[Beer-Fick criteria and generic drugs in Brazil].
BACKGROUND
Determine, according to the Beer-Fick criteria, the prevalence of drugs potentially inappropriate for the elderly available as generic medication in Brazil.


METHODS
Analysis of the list of generic medications issued by " Diário Oficial da União" on July/12/2004 and of the page of the National Agency for Sanitary Surveillance (ANVISA) - www.anvisa.gov.br, using the Beers-Fick criteria.


RESULTS
From the list of 299 products 20 (6.7% of the total) included in the Beers-Fick criteria were analyzed, mainly in the categories of anxiolytics, platelet antiaggregants, antiallergics, anti-angina and vasodilators, antiarrythmics, antidepressants, antispasmodics, anti-hypertensive's, non steroid antinflammatories, antiulceratives and cardiac glycosides. These criteria do not include drugs such as cough suppressants, cinnarizine, diltiazem, piracetam, quinolones, xanthines, creams, ointments and ophthalmic solutions which are also present in the list of generic medication.


CONCLUSIONS
The Beers-Fick criteria may prevent use of drugs potentially inappropriate for the elderly, however, it should be stressed that these criteria are not complete for Brazilian generic medications.
Gorzoni
Milton Luiz
ML
departamento de Clínica Médica, disciplina de Gerontologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP. gorzoni@uol.com.br
Fabbri
Renato Moraes Alves
RM
Pires
Sueli Luciano
SL
D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D004347:Drug Interactions; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016568:Drugs, Generic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005853:Geriatrics; D006077:Government Agencies; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing
D016568:Drugs, Generic; D055553:Prescription Drugs