Analysis of Potential Drug Interactions in Brazilian Mental Health Services: Prevalence and Associated Factors
Sarah Nascimento Silva1★, Marina Guimarães Lima1, Cristina Mariano Ruas1★ Corresponding author
- 1Department of Social Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, BRAZIL.
CORRESPONDENCE
Sarah Nascimento Silva
Department of Social Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, BRAZIL.
Received: 24-02-2018; Revised: 07-03-2018; Accepted: 14-03-2018.
Volume 10, Issue 2 · pp. 237–240 · PUBLISHED · DOI: 10.5530/jyp.2018.10.52
ABSTRACT
Background: In the mental health field, the psychotropic polypharmacy is frequently observed, a significant risk factor for the occurrence of drug interactions. Objective: Identify potential drug interactions on the prescriptions of mental health services users and describe the associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 11 services. Sociodemographic data and information about the use of drug were obtained through interviews of users, analysis of prescriptions and medical charts, using a semi-structured questionnaire. Potential drug interactions were identified using the Micromedex® database, the association with sociodemographic characteristics and aspects related to the medicines prescribed were analyzed using the prevalence ratio. Results: The number of medicines prescribed ranged from 0 to 9, with an average of 3.38 (SD=1.76) per user, the most prescribed being haloperidol (12.3%), clonazepam (8.2%) and biperiden (7.9%). The proportion of interactions considering the number of users interviewed was 35.1%. The most frequent between potential interactions were haloperidol and fluoxetine (9.1%); haloperidol and carbamazepine (8.8%); and carbamazepine and chlorpromazine (5.9%). The highest prevalence ratio (PR) for the occurrence of potential interactions was in women (PR=1.36; 95% CI 1.08:1.71), users who had reported improper medicine use (PR=1.36; 95% CI: 1.07:1.72) and those with more than 5 prescribed medicines (PR=1.87; 95% CI: 1.49:2.33). Conclusion: Potential drug interactions were observed in more than one-third of the user’s Brazilian mental health services. The profile of interactions detected could guide the pharmacotherapeutic follow-up of priority users, and help the multidisciplinary team identify signs and symptoms that can influence the treatment of users.
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Silva, S. N., Lima, M. G., & Ruas, C. M. (). Analysis of Potential Drug Interactions in Brazilian Mental Health Services: Prevalence and Associated Factors. Journal of Young Pharmacists, 10(2), 237–240. https://doi.org/10.5530/jyp.2018.10.52