Gender and PK-PD of Propofol and Cisatracurium

In recent years it has become clear that gender differences exist both in the pharmacokinetics and the pharmacodynamics of drugs related to the practice of anesthesia. Differences in pharmacokinetics are more straightforward to study than differences in clinical effects. However, isolated pharmacokinetic data are of less value if they are not accompanied by measurements of clinical effects. Males are more sensitive than females to propofol. It may therefore be necessary to decrease the propofol dose by 30-40% in males. Females have 20-30% greater sensitivity to the muscle relaxant effects.