I love reducing medications and tackling polypharmacy, but it needs to be done the right way. There are numerous medications you shouldn’t stop abruptly. I lay out my most important list of dangerous medications and the serious consequences that can result if...
Caffeine is one of the most commonly used drugs that is widely available and put into numerous energy drinks. Of course, caffeine is also contained within coffee which I would suspect many of you drink on a regular basis. I think it is very important to ask about...
JA is a 61 year old male who has a past medical history of hypertension, diabetes, anemia, and arthritis. His current medications include metoprolol 25 mg BID, hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg once daily, lisinopril 10 mg daily, metformin 500 mg BID, ferrous sulfate 325 mg...
In most clinical situations, I’m a stickler for trying to prevent the prescribing cascade. I lay out hundreds of polypharmacy case examples including the prescribing cascade in my highly rated book Perils of Polypharmacy. The prescribing cascade is simply...
LT is a 67-year-old white male presenting to your ambulatory care clinic for a CMR. He says his wife tells him he is taking too many medications and he wants your help evaluating his current regimen. Recent issues have been a rash due to dermatitis for which he was...
In the case below, I discuss constipation management and how to reduce polypharmacy by targeting medications that cause this adverse effect. KE is a 77-year-old male with a history of GERD, pruritis, insomnia, low back pain, and recent knee replacement. Constipation...
