Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 May 5.
Published in final edited form as: Clin Pharmacokinet. 2009;48(3):143–157. doi: 10.2165/00003088-200948030-00001

Table II.

Reasons for Sex Differences in Adverse Event Reporting

Reason for sex difference Pharmacological reason Pharmacological factors
Women are more frequently overdosed Pharmacokinetics

  • Volume of distribution is smaller

  • Free fraction of drug is larger

  • Clearance from he body is slower
Women are more sensitive Pharmacodynamics

  • Alteration in receptor number

  • Alteration in receptor binding

  • Alteration in signal transduction pathway following receptor binding
Women take greater amount of medications Drug interactions

  • Alteration in pharmacokinetics (see row above)

  • Alteration in pharmacodynamics (see row above)