NSAIDs Part 1 – Test Prep and Practice Pearls

On this podcast episode, I cover the basics of NSAIDs, including how they work, what they are used for, significant drug interactions, and what adverse effects are important to monitor. I’ll educate about some of the major risks associated with NSAIDs and what I look out for as a practicing pharmacist.

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Meded101 Guide to Nursing Pharmacology (Amazon Highly Rated)

Guide to Drug Food Interactions (Amazon Best Seller)

Pharmacy Technician Study Guide by Meded101

Pharmacy Technician Bootcamp (PTCB Exam Prep Course) – 4.8/5 star course rating

Opioids Part 3 – Test Prep and Practice Pearls – Codeine and Fentanyl

On this podcast episode, we will explore the most important practice pearls of codeine and fentanyl. Both medications are opioids, but codeine is frequently found in combination with acetaminophen. Fentanyl has numerous unique dosage forms, including the transdermal formulation which is a source of frequent test questions. I break these two medications down in this podcast episode.

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants – Test Prep and Practice Pearls

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.

Be sure to check out our free Top 200 study guide – a 31 page PDF that is yours for FREE!

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NAPLEX Study Materials

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BCACP Study Materials

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BCMTMS Study Materials

Nursing Pharmacology Review Course

Meded101 Guide to Nursing Pharmacology (Amazon Highly Rated)

Guide to Drug Food Interactions (Amazon Best Seller)

Pharmacy Technician Study Guide by Meded101

Pharmacy Technician Bootcamp (PTCB Exam Prep Course) – 4.8/5 star course rating

Suzetrigine Pharmacology

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.

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 Amazing Resources!

NAPLEX Study Materials

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BCACP Study Materials

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BCMTMS Study Materials

Nursing Pharmacology Review Course

Meded101 Guide to Nursing Pharmacology (Amazon Highly Rated)

Guide to Drug Food Interactions (Amazon Best Seller)

Pharmacy Technician Study Guide by Meded101

Pharmacy Technician Bootcamp (PTCB Exam Prep Course) – 4.8/5 star course rating

GI Antispasmodics – Test Prep and Practice Pearls

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!

Be sure to check out our free Top 200 study guide – a 31 page PDF that is yours for FREE!

Antacids – Test Prep and Practice Pearls

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.

Special thanks to the Mechanism of Action Podcast for sponsoring this episode – go check it out!

Be sure to check out our free Top 200 study guide – a 31 page PDF that is yours for FREE!

H2 Blockers – Test Prep and Practice Pearls

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.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors – Test Prep and Practice Pearls

In this episode, we explore monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), one of the oldest yet most effective classes of antidepressants. We discuss how MAOIs such as phenelzine, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, and selegiline work by increasing serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine levels in the brain. The episode reviews their unique role in treatment-resistant and atypical depression, key adverse effects, important dietary considerations involving tyramine-containing foods, and potentially serious drug interactions. We also highlight practical clinical pearls to help pharmacists and healthcare professionals safely and effectively use these powerful but often underutilized medications.

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 Amazing Resources!

NAPLEX Study Materials

BCPS Study Materials

BCACP Study Materials

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BCMTMS Study Materials

Nursing Pharmacology Review Course

Meded101 Guide to Nursing Pharmacology (Amazon Highly Rated)

Guide to Drug Food Interactions (Amazon Best Seller)

Pharmacy Technician Study Guide by Meded101

Pharmacy Technician Bootcamp (PTCB Exam Prep Course) – 4.8/5 star course rating

Infectious Disease Section 5.3- Antifungal Agents

Fungal infections are commonly encountered across healthcare settings, ranging from oral thrush and vaginal yeast infections to serious systemic infections in critically ill patients. In this episode, we’ll review the major antifungal medications nurses should know, including azoles, echinocandins, polyenes, and topical antifungals. We’ll focus on practical nursing considerations such as monitoring for adverse effects, recognizing important drug interactions, administration tips, and patient education points. By the end of the episode, listeners will have a stronger understanding of how antifungal medications work and how nurses play a key role in ensuring safe and effective treatment.

You can find the full 16+ hour nursing pharmacology review course, including PDF handouts, cheat sheets, practice questions, and on-demand videos at meded101.com!

SSRIs – Test Prep and Practice Pearls Part 1

In this episode, we break down the pharmacology of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) with a focus on the high-yield clinical pearls pharmacists, medical students, and healthcare professionals need to know. We compare the major SSRIs—including fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine, citalopram, escitalopram, and fluvoxamine—based on adverse effects, drug interactions, pharmacokinetics, and board exam relevance. Topics include serotonin syndrome, discontinuation syndrome, CYP450 interactions, QT prolongation, sexual dysfunction, weight changes, and SSRI selection in special populations such as older adults and pregnancy. Whether you are preparing for exams, clinical rotations, or looking to sharpen your psychopharmacology knowledge, this episode provides practical and memorable insights into one of the most commonly prescribed medication classes. This is Part 1 of 2.

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 Amazing Resources!

NAPLEX Study Materials

BCPS Study Materials

BCACP Study Materials

BCGP Study Materials

BCMTMS Study Materials

Nursing Pharmacology Review Course

Meded101 Guide to Nursing Pharmacology (Amazon Highly Rated)

Guide to Drug Food Interactions (Amazon Best Seller)

Pharmacy Technician Study Guide by Meded101

Pharmacy Technician Bootcamp (PTCB Exam Prep Course) – 4.8/5 star course rating