Papel do farmacêutico na automedicação e uso off-label durante a pandemia da covid-19: revisão integrativa.

Abstract

In the year 2020, a disease caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV2 was described as COVID-19, presenting a pandemic status. With the spread of the virus and consequently the increase in the number of deaths around the world, the dissemination of preventive news is increasing. At the same time, there was an increase in the curve of self-medication and off-label use of medicines by individuals, largely influenced by fake news and scientifically based debates on social networks. Self-medication can carry many risks, including side effects caused by drug interactions, which could increase comorbidities and mortality during a pandemic. The objective of this study was to expose the abusive use of drugs and their easy availability; show the most used drugs; demonstrate its adverse effects; impacts caused by self-medication and off-label use of medicines, as well as their significant risks and consequences during the COVID-19 pandemic; to show the significant importance of the pharmaceutical professional in the fight against the irrational use of medicines, acting from the dispensation and guidance to the pharmacotherapeutic follow-up of the patient. The research was carried out through an integrative literature review, in which searches were carried out (in electronic databases in the health area: Medline, Pubmed, Lilacs and Scielo) for articles published in Portuguese, English or Spanish in the period of 2014 to 2022, where articles that address the topic were selected. Of the 63 articles found, 54 articles were used. The analyzed articles showed the role that the pharmacist can play in front of patients, the practices already known and incorporated in pharmaceutical care starting from the care and monitoring of drug therapy. All seek to evaluate and describe this role in the form of service provided, analyzing it as proposals and measures. It is important that regulatory authorities encourage clinical drug trials in order to minimize the harmful effects and risks that are triggered by the unregulated use of these drugs in off-label use. Therefore, it is evident the necessary contribution that the practice of medical care can be able to solve problems, educate about health issues and progress in care. It can be considered that the pharmaceutical role in self-medication and guiding the use of use in a logical way, for trust, and making men aware of their irrational use.