Potential drug interactions in outpatients

Abstract

Drug interactions may lead to unsatisfactory results in treatment or even death. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential drug interactions between drugs in a population attended by Pharmacotherapy Monitoring Service (PMS). A total of 37 patients, of both genders, attended by the PMS of a Multiprofessional Rehabilitation Center of São Paulo, between September and December 2015, were evaluated. The study was observational, descriptive and prospective (CEP Nº 1166812). Collected variables: patient’s origin, age, gender, education, diagnosed diseases, and medications used. The diseases, drug interactions, and drugs used were all evaluated. Of the 37 patients (age 2-83 years), 70.3% were female and 67.5% elderly. 58 diseases (4.7 / patient) were identified, the most frequent was systemic arterial hypertension (86.5%). 307 identified drugs were in use, corresponding to 70 drugs classified into 13 ATC groups. One-third of patients presented polypharmacy. The most commonly used drug was simvastatin (54.1%). Regarding the severity of interactions: 16.8% low severity, 76.6% moderate severity and 6.6% high severity. The potential interaction of moderate severity between simvastatin and omeprazole was the most frequent, whose main consequences are hepatotoxicity and muscle damage. It is noteworthy that nine patients used omeprazole without a valid indication. It was possible to identify the occurrence of potential drug interactions between drugs of high and moderate severity confirming the need for pharmacotherapeutic monitoring. However, the lack of a rapid and effective communication system makes it difficult to carry out the necessary pharmaceutical interventions in prescriptions.

Keywords

• drug utilization. drug interactions. patient safety.