USO RACIONAL DE MEDICAMENTOS POR IDOSOS Uma revisão bibliográfica

Abstract

The elderly population has been growing in recent times due to the improvement in quality of life, so it is necessary to pay more attention to this age group that is considered more delicate, due to the emergence of new pathologies. With technological advances, improvements can be seen in the pharmacological sector that directly influence this fact, which also draws attention due to its overuse. The users are exposed to some risks if the drugs are used improperly, whether due to lack of prescription, error in diagnosis, high dosage, use of multiple drugs and their possible interactions that may cause adverse reactions on the patient. Underdeveloped countries, like Brazil, face deficit issues in the health area, seeking basic needs, bringing up the differences caused by social inequality in which they need to address other issues before seeking prevention and understanding of the relationship between the use of medicines and the elderly population. Methodology: Searches were carried out in the main research portals, SCIELO, CAPES, BDTD, BVS, using selected descriptors in order to find studies previously carried out that can substantiate who can answer about how the elderly population deals with the use of medicines.. Results: Four studies were found that, in general, seek to understand how the relationship between the elderly and medications occurs. Women being the majority of the samples, aged between 60 and 79 years, and with medium and low schooling. Conclusion: The intensity of medication use has increased over the years and needs. It was noticed that there is a concern about this theme, but there are still few studies in the literature to be based on it. Studies have found the strong presence of benzodiazepines, and their association with depression and other disorders; drawing even more attention to possible drug interactions. Awareness for the rational use of medicines, medical monitoring and avoiding self-medication are related to cultural issues, which makes this process of awareness even more difficult, with psychoeducation in the family being essential.