Sex differences

Over half of women read patient information to see if their prescribed or over-the-counter medicines work differently in women than in men or cause different side effects, but few discuss this issue with their pharmacist.

A new US survey of over 15,000 women published by the Society for Women’s Health Research found that 58.1 per cent of women check their medicine labels for differences between the sexes “most of the time” or “always”, but 73.5 per cent “almost never” or “never” ask their pharmacist this question.

Phyllis Greenberger, president of the society, commented: “Awareness of sex differences is greater than ever but many people still assume that the effects of medications are the same for everyone.”