Gender Differences and Cardiovascular Drugs | Ten Points to Remember
The May 15, 2015 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology contains a brilliant list of gender differences in drugs used to treat cardiovascular disease. Gender variations in Pharmokinetics and pharmacodynamics are discussed. The authors discuss differences in rates of metabolism, onset and duration of action, body fat mass, effect of exogenous hormones, excretion, and adverse events. Differences in action between genders are also tabulated. And, of course, teratogenicity becomes a factor in women vs. men. In all, the paper is a great summary of what is known, or suspected, as causes for the very different actions and reactions of drugs for cardiovascular disease. And, quite appropriately calls for more research, and study of more women using these drugs.