ABSTRACT
Objective
The aim of this study was to estimate the frequency and classify the potential drug-drug interactions that occur between psychotropic drugs subject to special control by Decree Order 344/98 of National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), which were prescribed and were dispensed in a public pharmacy of the Cascavel City, Paraná.
Methods
A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed in a public community pharmacy in a city of Parana. The sample was the prescriptions of drugs subject to special control, dispensed between day 1 July 2010 to 31 August of the same year. The prescriptions retained in the public pharmacy were retrospectively analyzed and the information collected. The potential drug-drug interactions were identified in 824 prescriptions.
Results
The prescriptions were mostly for female patients, with aged between 19 and 59 years old. Regarding the prescriber specialty, psychiatrist prescribed 30.6% of prescriptions. In 77.9% of them at least one potential drug-interaction has been identified. Fifty-four different potential drug interactions have been reported, with 34 serious and 20 moderate. There was a linear correlation between prescribed medication and potential drug interactions (p < 0.001).
Conclusion
The present study showed a high frequency of potential drug interactions involving special control drugs and positive association between the number of drugs prescribed as often these interactions.
Drug interactions; psychotropic drugs; prescription drugs; outpatients
