Sex differences in self-reported and physiological response to oral cocaine and placebo in humans

Self-report and physiological data from 27 male and 8 female cocaine-abusin g volunteers exposed to cocaine (80 mg/70 kg po) and placebo were examined for sex differences in their responses. Females reported significantly grea ter baseline ratings on the Pentobarbital-Chlorpromazine-Alcohol Group (PCA G) (sedation) and Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) (dysphoria) subscales of the Addiction Research Center Inventory-Short Form (ARCI) relative to male s. In addition, females reported significantly greater ratings on the Visua l Analogs Scales (VAS) Bad Drug Effects and Anxious/Nervous scales relative to males, regardless of drug. Cocaine produced greater increase in systoli c blood pressure in males following cocaine, whereas females showed greater increases following placebo. These results suggest that a placebo control is necessary to determine sex differences in response to an active drug.