OBJECTIVES: Due to the increasing demand for Lawsuits to receive free medication in Brazil, it is estimated that the increase in costs may compromise the sustainability of SUS. The aim of this works is to analyze Federal expenditures for the Brazilian Public Health System (SUS) with drugs obtained through lawsuits between the years 2011-2014. METHODS: Cross-sectional study, with descriptive and analytical characteristics. Data collected from the DW / COMPRASNET platform. RESULTS: In total 12,578 lawsuits were identified at the federal level and 15 drugs with the highest acquisition value were extracted. Of these, seven drugs corresponded to US$ 452.644.065.68 million dollars of the federal budget, which represented 87% of the total expenditure of the actions studied, most of them were oncologic and rare diseases drugs. Of the 15 drugs / year studied, 14.28% (n = 4) were registered at the National Brazilian Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), were incorporated by the National Commission for the Incorporation of Technologies in SUS (CONITEC) and were part of the List of essential drugs (RENAME); 46.42% (n = 13) were registered with ANVISA, but not incorporated by CONITEC and not members of RENAME; 3.57% (n = 1) registered in ANVISA, incorporated by CONITEC and non-RENAME members and 35.71% (n = 10) without ANVISA registration, not incorporated by CONITEC and not RENAME members. CONCLUSIONS: With the Lawsuits to receive free medication, the acquisitions are carried out without planning or establishing minimum criteria such as: the presence of registration at ANVISA, incorporation in SUS and presence in RENAME, may compromise SUS sustainability. It is urgent that the Judiciary approaches the Executive stakeholders to initiate a responsible commitment to the health rights of the Brazilian population.