In Part 2 of my series on opioids, I cover hydromorphone, oxycodone, and oxymorphone. Hydromorphone and oxycodone are two opioids that are used frequently in clinical practice, and I will discuss what makes them unique, in addition to numerous other practice pearls and test prep nuggets. Enjoy the podcast and be sure to share it with friends, colleagues, and students!
On part 1 of opioids, I’ll discuss morphine, morphine equivalents, conversion, and hydrocodone. The pharmacokinetic differences will be important between opioids, as well as the dosage forms. I hope you enjoy this podcast episode and share it with your friends!
On this episode of the Real Life Pharmacology podcast, I’m going to cover important practice pearls on skeletal muscle relaxants. Important medications that will be covered in this podcast include baclofen, cyclobenzaprine, tizanidine, and diazepam.
Suzetrigine is a relatively newer analgesic offering a novel approach to treating acute pain without acting as an opioid. By selectively blocking the Nav1.8 sodium channel found in peripheral pain-sensing nerves, suzetrigine helps reduce pain transmission while minimizing many of the risks associated with traditional opioid therapy. In this episode of the Real Life Pharmacology podcast, we’ll review how suzetrigine works, its FDA-approved indication, common adverse effects, and where it may fit into clinical practice. Whether you’re a pharmacist, pharmacy student, nurse, or other healthcare professional, this episode will provide practical insights to help you better understand this analgesic.
Abdominal cramping and intestinal spasms are common complaints in patients with conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Two of the most frequently prescribed medications for these symptoms are dicyclomine and hyoscyamine. These medications work by blocking muscarinic receptors, reducing smooth muscle contractions in the gastrointestinal tract and helping relieve painful spasms.
While these medications can be effective, they are not without risks. Because of their anticholinergic effects, patients may experience dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, dizziness, and urinary retention. Older adults are particularly susceptible to these adverse effects, making careful patient selection and monitoring especially important. Patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), glaucoma, or cognitive impairment may be at higher risk for complications.
In this episode of the Real Life Pharmacology podcast, we’ll review how dicyclomine and hyoscyamine work, discuss their most common clinical uses, compare their adverse effect profiles, and highlight practical education points to help optimize safe and effective use.
Huge thank you to our sponsor – Mechanism of Action Podcast; Go check them out on all your favorite podcast platforms!
Heartburn is one of the most common gastrointestinal complaints, and antacids remain a go-to option for fast symptom relief. In this episode, we’ll discuss how common antacids like calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide, and sodium bicarbonate work to neutralize stomach acid. We’ll also review their advantages, common adverse effects, important drug interactions, and considerations for patients with kidney disease. Whether you’re a healthcare professional looking for practical clinical pearls or simply want to better understand over-the-counter heartburn medications, this episode provides a concise overview of when antacids are appropriate—and when they may not be the best choice.
Gastroparesis can be a frustrating condition for both patients and clinicians, with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, early satiety, bloating, and poor glycemic control significantly affecting quality of life. Medication management often requires balancing effectiveness with safety, especially since many commonly prescribed drugs can either improve or worsen gastric emptying. In this episode of the Real Life Pharmacology podcast, we’ll review the medications used to treat gastroparesis, discuss their mechanisms of action, highlight important adverse effects, and identify medications that may contribute to or exacerbate delayed gastric emptying.
Huge thank you to our sponsor – Mechanism of Action Podcast; Go check them out on all your favorite podcast platforms!
H2 blockers may not receive as much attention as proton pump inhibitors, but they continue to play an important role in managing acid-related disorders. In this episode of the Real Life Pharmacology podcast, we’ll review how H2 blockers work, compare the available agents, discuss important adverse effects, renal dose adjustments, drug interactions, and identify the patients who are most likely to benefit from these medications. Whether you’re a pharmacist, nurse, pharmacy technician, physician, or student, this episode provides practical clinical pearls you can apply immediately to patient care.
In this episode, I also discuss a new podcast I discovered – go check out the Mechanism of Action Podcast! It is an entertaining and educational look at how many of the medications used today were discovered and derived.
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are among the most commonly prescribed medications, but understanding how they work is essential for using them safely and effectively. In this episode of the Real Life Pharmacology podcast, we’ll break down the pharmacology of PPIs, including their mechanism of action, common brand and generic names, clinical uses, adverse effects, drug interactions, and important monitoring considerations. Whether you’re a pharmacist, nurse, pharmacy technician, or student, this episode will help reinforce the key concepts you need to confidently apply PPI pharmacology in clinical practice.
On this podcast episode, I cover commonly used medications for opioid use disorder. Buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone are all potential options in OUD. I’ll discuss the pharmacology of each medication and the most common practice pearls that will show up in practice and on your board exams.
