title: Beers-Fick criteria and drugs available through the Farmácia Dose Certa program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Farmácia Dose Certa is a program available in the State of São Paulo that is a national reference for providing drugs free of charge to the population. Elderly people receiving care deserve special attention regarding drugs that are appropriate for their age group. The objective was to assess the drugs in the program considered to be inappropriate for the elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive study evaluating free drug distribution in the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following the criteria proposed by Beers and Fick (drugs or drug classes that should be avoided among elderly people, independent of the diagnosis or clinical condition, because of the high risk of side effects and because other, safer drugs are available), the drugs in the Farmácia Dose Certa program that might be inappropriate for elderly people and the levels of evidence for each drug included were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the available drugs, 10 (25.6%) were included within the Beers-Fick criteria. The drugs selected were: amitriptyline, cimetidine, diazepam, digoxin, fluoxetine, methyldopa, nifedipine, promethazine, thioridazine and ferrous sulfate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The list of drugs available within the Farmácia Dose Certa program may be considered appropriate for the general population, but not completely for the elderly population. Adjusting this list to the pharmacological aspects of aging will reduce the risks of drug interactions, falls, mental confusion and excessive sedation that result from drugs that are considered inappropriate for consumption by elderly people.
authors: Geriatrics and Gerontology Sector, Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. g.lucchetti@yahoo.com.br
authors: Giancarlo
authors: G
authors: Lucchetti
authors: Alessandra Lamas Granero
authors: AL
authors: Lucchetti
authors: Sueli Luciano
authors: SL
authors: Pires
authors: Milton Luiz
authors: ML
authors: Gorzoni
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001938:Brazil; D000075202:Contraindications; D004341:Drug Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice / Q000592:standards; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000600:supply & distribution; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000592:standards*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs