Why are these drugs for IBS gender specific?
I’m studying for my pharm. quiz/lecture tomorrow, and I have come across two drugs that are targeted toward women for IBS. These drugs are Amitiza (lubiprostone) and Alosetron (Lotronex). It says the Amitiza is for women with constipation predominant IBS and Alosetron is for women with diarrhea predominant IBS.
My question is…why are these targeted for women only?
Details are great.
Thanks in advance.
Filed under: Colon Cleanse
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Amitiza (lubiprostpne) is used in both males and females for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation. It is used to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation in adult women. The reason for this female only indication is due to what we discussed, males accounted for ~8% of the study population, not enough to provide sufficient data to be used in males for this indication.
Lotronex (alosetron) is used in the treatment of women with severe diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who have failed to respond to conventional therapy. Wasn’t studied in males at all.
Basically, the safety and efficacy in males has either not been established in males or has not been adequately established.