and a patch to fend of pregnancy. Pretty soon, you’ll be able to wear a patch to treat depression.

Emsam, an experimental skin patch received U.S. regulatory approval for treating major depression in adults, Somerset Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Bristol-Myers Squibb announced on Tuesday.

The patch transmits monoamine oxidase inhibitors, a type of antidepressant, through the skin. These types of drugs have been approved by the FDA and carry warnings about risks of high blood pressure if patients consume certain meats, dairy products and foods containing tyramine. The FDA approved the lowest-dose Ensam patch without these diet restrictions.

In 2004, the FDA granted conditional approval for the patch but asked for more data. Additional studies have since been conducted.

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