[Prescription, dispensing, and regulation of psychoactive anorexigenic drugs in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil].
This retrospective study in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, aimed to provide indicators on the sale and consumption of anorexigenic substances. During the first stage, 2,906 of 168,237 prescriptions received by pharmacies in 2003 were analyzed, showing low quality of prescriptions. Projected consumption in defined daily doses was 19.75 DDD/1,000 inhabitants/day in 2003. Fenproporex (59.8%) was the most widely consumed drug. One pharmacy was responsible for 39.8% of the pharmaceutical sales. During the second stage, 14,554 sales records from this "blockbuster" pharmacy were analyzed, from April to August 2005; 9.2% of sales were for anorexigenic products, 91.8% of which prescribed in association with another substance. The data suggest irrational use of anorexigenic drugs by these consumers and highlight the need for proper regulation of these products. It is important to understand both the role of pharmacies in this regulation and that of physicians in the rational use of these substances.
Carneiro
Mônica de Fátima Gontijo
Mde F
Departamento de Farmácia Social, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil. monicagontijo@hotmail.com
Guerra
Augusto Afonso
AA
Acurcio
Francisco de Assis
Fde A
D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001938:Brazil; D004363:Drug Utilization; D006801:Humans; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000592:standards*; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000592:standards*; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000592:standards; D017891:Pharmacoepidemiology; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D001067:Appetite Depressants; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs