title: [Prescriptions for anorectic psychotropic drugs in the municipality of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil].
abstract: Obesity is a serious public health issue of epidemic proportions. Although drug therapy is one of the therapeutic approaches, it should be preceded by a change in eating habits along with regular exercise. This study assessed prescription of such drugs in 2009, in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Data were collected from consumption bulletins sent monthly to the municipal sanitary surveillance agency (VISA), and from the Brazilian National Management System of Controlled Products. Of the 7,759 notifications assessed, 93.3% were dispensed by prescription pharmacies and 6.7% by drugstores. Of that total, 55.4% were for amphepramone, 33.1% for femproporex, and 11.5% for mazindol. The three drugs had a larger consumption rate in the municipality (daily defined dose/1,000 inhabitants/day) than in the country as a whole, during the period under study. The professional with the highest prescription rate was responsible for 3,535 prescriptions. All of these were dispensed by prescription pharmacies, a single outlet being responsible for 99.5% of these prescriptions. This scenario shows that anorectic psychotropic drug prescription is a relevant public health issue and the criteria for monitoring the prescription and consumption of these drugs should be re-evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora UFJF, 36307-970 São João del-Rei, MG. emartins2br@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Eduardo Luiz Mendonça
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Maria da Penha Henriques
authors.initials: Mda P
authors.lastname: do Amaral
authors.forename: Maria Beatriz Cardoso
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Alessandra Ésther
authors.initials: AÉ
authors.lastname: de Mendonça
authors.forename: Mônica Cecília Santana
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Denise Campos
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Paula Maria
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Larissa Pereira
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Brumano
mesh_terms: D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001938:Brazil; D002947:Cities; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D001067:Appetite Depressants; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs