ABSTRACT
Advances in pharmacology have resulted in a more nuanced understanding of pharmacokinetics. The possible role of gender in drug metabolism is an area of increasing interest. Basic physiologic differences between men and women have long been appreciated to play a role in drug utilization. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made a signifi cant effort to examine gender-based differences in pharmacologic parameters (1). Some of the differences between men and women’s processing of medications are the result of differences in surface area, weight, and percent body fat; however, there is growing evidence that innate differences in enzymatic activity may be at play. Gender-related differences have been observed with a large range of medications, including psychiatric medications, beta-blockers, opioids, and aspirin (2). Here we discuss several of the factors that are important in differences between the genders with regard pharmacologic response.
