Sex differences in methamphetamine use disorder perused from pre-clinical and clinical studies: Potential therapeutic impacts

Methamphetamine (METH) use, and misuse are associated with severe socioeconomic consequences. METH users develop tolerance, lose control over drug taking behaviors, and suffer frequent relapses even during treatment. The clinical course of METH use disorder is influenced by multifactorial METH-induced effects on the central and peripheral nervous systems. Although these METH-induced consequences are observed in humans of all ages, races, and sexes, sexual dimorphism in these outcomes have been observed in both pre-clinical and clinical settings. In this review, we have provided a detailed presentation of the sex differences reported in human and animal studies. We have therefore presented data that identified the influences of sex on METH pharmacoki-netics, METH-induced changes in behaviors, cognitive processes, structural changes in the brain, and the effects of the drug on neurotransmitter systems and molecular mechanisms. Finally, we highlighted the potential sig-nificance of sex as a critical variable that should be considered when planning the development of new phar-macotherapeutic approaches against MEH use disorder in humans.

Automated summary

Methamphetamine (METH) use and misuse have severe socioeconomic consequences and are influenced by multifactorial effects on the central and peripheral nervous systems. Sex differences play a role in METH pharmacokinetics, behavioral changes, cognitive processes, brain structural changes, and effects on neurotransmitter systems and molecular mechanisms. Considering sex as a critical variable is important in developing pharmacotherapeutic approaches for METH use disorder in humans.