Author: Eric Christianson

Meded101 Guide to Nursing Pharmacology (Amazon Highly Rated)

Guide to Drug Food Interactions (Amazon Best Seller)

January 23, 2025January 23, 2025

Top 200 Drugs – Medications 166-170

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:06 — 11.5MB) | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

Today’s sponsor is Freed AI! Freed’s AI medical scribe listens, transcribes, and writes notes for you. Over 15,000 healthcare professionals use Freed and you should too! Learn more here!

On this episode of the Top 200 Drugs podcast from Real Life Pharmacology, we cover Percocet, Epogen, quetiapine, glimepiride, and tirzepatide. These are drugs 166-170.

Percocet is a combination analgesic. It contains acetaminophen and oxycodone. Pay attention to acetaminophen intake from all sources when patients are on this medication.

Epogen (epoetin alfa) stimulates the production of red blood cells. This medication can be useful in treating anemia.

Quetiapine (Seroquel) is an antipsychotic. It is often used in patients with hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease because it has a lower potential to block dopamine receptors compared to other antipsychotics.

Glimepiride is a sulfonylurea. This medication stimulates the release of insulin which can help lower blood sugars in diabetes.

Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) is a combination GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist that can be used for weight loss and the treatment of diabetes.

Be sure to check out our free Top 200 study guide – a 31 page PDF that is yours for FREE!

Support The Podcast and Check Out These Amazing Resources!

Meded101 Guide to Nursing Pharmacology (Amazon Highly Rated)

Guide to Drug Food Interactions (Amazon Best Seller)

January 16, 2025January 13, 2025

Top 200 Drugs – Medications 161-165

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:11 — 22.1MB) | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

On this podcast episode of the top 200 drugs, I’m covering liraglutide, folic acid, clotrimazole, empagliflozin, and semaglutide.

Liraglutide is a GLP-1 agonist that can be used for weight loss as well as diabetes. The most common adverse effect of this medication is nausea.

Folic acid is a commonly used supplement in pregnancy as well as in those patients taking methotrexate. Deficiency of folic acid can lead to anemia.

Clotrimazole is an antifungal agent. It is mostly used for topical purposes such as athlete’s foot and vaginal yeast infections.

Empagliflozin was originally developed as a diabetes medication but can be helpful in patients with heart failure and CKD. I discuss this in greater detail in the podcast.

Semaglutide is another GLP-1 agonist that is used for diabetes care as well as weight loss. The formulation used for diabetes is Ozempic while the weight loss product is Wegovy.

Be sure to check out our free Top 200 study guide – a 31 page PDF that is yours for FREE!

Support The Podcast and Check Out These Amazing Resources!

Meded101 Guide to Nursing Pharmacology (Amazon Highly Rated)

Guide to Drug Food Interactions (Amazon Best Seller)

January 9, 2025January 6, 2025

Top 200 Drugs – Medications 156-160

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:05 — 11.0MB) | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

Welcome back to the Real Life Pharmacology podcast! We are on the home stretch of the top 200 medications. This is meant to be a quicker refresher of some of the most important drugs you’ll come across in practice. Please be sure to go search the archives at RealLifePharmacology.com if you are looking for more information on one specific medication. We have over 300 individual episodes on specific drugs!

On this episode of the Top 200 medications, we’ve covered the medications below.

Niaspan (niacin) is vitamin B3 and may be used in patients who fail other therapies for triglyceride management.

Uroxatral (alfuzosin) is a selective alpha-blocker that can be helpful in relieving urinary retention symptoms in BPH.

Biaxin (clarithromycin) is a macrolide antibiotic that is notorious for many drug interactions because it inhibits CYP3A4.

Zomig (zolmitriptan) is a “triptan” medication that can be used for the acute relief of migraine headaches.

Invokana (canagliflozin) was one of the first SGLT2 inhibitors invented that can be used to lower blood sugar in type 2 diabetes.

Be sure to check out our free Top 200 study guide – a 31 page PDF that is yours for FREE!

Support The Podcast and Check Out These Amazing Resources!

Meded101 Guide to Nursing Pharmacology (Amazon Highly Rated)

Guide to Drug Food Interactions (Amazon Best Seller)

January 2, 2025December 30, 2024

Top 200 Drugs Podcast – Medications 151-155

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:51 — 10.5MB) | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

Today’s sponsor is Freed AI! Freed’s AI medical scribe listens, transcribes, and writes notes for you. Over 15,000 healthcare professionals use Freed and you should too! Learn more here!

