Anxiolytics and antidepressants drugs dispensed in Primary Care: cost analysis and drug interactions

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to identify the quantitative, to describe the cost of drugs and to check for any drug interactions between anxiolytic and antidepressant dispensed by the pharmaceutical care at the municipalities of the study. Methods: Quantitative, cross-sectional and retrospective study conducted in municipalities located in Ceará mountain region. The sample was taken through the books of records in Central Pharmaceutical Supply. Only the standard drugs and common to all four cities studied, distributed free to the public were included. Results: 693 patients who received antidepressants and anxiolytics in January and February 2014 in the municipalities were identified. Amitriptyline was the most used drug, followed by diazepam and fluoxetine. Despite antidepres[1]sants constitute 54% of dispensed drug units, their cost accounted for 72% of spending on antide[1]pressants and anxiolytics. There were found significant drug interactions between the study drugs. Conclusions: A significant percentage of the study population uses anxiolytics and antidepressants, distribution similar to population-based studies in Brazilian regions.