इंसुलिन मेरा नहीं है; यह दुनिया का है - फ्रेडरिक बैंटिंग (इंसुलिन के आविष्कारक)
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By Mahak Phartyal | 9-5-2025
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In Hindu culture, women are given the status of goddesses – and yes, we women truly are goddesses. We bear children, juggle multiple roles, and work harder than our male counterparts. After office hours, we continue managing responsibilities at home- a task that lasts 365 days a year. Yet, despite our immense contributions, we are still treated unequally in many aspects of life, particularly in healthcare.
In the 21st century, women make up a significant portion of the global healthcare workforce, yet we still see a massive gap in research on how medicines affect women differently. Many countries, after reviewing their medicine vigilance databases, have acknowledged a troubling reality: women are often overdosed, even when taking what’s considered a “standard” dose meant for both males and females[1].
So, if you’ve been experiencing more side effects than expected and have been brushing them off as something minor- pause. Instead of doom-scrolling through reels, take a moment to read this blog. It’s written for you.
If I’m going to explain it scientifically, it might be a bit hard to understand. So, in simple terms, adverse effects are the undesirable affects you get after taking a medicine. For example, let’s say you bought a packet of milk to treat a calcium deficiency, but accidentally ended up drinking contaminated milk. After taking the milk, you started vomiting. Vomiting is an undesirable effect, and in this case, it would be called a side effect or an adverse event [2].
Some people may experience an adverse effect immediately after consuming a medicine, but depending on the severity, it can be mild, moderate, or severe. Severe adverse effects can be life-threatening or may require hospitalization and need to be treated carefully. Based on your genomic type, gender, and age, the kind of adverse effect you experience can be different.
Since we’re talking about side effects in women, yes – women do experience slightly more side effects compared to men. And to understand this in more depth, that brings us to the next point.
Before understanding the concept of side effects, let us first understand how a woman’s body is different. I understand that some may assume it’s due to anatomical differences, but that is not the case – I’ll explain the difference based on the common organs both men and women have: the digestive system and kidneys.
Do you know, as per research, women’s bodies release less acid in the stomach compared to men? Lesser secretion of acid means medicines that are designed to be broken down in an acidic pH will be broken down less, leading to lower blood plasma concentration – which means less effect. Women also have a lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR), meaning the drug that needs to be excreted from the body stays in the body longer. Since it becomes a metabolite (a waste product of a useful compound), it ideally needs to be eliminated immediately. But because it stays in the body longer, the possibility of it showing effects increases significantly [3].
A paper published in the MDPI journal stated that women who use proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like Pantoprazole, omeprazole a category of medicines that reduce acid in the stomach, might be at increased risk of PPI overuse. This is partly because they often receive higher milligram-per-kilogram doses [4]. Moreover, this pattern is not limited to PPIs. Diabetes medications such as thiazolidinediones (e.g., pioglitazone, rosiglitazone), insulin, and DPP-4 inhibitors (e.g., sitagliptin, saxagliptin) have also been associated with an increased risk of fractures in Italian women[5].
Metformin, a first-line therapy for diabetes, showed similar results. In the Diabetes Prevention Program study, women receiving metformin to prevent type 2 diabetes were less adherent to treatment and reported a higher rate of adverse events (Walker et al., 2006). Metformin has also been linked to higher hospitalization and mortality rates in women.
A report published by the World Health Organization stated that developing countries report 70% of adverse effects in their female population taking the same dose of medication, whereas in India, only 50% of adverse effects are reported, with no evidence indicating the percentage among women[ 6].
And I want to be very clear: if something hasn’t been reported in Indian journals or research, I took the extra step – I interviewed four doctors, and they confirmed they had never encountered such cases. However, when I presented the evidence, they acknowledged that it could be a possibility.
“I believe this could be the case. As I was a Principal Investigator of a clinical study, I found that women, wherever they live, tend to be underhydrated, and because of this, they have slightly more chances of developing chronic kidney disease. Also, they might not even report their adverse effects because they often neglect their health to care for their families.”
— Dr. HSM Kundu, ex-member of WHO Communicable and Non-Communicable Disease Committee
“We’ve never observed this. Yes, women have different physiology, but there are only slight chances of increased adverse effects in females. If something like this exists, then a proper clinical trial should be conducted, and we should be provided with evidence. During our MBBS training, we’re taught to prescribe medicine based on weight, height, and gender, but there are standard adult doses for males and females. If something like this happens, I would like to read about it in a trusted journal.”
— Dr. Vomika Srivastav, MBBS Intern, Jhansi
Well, I do agree- we need a full-proof study, like the kind developed countries conduct. Although the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India was set up in 1980, it was revised in 2010. As of now, 250 centers have been reported. What does this department do? They collect all adverse reaction reports and store them in a national records system [7].
But yes, there is still less awareness about adverse effects in India.
And even if we don’t blame the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India, the participation of women in clinical trials is still low.
“I have been the PI of many clinical studies, and women participate less – either because they might want to conceive or they are pregnant at that time. Because of this, they participate much less.”
– Dr. HSM Kundu, ex-member of WHO Communicable and Non-Communicable Disease Committee
And because women’s participation is low, we get less data – or even if they do participate in a study, they might withdraw early [8,9]. Having had experience in clinical research myself, I’ve seen women join clinical trials and then withdraw themselves. If evidence on women is less, then the treatment can’t be fully effective.
Reporting an adverse effect is important because it helps in figuring out whether a particular batch of medicine has failed, or if the medicine is not suitable for the Indian population, or if there is something more serious going on.
Remember, your one complaint can save millions of lives. Even if it feels small, it could help identify a bigger issue- so never ignore it.
When you take medicine- any kind of medicine – and this goes for everyone, if you experience any kind of adverse effect after taking it, inform your doctor. You can also call the helpline number 1800 180 3024 or fill out the form via email at [email protected]
Even if the reaction seems small, reporting it is important- because your one report can help improve safety for thousands of others.
It’s time we stop normalizing the idea that women should silently endure discomfort, especially when it comes to healthcare. The difference in how medicines affect women is not just a minor detail- it’s a serious gap in our medical system that demands attention, research, and action.
As women, we are not just caregivers or participants in the healthcare system-we are patients, contributors, and stakeholders. Our health matters. Our experiences matter. And our voices must be heard.
So the next time you experience a side effect, no matter how small, don’t brush it off. Speak up. Report it. Ask questions. Because real change begins with awareness-and sometimes, it starts with just one person daring to question the norm.
