Introduction:

Medications, while essential for treating diseases, can cause adverse drug reactions (ADRs) that significantly impact people's health, leading to morbidity and mortality. In mental health, the increasing use of psychotropic drugs poses risks of severe side effects.

Objective:

To analyze recent studies on ADRs associated with psychotropic drugs, emphasizing their prevention and control.

Materials and methods:

The methodology used in this study was based on a systematic review of scientific articles on adverse reactions in patients using psychotropic drugs. The review was conducted in databases such as Science Direct, SciELO, Google Scholar, Dialnet, and Elsevier, using keywords such as ADRs, psychotropic drugs, and polypharmacy. A total of 15 scientific articles were identified, addressing various topics related to adverse reactions and the impact of psychotropic drug use in different contexts.

Results:

Key findings highlight the high incidence of adverse reactions (including metabolic, cardiovascular, and dermatological effects), interactions with substances such as alcohol and tobacco, and complications associated with polypharmacy, particularly in older adults.

Conclusion:

These studies underscore the need to optimize the prescription and management of psychotropic drugs to improve patients' quality of life. The importance of monitoring these effects before and during treatment is emphasized to ensure patient safety.