Women have unique health concerns and challenges that require them to seek specialized drug treatments. Thanks to science and innovation, there are various drug categories developed for women.

These drugs deal with diverse health issues, ranging from reproductive health to chronic diseases such as asthma, hypertension, and diabetes. However, some women may require specific medications that have a longer lasting effect. These longer-lasting drugs boost efficiency, reduce the risk of missed doses, and offer patients the convenience of lower administration frequency.

This article will highlight some of the drugs that women can use with the assurance of longer-lasting effects.

1. Contraceptives

Contraceptives are essential drugs that women use to avoid unplanned or untimely pregnancies. Women who use contraceptives, such as pills, patches, and rings, must take these drugs daily, weekly, or monthly as instructed by their doctors.

However, studies indicate that up to 50% of women using contraceptives rarely derive maximum benefits from these drugs due to incorrect administration.

One solution to the problem of missed doses is the administration of long-lasting contraceptives.

These contraceptive options include Implanon, an implant containing etonogestrel, Mirena, a hormonal intrauterine device (IUD), and Depo-Provera, a hormonal injection. Implanon is implanted under the skin and can last up to three years. Mirena can last up to five years, while Depo-Provera can provide contraceptive protection for three months.

Women who prefer long-lasting contraceptives will benefit from reduced handling, increased efficacy, and lower risks associated with missed doses.

2. Diabetes Medications

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects many people worldwide, especially women. Diabetes requires patients to monitor their blood glucose levels, maintain healthy eating patterns, exercise regularly, and take medications.

The medications used to manage diabetes can be the fast-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting types.

The long-acting medications, such as insulin glargine and insulin determir, offer women battling with diabetes the benefit of less frequent dosing and consistent glucose control.

Insulin glargine provides extended blood glucose level control for a duration of up to 24 hours, while insulin determir can control the glucose levels for up to 18 hours. These long-acting diabetes medications offer women a measure of flexibility, reduce chances of missed doses, and offer protection against sudden and dangerous changes in blood glucose levels.

3. Asthma Drugs

Asthma affects millions of women worldwide and requires the systematic administration of medications. Asthma medications can be bronchodilators, inhaled or oral corticosteroids, or combination medications.

Women rely on these medications to alleviate the symptoms of asthma such as coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness. However, women can find the frequent use of fast-acting inhalers, inhaled corticosteroids, and oral corticosteroids cumbersome.

The development of long-acting asthma medications has allowed women to take fewer doses of asthma drugs and still enjoy maximum benefit.

The long-acting medications for asthma include Symbicort and Advair, which are combination medications, and Spiriva Respimat and Brovana, which are bronchodilators. Women who use these long-lasting asthma medications can expect reduced side effects, lower risk of missed doses, and an overall improvement in their asthma symptoms.

4. Pain Relievers

Women often suffer from chronic pain due to menstrual cramps, endometriosis, or other reproductive health issues. Some women may also experience acute pain due to accidents, surgeries, or other medical conditions.

Pain relievers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen provide women with quick pain relief for short durations.

However, women who suffer from chronic pain or require consistent pain management can benefit from using long-lasting pain relief options. Examples of long-lasting pain relievers include Flector-Patch, Butrans patch, and Tramadol.

The Flector-Patch is a drug that women place on the skin near the affected area and deliver a consistent dose throughout the day. Butrans patch contains buprenorphine and can provide pain relief for up to seven days. Tramadol, an oral medication, provides pain relief for up to 24 hours.

Longer-lasting pain relievers offer women better pain management and reduce the frequency of administration.

5. Antidepressants

Mental health is as vital as physical health, and women are more likely to experience mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression than men.

Antidepressants are drugs used to treat depression and anxiety and improve the mood and outlook of the patient.

The long-lasting antidepressants offer the benefit of reduced frequency of dosing and better compliance. Examples of long-lasting antidepressants are Prozac and Zoloft.

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Prozac, also known as fluoxetine, is an antidepressant medication that can last for up to four to six weeks. Zoloft, also known as sertraline, is an antidepressant that can last for up to seven days. These long-lasting antidepressants enable women to achieve improved mental health with less frequent administration and fewer side effects.

6. Bone-strengthening Medications

Women are more susceptible to bone-related conditions such as osteoporosis than men. These conditions make women’s bones weak and fragile and more prone to fractures.

Bone-strengthening medications such as alendronate, risedronate, and zoledronic acid, are essential drugs for women with a high risk of bone fractures. However, these drugs require frequent administration and can cause unpleasant side effects.

The development of long-lasting bone-strengthening medications such as Boniva and Prolia has given women the benefit of reduced administration frequency and fewer side effects.

Boniva is an intravenous injection that can last for up to three months, while Prolia, which is similarly administered through injection, can last for up to six months.

7. Blood Pressure Medications

High blood pressure is a common health condition that can lead to a range of complications if not managed properly.

Women are more likely to develop high blood pressure than men, and the condition requires the administration of blood pressure-lowering medications. Common blood pressure medications include ACE inhibitors, diuretics, beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers.

The long-lasting blood pressure-lowering medications such as amlodipine and felodipine offer women the benefit of less frequent administration, better compliance, and reduced side effects.

Amlodipine and felodipine are calcium channel blockers that can last for up to 24 hours and offer a consistent blood pressure-lowering effect throughout the day.

8. Cholesterol-lowering Medications

High blood cholesterol is a common health condition that can lead to an increased risk of heart diseases. Women are more likely to have high cholesterol than men, and the condition requires the administration of cholesterol-lowering medications.

Common cholesterol-lowering medications include statins such as atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, and simvastatin.

The long-lasting cholesterol-lowering medications offer women the benefit of less frequent administration and consistent efficacy.

One such medication is pitavastatin, a statin that can last for up to 24 hours and offers consistent cholesterol-lowering effects.

9. Thyroid Medications

The thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate metabolism, growth, and development. Women are more likely to suffer from thyroid disorders than men, and the conditions require the administration of thyroid medications.

Thyroid medications such as levothyroxine are essential drugs for women with an underactive thyroid.

The long-lasting thyroid medications offer the benefit of consistent regulation of hormone levels, minimizing the risk of fluctuations in metabolic rates.

One such medication is Tirosint, a thyroid medication that offers consistent controlled-release of the hormone levothyroxine and can last up to 24 hours.

10. Antibiotics

Antibiotics are medications used to treat bacterial infections, which can range from mild infections such as strep throat to life-threatening conditions such as sepsis.

Antibiotics require frequent administration to ensure that the level of the drug in the body is sufficient to fight off infections.

However, development of long-lasting antibiotics such as Zithromax and Septra offer women the benefit of lower frequency of administration.

Zithromax, also known as azithromycin, is an antibiotic that can last for up to five days, while Septra, also known as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, can last for up to 12 hours. These long-lasting antibiotics offer women better compliance and easier management of bacterial infections.

Conclusion

Long-lasting drugs offer women many advantages, such as reduced frequency of administration, lower risk of missed doses, and improved compliance.

Women who require medication for chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and hypertension, can benefit greatly from long-lasting medications. Women who use these medications experience consistent efficacy, reduced side effects, and easier management of their health conditions.