Drugs and medications affect men and women differently.
The likelihood of experiencing side effects from drugs and/or medications in women is between 50% and 75%. In this way, it is higher than in men. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) withdrew 8 out of 10 medications from the market. These posed greater health risks for women than for men.
Antidepressants
- Certain antidepressants work better in women because their blood has a lower binding capacity (their hemoproteins absorb fewer foreign substances).
- The female stomach is less acidic than the male stomach: SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are absorbed quickly, increasing their toxicity.
- The higher percentage of body fat in women increases their body’s ability to retain antidepressants for longer periods.
Hypnotics
- Men break down zolpidem (a type of hypnotic) and other sleep inducers more easily. By contrast, women retain a greater amount of these medications in the liver. This means it can affect them more throughout the day.
Antipsychotics
- First-generation antipsychotics such as haloperidol appear to be more effective in women than in men. Women need higher doses to achieve the same results.
Anticonvulsants
- The liver enzyme CYP3A4, which is especially active in women, makes these medications less effective than in men.
Painkillers
- Opioid painkillers are more effective in women due to fluctuations in oestrogen, which affect pain sensitivity.
- Overdoses are more common in men than in women.
- Women are more likely to relapse into addiction and find it harder to “quit”, due to low blood glucose levels during certain periods of the menstrual cycle.
How to quit drugs
The CCAdicciones model maintains a high recovery rate, well above the average of other treatments, with 86% of patients recovered. You can request information with no obligation on 902 400 426.
