Today’s sponsor of the Top 10 SSRI Drug Interactions podcast is FreedAI. Freed listens, transcribes, and writes medical documentation for you. In this podcast episode, I discuss how to navigate SSRI drug interactions and identify some of the most common medications that have additive serotonergic activity. SSRIs have antiplatelet activity. I discuss how to navigate using other medications that may increase bleed risk in combination with SSRIs. Paroxetine and fluoxetine inhibit CYP2D6 I discuss how this can affect the benefits of tamoxifen therapy. Fluvoxamine is a nasty medication with regard ..read more

On this episode, I discuss travoprost pharmacology, adverse effects, administration, and much more on this podcast episode. Travoprost is used to reduce intraocular pressure in the management of glaucoma. I discuss the mechanism of action and adverse effects. Travoprost is a prostaglandin analog that can help reduce intraocular pressure and reduce the risk of the potential complication of blindness. Growth of eyelashes is a unique adverse effect associated with travoprost. Be sure to check out our free Top 200 study guide – a 31 page PDF that is yours for FREE! Support The Podcast and Check Ou ..read more

On this podcast episode, I finish up my breakdown of the Beers Criteria. I cover the use of sliding-scale insulin and sulfonylureas in geriatric patients. Hypoglycemia is a major concern with both of these diabetes management strategies. PPIs show up on the Beers criteria list as they can increase the risk of C. diff, pneumonia, fractures, and GI malignancies. Metoclopramide has dopamine antagonist activity and can increase the risk of EPS and tardive dyskinesia. Be sure to check out our free Top 200 study guide – a 31 page PDF that is yours for FREE! Support The Podcast and Check Out These Am ..read more

In this podcast episode, I break down some of the most common medications that show up on the Beers criteria list. I discuss cardiovascular medications in this podcast episode, including rivaroxaban and warfarin, and why they show up on the Beers list. Alpha-blockers who up on the Beers list as these medications are inappropriate to use for the management of hypertension. The Beers criteria addresses the use of aspirin in primary prevention. I break down what the criteria state and why it should be avoided in general. Be sure to check out our free Top 200 study guide – a 31 page PDF that is yo ..read more

On this episode, I discuss the pharmacology surrounding QTc prolongation and drug interactions. I discuss which medications are more likely to cause QTc prolongation and which patient populations we should be more concerned about. Antiarrhythmics are a common class of medication that can exacerbate QTc prolongation when used with other interacting medications. 500 ms is a common value utilized to help identify patients at risk for QTc prolongation and ultimately torsades de pointes. Be sure to check out our free Top 200 study guide – a 31 page PDF that is yours for FREE! Support The Podcast an ..read more

On this podcast episode, I cover risedronate pharmacology, adverse effects, drug interactions, and much more. There is a strict administration procedure with risedronate which is designed to reduce adverse effects and enhance absorption. I discuss this in the podcast. Many medications may cause osteoporosis and may precipitate treatment with risedronate. Corticosteroids and excessive thyroid hormone replacement are two examples. Patients should remain upright (sitting or standing) for at least 30 minutes following administration to reduce the risk of esophagitis and ulceration. Be sure to chec ..read more

On this podcast episode, I discuss some of the most common antihypertensive drug interactions you need to know. One major interaction I discuss is the trifecta of a diuretic, an ACE or ARB, and an NSAID. This combination significantly increases the risk for acute renal failure. Nitrates aren’t classically referred to as an antihypertensive but they can definitely cause some problems when combined with PDE5 Inhibitors. Lithium can interact with 3 blood pressure medication classes. ACEIs, ARBs, and diuretics can all increase the risk for lithium toxicity. Be sure to check out our free Top 200 st ..read more

Teplizumab is a relatively new agent that helps delay the progression of type 1 diabetes. It slows the rate of beta-cell destruction in the pancreas. Teplizumab is associated with cytokine release syndrome which can result in flu-like symptoms of fever, aches, and headache. Cytokine release syndrome due to teplizumab can be reduced by using appropriate pretreatment medications. Those medications can include analgesics, antihistamines, and/or antiemetics. Teplizumab is associated with suppressing the immune system so it is ideal to get vaccinations completed before using this medication. I go o ..read more

On this podcast episode, I discuss captopril pharmacology, kinetics, interactions, and much more! Captopril is an ACE Inhibitor. It can cause hyperkalemia, cough, and renal impairment. One of the notable issues with captopril is its relatively short half-life which requires it to be dose frequently throughout the day. Lithium is an important drug interaction and the use of captopril with this medication may increase concentrations and the chance for toxicity. Be sure to check out our free Top 200 study guide – a 31 page PDF that is yours for FREE! Support The Podcast and Check Out These Amazin ..read more

On this episode of the Real Life Pharmacology podcast, I take a dive into the most common mechanisms of drug interactions. Below I list some of the common drug interactions seen in practice and how they work! Opposing Effects Many drugs will work on various receptors throughout the body. To use as an educational point, there is no better example to point to than the beta receptor. Beta-blockers are frequently used in clinical practice for their ability to lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate. Both of these beneficial actions are primarily achieved by blocking the effects of beta-1 rece ..read more