Sex differences in drug evaluations.

Twenty normal, nonobese subjects (10 males and 10 female) were administered a battery of seven psychomotor tests as well as affect checklists and physiological measurements on 6 alternate days. Subjects performed the entire battery predrug and at 45,90, and 135 min postdrug. Fenfluramine, dextroamphetamine, two combined doses of the drugs, and a placebo were given in a double-blind, repeated measures design. Findings revealed significant sex-based differences in initial performance on five of the seven psychomotor tasks and in two physiological measures, with males performing at higher levels than females. Additionally, sex differences in postdrug changes were found in three psychomotor and two physiological measures, with females evidencing greater change scores than males.