Interações fármaco-nutriente dos antidepressivos e ansiolíticos prescritos na farmácia básica de Picuí - PB.

Abstract

Anxiety and depression are two mental health conditions that affect millions of people worldwide. While anxiety is characterized by excessive worry, nervousness, and fear, depression manifests through persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and lack of interest in daily activities. The treatment of both conditions involves strategies such as psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy. The use of anxiolytics and antidepressants predisposes patients to potential interactions that influence both nutritional status and the availability of certain nutrients. Such interactions can have serious consequences and affect the treatment of anxiety and depression. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential drug-nutrient interactions of antidepressants and anxiolytics provided as part of the basic pharmaceutical assistance by the Municipal Government of Picuí-PB. To begin the research, the municipal pharmacy was contacted to obtain information on which anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs are available to the population. Subsequently, through a narrative literature review, a search was conducted in scientific articles, literary works, books, electronic leaflets, manuals, and drug-nutrient interaction verification systems to comprehensively identify all interactions between the examined drugs and foods. The descriptors used were "drug-nutrient interaction with anxiolytics" and "drug-nutrient interaction with antidepressants," and drug-nutrient interactions involving each individual drug in the study were also researched. Publications on antidepressants, anxiolytics, and foods were selected based on titles, keywords, or mentions in the abstract about their interactions and nutritional impact. Those that did not meet these criteria were excluded. The Picuí basic pharmacy contains 17 medications for the treatment of anxiety and depression, of which 6 are anxiolytics and 5 are antidepressants. All medications have significant interactions with foods or micronutrients. The foods with the most potential interaction with antidepressants and anxiolytics are: coffee, grapefruit, and alcohol. It is worth noting that some classes of antidepressants influence weight gain in patients during prolonged treatment. Such information regarding interactions involving antidepressants and anxiolytics with foods is of high

importance to assist healthcare professionals in guiding users of these medications to avoid possible complications during treatment.