Proposta de prevenção do uso abusivo de benzodiazepínicos pela população idosa atendida pelo Centro de Saúde Piratininga

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Piratiningas Health Center is located in Venda Nova, North of Belo Horizonte. It currently serves 12,284 inhabitants, 2,046 of which are elders. The abusive use of benzodiazepines by the elder population is a reality. The challenge is to reverse this trend through intervention of a multidisciplinary team and reevaluation of the need or prescription of benzodiazepines by professionals in the Basic Health Unity (UBS). JUSTIFICATION: This work presents ways of approaching and treating the most common disorders in advanced ages such as insomnia, anxiety and depression using alternative methods to mitigate abusive use with non-drug based measures such as operative groups, lectures, physical activities and relaxation techniques as well as drug based measures such as the employment of antidepressants and other alternatives having in mind the discovery of a large number of elderly people served by the UBS and that incur in the use of benzodiazepines. OBJECTIVE: To propose ways of avoiding benzodiazepine abusive use by the elder population served by the UBS. METHODOLOGY: A review of scientific articles related to the subject was conducted through research in sites such as Google Scholar and BIREME with database from LILACS and MEDLINE as well as medical journals linked to the subject. This bibliographic review was necessary to scientifically base the prevention interventions and allow reaching the goal of this work through the implementation of an action plan in order to avoid abusive use of benzodiazepines by the elderly. Data from the UBS pharmacy, the 2010 Census and the Venda Nova Regional Health management were also used. RESULTS: Regarding the most consumed benzodiazepine, there are different results in different countries. In Brazil, diazepam and clonazepam are the most prescribed drugs by the public health care system (SUS). Elder females are most commonly associated with benzodiazepines. The population base studies showed that benzodiazepines are the most used psychoactive drugs by the adult population, being the diazepam the most used. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: The uncontrolled use of benzodiazepines is due to the populations lack of knowledge and awareness, lack of control by the pharmacy, lack of organization in the service and the physicians lack of training, who prescribes drugs without any criteria or knowledge and simply renews prescriptions without consulting the elderly. Medical orientation related to the use of benzodiazepines is an important factor to decrease the side effects and abuse of these drugs. It is necessary to adopt measures that stimulate rational use of these drugs, especially with elder people, as well as case reevaluations to verify the possibility of its gradual decrease and the real need of its use besides promoting family guidance and patients careful follow-up. All of these interventions are part of the Action Plan elaborated and to be implemented by the Health Team