Gender and interindividual variability in pharmacokinetics

Abstract

Like any other drugs, antiallergic medications can be associated with large inter- and intraindividual variability in their disposition. The best-documented examples belong to the H1 antihistamines. Variable drugs are more likely to show unpredictable therapeutic response with both increased risks of side effects and subtherapeutic dosing in individual subjects. This article will review the main factors contributing to intervariability in pharmacokinetics with a special emphasis on gender differences, genetic polymorphism, and food habits.

Population Pharmacokinetic Analysis and Pharmacogenetics of Raltegravir in HIV-Positive and Healthy Individuals

“…Sex-related pharmacokinetic disparities have been reported for other antiretroviral drugs (34,42). There are many potential reasons for gender differences in RAL pharmacokinetics, such as differences in gastric pH, which is higher in females (36), lower hepatic expression of ABCB1 P-glycoprotein in females (31), and lower hepatic blood flow and consequently lower hepatic metabolic capacity (31,36), which could partly explain our findings. We observed a 60% lower volume of distribution in Caucasian patients compared to patients of other ethnicities, who were mostly black patients.…”

Pharmacokinetic interactions of breast cancer chemotherapeutics with human doxorubicin reductases

“…We used the term ''near-clinical'' for concentrations that are approximately up to five-fold greater than the average C max . Such concentrations can be achieved in patients due to interindividual variability that is caused by differences in the expressions and/or activities of the proteins that govern pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes [28].…”

Bioavailability and pharmacokinetic comparison of tanshinones between two formulations of Salvia miltiorrhiza in healthy volunteers

“…Female volunteers had higher C max than male volunteers, although statistically significance ( p  = 0.000) was only found in CTS after administration of TD (Table 3). This may be associated with genetic polymorphisms of enzymes involved in absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of tanshinones 51 , but further investigations are needed to better understand mechanisms underlying the phenomenon. The variations were found to be larger in TD for CTS, TSI and TSA on the whole, revealing that GP of SM had more stable qualities and micronization probably provided a new way to the quantify control of herbal medicines.…”