O uso abusivo de medicamentos tem sido objeto de crescente interesse em saúde pública e geralmente veiculado na imprensa brasileira. Dentre os medicamentos, objeto de abuso e que causam dependência física e/ou psíquica, incluemse os barbitúricos, benzodiazepínicos, analgésicos opióides e anfetaminas. Os analgésicos, antitérmicos e antiinflamatórios não esteroidais, apesar de não fazerem parte dessa relação de fármacos, estão, geralmente, associados ao uso recreativo ou fins não terapêuticos. O objetivo deste ensaio é apresentar informações sobre o uso abusivo de benzidamina no Brasil. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo do tipo exploratório, em que foram utilizadas diferentes estratégias metodológicas adotadas na prática de regulação em farmacovigilância. O uso abusivo desse fármaco foi constatado na literatura científica, imprensa e internet. Em função da facilidade na compra de medicamentos sujeitos à prescrição médica, entre outros fatores, devem-se exigir meios e formas para monitorar a comercialização e utilização de medicamentos, assegurando seu uso seguro e racional, incluindo o fortalecimento da farmacovigilância no Brasil.

The abusive drug use has been object of increasing concern in public health and is commonly issued in the Brazilian press. Amongst medicines, those that are abuse substances and cause physical and/or psychic dependence, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, opioid analgesics and amphetamines are included. Analgesics, antipyretics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, even not making part of this list, are generally associated with recreational use or non therapeutical purpose. The objective of this essay is to present information on the abusive use of benzydamine in Brazil. The present study is an exploratory essay in which different methodological strategies adopted in the regulatory practice of pharmacovigilance have been used. The abusive use of this drug was evidenced in scientific literature, press releases and on the internet. Considering the facility of purchasing drugs under medical prescription, among other factors, it must be demanded ways to assess the marketing and use of medicines, and assure its safe and rational use, including the strengthening of pharmacovigilance in Brazil.

O uso abusivo de medicamentos tem sido objeto de crescente interesse em saúde pública e geralmente veiculado na imprensa brasileira. Dentre os medicamentos, objeto de abuso e que causam dependência física e/ou psíquica, incluemse os barbitúricos, benzodiazepínicos, analgésicos opióides e anfetaminas. Os analgésicos, antitérmicos e antiinflamatórios não esteroidais, apesar de não fazerem parte dessa relação de fármacos, estão, geralmente, associados ao uso recreativo ou fins não terapêuticos. O objetivo deste ensaio é apresentar informações sobre o uso abusivo de benzidamina no Brasil. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo do tipo exploratório, em que foram utilizadas diferentes estratégias metodológicas adotadas na prática de regulação em farmacovigilância. O uso abusivo desse fármaco foi constatado na literatura científica, imprensa e internet. Em função da facilidade na compra de medicamentos sujeitos à prescrição médica, entre outros fatores, devem-se exigir meios e formas para monitorar a comercialização e utilização de medicamentos, assegurando seu uso seguro e racional, incluindo o fortalecimento da farmacovigilância no Brasil.

The abusive drug use has been object of increasing concern in public health and is commonly issued in the Brazilian press. Amongst medicines, those that are abuse substances and cause physical and/or psychic dependence, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, opioid analgesics and amphetamines are included. Analgesics, antipyretics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, even not making part of this list, are generally associated with recreational use or non therapeutical purpose. The objective of this essay is to present information on the abusive use of benzydamine in Brazil. The present study is an exploratory essay in which different methodological strategies adopted in the regulatory practice of pharmacovigilance have been used. The abusive use of this drug was evidenced in scientific literature, press releases and on the internet. Considering the facility of purchasing drugs under medical prescription, among other factors, it must be demanded ways to assess the marketing and use of medicines, and assure its safe and rational use, including the strengthening of pharmacovigilance in Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Detection of smoking effects is of utmost importance in the prevention of cigarette-induced chronic airway obstruction. The forced oscillation technique offers a simple and detailed approach to investigate the mechanical properties of the respiratory system. However, there have been no data concerning the use of the forced oscillation technique to evaluate respiratory mechanics in groups with different degrees of tobacco consumption. OBJECTIVES: (1) to evaluate the ability of the forced oscillation technique to detect smoking-induced respiratory alterations, with special emphasis on early alterations; and (2) to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the forced oscillation technique and spirometric parameters. METHODS: One hundred and seventy subjects were divided into five groups according to the number of pack-years smoked: four groups of smokers classified as <20, 20-39, 40-59, and >60 pack-years and a control group. The four groups of smokers were compared with the control group using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: The early adverse effects of smoking in the group with <20 pack-years were adequately detected by forced oscillation technique parameters. In this group, the comparisons of the ROC curves showed significantly better diagnostic accuracy (p<0.01) for forced oscillation technique parameters. On the other hand, in groups of 20-39, 40-59, and >60 pack-years, the diagnostic performance of the forced oscillation technique was similar to that observed with spirometry. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that forced oscillation technique parameters were able to detect early smoking-induced respiratory involvement when pathologic changes are still potentially reversible. These findings support the use of the forced oscillation technique as a versatile clinical diagnostic tool in helping with chronic obstructive lung disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.