O uso de psicotrópicos durante a pandemia da Covid-19: uma consequência do isolamento social.

Abstract

Humanity has experienced several pandemics and situations that threaten public health over the years. Many biological wars have been won through vaccine discoveries and health strategies that have become more effective. As a pandemic consequence and the risk situations to be managed, there is a need for special care for mental conditions. The pandemic context associated with an increase in the appearance of mental disorders was a predictor for increased psychotropic drugs consumption. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of the use of controlled substances in people as a result of the covid-19 pandemic. The study was carried out through bibliographic research in the available electronic databases: CAPES, SciElo, BVS, Science Direct, PubMed and LILACSA periodicals. The search for bibliographic material was in Portuguese and English and the period worked was five years (2018-2022). The results point to an aggravation in mental disorders cases during the pandemic period and in this context, as a consequence, a significant increase in the psychotropic drugs use by the population. A high consumption of drugs from the benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and imidazopyridines classes was identified and it was found that zolpidem hemitartrate and fluoxetine hydrochloride were the most sought after. The exposed facts generate an alert for the problem of medicines indiscriminate use, as a way to reduce psychological effects, and for the physical and psychological dependence risk on these psychotropic drugs. In this way, the importance of Pharmaceutical Assistance is highlighted in the development of policies that encourage the rational use of medicines and the study of alternatives for the mental illness treatment in the post-pandemic period.