iForumRx.org

Carefully Weighing the Adverse Outcomes of Antipsychotics in Patients with Dementia

One of the most debilitating aspects of dementia is the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) that impact nearly 90% of patients. These symptoms significantly diminish the quality of life and functional abilities of those affected. To combat the most severe of these symptoms, antipsychotic medications are often prescribed, but not without possibly harmful consequences. A new study sheds additional light on these detrimental consequences.

Guest Authors:  Melissa C. Palmer, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP and Jessa Marie Koch, PharmD, APh, BCPP

Music by Good Talk

Get Quit, Stay Quit! Smoking Cessation After Initial Treatment Failure

It is still difficult for patients to quit despite their best efforts. Of the nearly 70% of current smokers who want to quit smoking, only about 7.5% succeed.  Unfortunately, there is a lack of evidence to inform subsequent treatment strategies if the initial quit attempt is unsuccessful.

Guest Authors:  Elizabeth Yett, PharmD, BCACP, TTS and Katherine Montag Schafer, PharmD, BCACP, CDCES

Music by Good Talk

Complex Patient Case 7: Post CABG but not on a statin ... oh my!

Reason for Visit: The patient is a 76-year-old Hispanic referred to the ambulatory care pharmacist for dyslipidemia management.  The patient has a remote history of an MI (15 years ago) but states he is unable to take statins.

Guest Authors: Mayela Warner, PharmD and Maricar Conson, PharmD, BCPS

Expert Panelists: Sara Wettergreen, PharmD, BCACP, BC-ADM and Tomasz Jurga, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, BCCP, CDCES

Music by Good Talk

Semaglutide for CKD – Does the FLOW trial impact the standard of care?

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors are one of the established treatments used to slow the progression of CKD and improve outcomes.  Could perhaps the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists provide similar, additive, or different benefits in patients with CKD? 

Guest Author: John Swegle, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP 

Music by Good Talk

“We’ed” Better Work Together to Address Cannabis Use in Pregnancy

Over the last several decades, the popularity of cannabis (aka marijuana, weed) has increased significantly, and the recognition of medical benefits is evolving. Cannabis is often celebrated in popular culture as a relaxation-promoting, pain-relieving, harmless substance, and its use among young adults and pregnant women is increasing steadily.  A recently published ancillary analysis of the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-Be (nuMoM2b) aimed to characterize the association between maternal cannabis use and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Guest Author: Courtney Cameron, PharmD, BCACP

Special Guest: Leah Sera, PharmD, MA, BCPS

Music by Good Talk

Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM): The Promise and Pitfalls

This episode is a collaboration between the ACCP Ambulatory Care Practice and Research Network (PRN) ... and iForumRx.org.

We speak with three panelists who describe the use of remote patient monitoring within their cardiology practices.  From measuring weight, blood pressure, heart rate, blood glucose, and even pulmonary artery pressure, the use of remote patient monitoring devices has the potential to revolutionize patient care by making more data available "real-time" and engaging patients more in their care.  Nonetheless, there are significant barriers too. 

Panelists:  Christine Cadiz PharmD, BCPS; Rachel Klosko, PharmD, BCCP, and Aimon Miranda, PharmD, BCPS

Produced by  Rebecca Khaimova, PharmD, BCACP, CDCES and Anna K Love, PharmD, BCACP

Music by lemonmusicstudio from Pixabay

An Age-Old Question: Warfarin or a Direct Oral Anticoagulant in Frail Adults?

It is now uncommon to see warfarin therapy initiated for stroke prevention. However, quality patient care is never a “one-size-fits-all” approach.  New evidence from the FRAIL-AF trial suggests that some of our most vulnerable older adults might be better off maintained on a vitamin K antagonist rather than (automatically) switched to a direct oral anticoagulation (DOAC).  

Guest Author:  Matthew Cantrell, PharmD, BCPS

Music by Good Talk

Complex Patient Case 6: Multiple Comorbidities and Too Many Meds

Reason for Visit:  Patient presents today for routine follow-up in the heart failure clinic to optimize his medications.

Guest Authors: Jushua W. Skaggs, PharmD, and Jessica Wooster Thomas, PharmD, BCACP

Expert Panelists: Kristin Watson, PharmD, MS, BCCP and Robert DiDomenico, PharmD

Music by Good Talk

Weighing Options: Comparing Oral Anticoagulants for Patients at Various BMIs

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are the standard of care for stroke prevention in most patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Data on the safety and efficacy of DOACS in patients with obesity are limited and, at times, contradictory.  What would you recommend for a patient with a BMI>40: warfarin, which requires periodic monitoring and dose adjustments, or a DOAC, which may not be as effective?

Guest Authors: Taylor M. Benavides, PharmD, BCPS and Elizabeth B. Hearn, PharmD, BCACP

Music by Good Talk

Managing COPD: 2024 GOLD Guideline Updates and More

This episode is a collaboration between the ACCP Ambulatory Care Practice and Research Network (PRN) ... and iForumRx.org.

The treatment of COPD has evolved significant over the past few years.  The GOLD classification system was recently changed with a greater focus on exacerbations, and the role of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) is limited to those with evidence of inflammation.  Pharmacists can play a critical and positive role in the lives of people with COPD by encouraging lifestyle changes, administering vaccines to immunize against respiratory illnesses, ensuring proper inhaler technique, and assisting with medication access.

Panelists:  Melissa Lipari, PharmD, BCACP; Thomas Levi Lancaster, PharmD, BCACP, BC-ADM; and Rachel Basinger, PharmD, BCACP, CTTS, DipACLM

Produced by  Rebecca Khaimova, PharmD, BCACP, CDCES and Anna K Love, PharmD, BCACP

Music by lemonmusicstudio from Pixabay