Gender based psychopharmacology: gender influence in the pharmacological treatment of mental disorders

Abstract

Gender-based pharmacology is a new research and clinical area which could be defined by the inclusion of gender-related variables in clinical, research and educational issues with respect to pharmacotherapy.

Most of the studies which have studied pharmacokinetic gender differences in psychotropic drugs have found that women tend to have higher plasma concentrations.

As regards differences in treatment response, most evidence points to a more rapid response to neuroleptics and lower therapeutic doses in women, and, on the other hand, a possible better response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) in premenopausal women.

In addition, women appear to have a higher incidence of adverse effects to different psychotropic drugs.