It’s amazing! These drugs have different effects on men and women

In addition to the different characteristics of the reproductive system, men and women also have different kidney functions and liver metabolic capabilities. Therefore, the effects of taking the same medication may be different. Recently, Jenny Austin Clayton, deputy director of the National Institutes of Health's Center for Women's Health Research, summarized the differences between men and women after taking some common medications.

Aspirin: It is more effective for men to prevent heart disease and for women to prevent stroke. Previous studies on the use of aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease have mostly been conducted on men. In fact, some experts believe that aspirin does not protect women's hearts as well as men's; sometimes women with a history of heart attacks need to take higher doses of aspirin. However, aspirin was more protective against stroke in women than in men.

Statins: More effective in men. Like aspirin, statins have previously been studied mostly on men because women tend to develop heart disease later than men. Women do not benefit as much as men from taking statins to reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke, a study has found. Barbara Roberts, director of the Women's Heart Research Center at Miriam Hospital in Rhode Island, believes that women who already have heart disease may only get half the benefits of statins as men. It is recommended that women should regularly check relevant indicators while taking the medication, and consult a doctor to adjust the medication plan if necessary.

Certain pain medications: Women should take lower doses. Gail Anderson, a professor at the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Washington, believes that women get stronger analgesic effects from opioid painkillers (such as codeine painkillers) than men, which may be due to differences in the metabolism of such drugs by men and women. Therefore, when women take this type of drug, the dosage can be 30% to 40% less than that of men as prescribed by the doctor.

Antidepressants: Different types are suitable for men and women. Clinical studies have found that women are more suitable for taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants, which can change the balance of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. In contrast, men do better with tricyclic antidepressants.

Anesthetics: May be metabolized faster in women. Clinical medical statistics show that the number of women who wake up from anesthesia during surgery is three times that of men. This may be because certain anesthetics decay faster in women's blood, a study suggests.

Drug side effects: The risk is greater in women. Dr. Clayton reminds us that even if some drugs have the same pharmacological effects on men as on women, women are generally more likely to experience adverse reactions. Women are 1.5 to 1.7 times more likely than men to experience side effects (such as rash) after taking medication.

Some heart disease drugs were eventually withdrawn from the market because women experienced serious adverse reactions when taking them. The heart needs a rest period between each beat, and this period of time is called the QT interval. Women naturally have a longer QT interval, and a few medications can prolong it further, causing a specific type of abnormal heart rhythm (QT prolongation) that can, in some cases, lead to death.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advocating for more women to participate in drug clinical trials and urging drug researchers to fully examine this difference. Whether male or female, long-term medication should be followed up regularly. If the effect is not good, the dosage should be adjusted under the guidance of a doctor. If serious side effects occur, stop taking the medication immediately and seek medical attention promptly.