Blog - Med Ed 101

Rytary (Carbidopa-Levodopa ER) in Parkinson’s Disease

Date February 24, 2021 Author By Eric Christianson Category Parkinsons

Parkinson’s disease (PD) has long presented challenges in medication delivery. A staple in more advanced disease control, carbidopa-levodopa requires multiple daily dosing with supratherapeutic levels leading to dyskinesias and subtherapeutic concentrations leading to troublesome “off” time. Sinemet (carbidopa-levodopa), Sinemet Controlled-Release (CR), and their respective generic equivalents have been used in PD for decades, but leave […]

Doxepin Pharmacodynamics: Indication or Adverse Effect?

Date February 21, 2021 Author By Eric Christianson Category Insomnia

Doxepin is a tricyclic antidepressant first approved for the treatment of depression in 1969 by the FDA. Tricyclic antidepressants are famous for their anticholinergic adverse effects including sedation and have been replaced by better-tolerated medications as first-line agents for depression. Doxepin pharmacodynamics helps determine what indications it may be beneficial for. Doxepin specifically, has a […]

Indication Guides Dosing – Primidone and Escitalopram

Date February 17, 2021 Author By Eric Christianson Category Psych

There are numerous examples of where the indication guides dosing. It is important as a pharmacist to remember this when you see unusual doses. I wanted to share a couple of examples that I came across recently. Escitalopram When using psychiatric medications, we must recognize how important the diagnosis is. I was reviewing a medication […]

Medications That Interfere With Continuous Glucose Monitoring

Date February 14, 2021 Author By Eric Christianson Category Diabetes

Technology continues to impact disease state management in remarkable ways. Monitoring of patients with diabetes is no exception. Both the American Diabetes Association and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists/American College of Endocrinology make light of this in their most recent guidelines for usage of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices. Broadening language now recommends consideration of […]

Cyclobenzaprine And The Prescribing Cascade

Date February 10, 2021 Author By Eric Christianson Category Pain, Polypharmacy

Cyclobenzaprine (podcast episode) is a skeletal muscle relaxant that is most commonly used for muscle spasms and back pain. It definitely has some potential adverse effects that I have seen lead to the prescribing cascade. Here’s a rundown of medications that may help you recognize cyclobenzaprine and the prescribing cascade. Dry Mouth Some of the […]