Resumo

CHAVES, Maria Juliana Mendes Carvalho et al. Investigation of medicines with potential xerostomic effect used in institutionalized elderly. RSBO (Online) [online]. 2015, vol.12, n.2, pp. 191-195. ISSN 1984-5685.

Introduction: Several factors affect the salivary flow and cause xerostomia, i.e. aging, diets, radiation, various pathologies and the use of drugs. Objective: This study aimed to investigate drugs with potential xerostomic effect in institutionalized elderly patients. Material and methods: 235 elderly were investigated, of both sexes, of which 123 were women (52.3%) and 112 (47.7%) were men. In addition to the gender and age, the use of medications containing side effects of xerostomia/dry mouth/ hyposalivation or hyposialia was investigated. Such drugs were separated according to their medical area of expertise: Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Allergy, Neurology and pulmonology Results: When investigated the amount of drugs used for female patients, it was observed that 83 (67.5%) used up to five drugs, 35 (28.4%) between 6 and 10 and medicines, and 5 (4.1%) more than 10 drugs. When analyzed the amount of drugs used for male patients, it was observed that 88(78.6%) used up to five drugs, 17 (15.2%) were between 6 and 10 7 medicines, and (6.2%) more than 10 drugs. By analyzing the drugs with xerostomic potential, we found 354 medicines. Among these, 181 (51.1%) were used in Neurology, 45 (12.7%) had been prescribed in Cardiology, 33 (9.2%) were used drugs for allergic conditions, 80 (22.3%) were prescribed in gastroenterology and 15 (4.3%) in pulmonology. Conclusion: It can be concluded that many medications used to treat institutionalized elderly had xerostomic potential effect, notably those used in Neurology. Polypharmacy is also present, especially in the older age group.

Palavras-chave : health of institutionalized elderly; dry mouth; medicine package inserts..