Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most commonly tested topics across pharmacy board exams. Whether you’re preparing for the NAPLEX, BCPS, BCACP, or another certification exam, mastering rate control, rhythm control, anticoagulation, and key clinical decision...
A 45-year-old woman with a history of bipolar I disorder was recently hospitalized for a manic episode. Following stabilization, her psychiatrist initiated lithium carbonate at 300 mg twice daily for mood stabilization. Her baseline thyroid function tests were within...
It’s not uncommon to see patients in long-term care facilities prescribed medications for anxiety, agitation, or insomnia. Two such medications that can raise red flags are Atarax (hydroxyzine) and Ativan (lorazepam). While both can be appropriate in select...
An 82-year-old woman with a history of mild Alzheimer’s dementia is started on donepezil 10 mg nightly to help with memory and cognitive function. After several weeks, her family reports that she’s been waking up multiple times per night to urinate and has complained...
Diuretics are most frequently used for hypertension and to remove excess fluid from the body. The use of diuretics can often cause the prescribing cascade. In this post, I’ll share 3 of my most common examples of diuretics and the prescribing cascade I’ve...
In this case scenario, I review a common situation I’ve encountered with duplicate antidepressant therapy. JS is a 67-year-old male with a history of type 2 diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, and depression. He has been taking sertraline (podcast) 100 mg daily for...
