Conclusion

Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics : Conclusion

More clinical trials are needed to determine what doses of drugs are appropriate for women and men and to further explore sex-specific issues of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of oral contraceptive use, pregnancy, menstrual cycle phase, menopause, and menopausal hormone therapy. In the meantime, it can be stated that:

• Sex differences in drug metabolism may be important in determining dosages of drugs with narrow therapeutic ranges.
• Sex differences may be involved in higher adverse drug reactions in women than in men.
• Oral contraceptive use, pregnancy, menstrual cycle phase, and menopause appear to affect drug metabolism.

Before treatment with a drug is begun, clear therapeutic goals must be established:

• Will the results of treatment be judged by clinical signs and symptoms or by laboratory test values?
• Will drug toxicity be evaluated by clinical or laboratory parameters?
• How will the appropriate duration of treatment be determined?⁵²