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Top Ten Things Every Clinician Should Know about Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM)

Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are now commonplace, and every clinician should know the basics about who can benefit from CGM use and how to address common questions and problems. 

Authors:  Brianna Patacini, PharmD, BCACP, CDCES and Dawn Fuke, PharmD, BCPS

Special Guest: Jennifer Trujillo, PharmD, BCPS, CDCES, BC-ADM

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Spice Up Your Sleep Life with Saffron

Every day, millions suffer from poor sleep that disrupts their lives, and long-term sleep disorders can cause attention deficits, mood disorders, anxiety, and depression. Several prescription treatment options for sleep are available but they often have undesirable side effects and can lead to tolerance and dependency. Thus, a natural product that has been documented to improve sleep with minimal adverse events may be a better choice.

Guest Authors:  Alyssa Korman, PharmD and Nicole Slater, PharmD, BCACP

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Will a Dual GIP/GLP-1 Receptor Agonist SURPASS the Crowd?

There are now over 30 unique therapeutic entities (and countless different products!) to treat hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).  While the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists improve glycemic control, renal, and cardiovascular outcomes and induce significant weight loss, drugs that target more than one incretin hormone may have even greater therapeutic benefits.

Guest Authors: Nadila Faridi, PharmD and Kathleen Pincus, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP

Special Guest: Diana Isaacs, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, BC-ADM, CDCES

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Cut It Out! Removing EHR Allergy Warnings to Improve Antimicrobial Stewardship

WARNING: Patient has a penicillin allergy! Do you want to continue with this cephalexin order?

Although these warnings are commonplace, immunologic cross-reactivity between penicillins and cephalosporins is uncommon. When B-lactams are indicated as first-line therapy for therapy, cephalosporins are often avoided if the patient has a penicillin allergy listed. Would the removal of EHR warnings about potential penicillin allergies when cephalosporins are ordered be helpful or harmful? 

Guest Authors:  Brian Wenger, PharmD and Nora Sharaya, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, BC-ADM

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What’s the Right Dose of Aspirin in Patients with Heart Disease?

There is no consensus regarding the preferred dosage of aspirin in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and this has led to variability in prescribing patterns. This is likely due to the lack of head-to-head trials evaluating different aspirin doses and data weighing the clinical benefits and adverse effects experienced with aspirin. Until now?

Guest Authors: Ivy Nwogu, PharmD and Megan Supple, PharmD, BCACP, CPP

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Bursting the Steroid Bubble: Short-term Use Has Its Consequences

Short courses of corticosteroids, also known as “steroid bursts,” are frequently utilized in both pediatrics and adults; however, evidence supporting the safety of these bursts is lacking. Long-term use of oral corticosteroids is associated with a number of serious adverse effects.  New evidence suggests that a steroid burst is not risk-free.

Guest Authors:  Irene Ruiz, PharmD and Kristine A. Parbuoni, PharmD, BCPPS

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Guiding Antiplatelet Therapy: Is a Personalized Approach Worth It?

Variability in clopidogrel pharmacokinetics among patients has been appreciated for years and this results in inconsistent effects on platelet inhibition and poor outcomes. Multiple strategies to personalize antiplatelet therapy intended to balance the risks and benefits of therapy have been tested. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis attempts to answer the question: Is a personalized approach worth it?

Guest Authors:  Kiana R. Green, PharmD and Augustus (Rob) Hough, PharmD, BCPS, BCCP

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Psilocybin for Depression: Is it Worth the Trip?

Although there are numerous medications available to treat major depressive disorder, not all patients respond, and some experience intolerable side effects. Thus, we need to find and develop new treatment options. There has been considerable interest in psychedelic compounds that may have antidepressant activity. Recent research using psychedelics for mental health conditions has made news headlines, but most health professionals have only a vague awareness about psilocybin and its potential role.

Guest Authors:  Brittany L. Parmentier, PharmD, MPH, BCPS, BCPP and Andria F. Church, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP

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Up the Creek Without a Paddle? Look to Your Pharmacist to Bridge-It

Nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended and a high percentage of unwanted pregnancies lead to an abortion. Reducing the number of unintended pregnancies and increasing the use of effective birth control are two public health priorities. Could the implementation of pharmacist contraception prescribing combined with EC on the same day help “bridge the gap?”

Guest Authors:  Ashley H. Meredith, PharmD, MPH, BCACP, BCPS, CDCES and Veronica P. Vernon, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, NCMP

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SGLT2i plus MRAs for Heart Failure: A Sweet or Sour Combination?

We now have “diabetes medications” to treat heart failure with reduced ejection practice (HFrEF). Many clinicians have not yet used a sodium-glucose transporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) for the treatment of HF and are (rightfully) concerned about potential drug-drug interactions, particularly when using an SGTL2i with a mineralocorticoid (MRA). A recent secondary analysis using data from the EMPEROR-Reduced study may provide some reassurance.

Guest Authors:  B. Blake Miller, PharmD, BCPS and Jennifer Clements, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, CDCES, BC-ADM

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