On this episode of the Top 200 Drugs Podcast, I cover medications 151-155. This podcast includes; cefuroxime, ketoconazole, pregabalin, esomeprazole, and ipratropium/albuterol.

Cefuroxime is a 2nd generation cephalosporin that has a very similar bacterial coverage profile to amoxicillin. It has significant gram positive coverage.

Ketoconazole is an azole antifungal medication. It is well known for causing hepatotoxicity as well as interactions via CYP3A4.

Pregabalin has a lot of similarities with gabapentin. It can be used fo various pain syndromes such as neuropathy and fibromyalgia.

Esomeprazole is a PPI and has a similar profile to omeprazole. It inhibits CYP2C19 and has a few notable interactions that I cover in this episode.

Ipratropium and albuterol is a combination of a short acting anticholinergic and short acting beta agonist.

Be sure to check out our free Top 200 study guide – a 31 page PDF that is yours for FREE!

Support The Podcast and Check Out These Amazing Resources!

Meded101 Guide to Nursing Pharmacology (Amazon Highly Rated)

Guide to Drug Food Interactions (Amazon Best Seller)

December 26, 2024December 22, 2024

Top 200 Drugs Podcast – Medications 146-150

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:03 — 21.1MB) | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

Today’s sponsor is Freed AI! Freed’s AI medical scribe listens, transcribes, and writes notes for you. Over 15,000 healthcare professionals use Freed and you should too! Learn more here!

On this episode of the Top 200 Drugs Podcast, I cover medications 146-150. This podcast includes; sevelamer, dalteparin, sertraline, clonazepam, and irbesartan.

Sevelamer is a phosphate binder that is used to treat hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Dalteparin is a low molecular weight heparin product that is used to prevent and treat blood clots.

Sertraline is a commonly used SSRI that can be helpful in managing depression and anxiety.

Clonazepam is a benzodiazepine that can be used for acute relief of anxiety. Sedation, confusion, and fall risk are potential adverse effects.

Irbesartan is an ARB that can be used for hypertension. Hyperkalemia and angioedema are two adverse effects to be aware of.

Be sure to check out our free Top 200 study guide – a 31 page PDF that is yours for FREE!

December 19, 2024December 19, 2024

Top 200 Drugs Podcast – Medications 141-145

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:30 — 22.4MB) | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

On this top 200 drugs podcast, we are covering medications 141-145. Raltegravir, ustekinumab, meloxicam, infliximab, and Nighttime Cold and Flu are the medications that are covered on this episode.

Raltegravir is an integrase inhibitor that is used to manage HIV infection and may also be used for post-exposure prophylaxis.

Ustekinumab is a monoclonal antibody that can help reduce inflammation by binding interleukins.

Meloxicam is an NSAID used for pain and anti-inflammatory purposes. GI bleeding risk is a top adverse effect to monitor for.

Infliximab is a monoclonal antibody that can be used for autoimmune disorders such as psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease.

Nighttime Cold and Flu medication is a combination product that often includes acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, and doxylamine.

Be sure to check out our free Top 200 study guide – a 31 page PDF that is yours for FREE!

Support The Podcast and Check Out These Amazing Resources!

Meded101 Guide to Nursing Pharmacology (Amazon Highly Rated)

Guide to Drug Food Interactions (Amazon Best Seller)

December 12, 2024December 11, 2024

Top 200 Drugs Podcast – Medications 136-140

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:59 — 19.2MB) | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

On this episode, I cover cinacalcet, solifenacin, haloperidol, hydrocortisone (focused on topical), and insulin NPH.

Cinacalcet is a calcimimetic medication that can be helpful in hyperparathyroidism and useful for managing hypercalcemia.

Solifenacin is a urinary antimuscarinic used primarily for overactive bladder. It is an anticholinergic medication that can be problematic in our geriatric patients.

Haloperidol is a first generation antipsychotic that has a high incidence of EPS relative to many newer antipsychotics.

Hydrocotorisone is one of the most common topical corticosteroids that can be used to reduce inflammation and redness from skin reactions.

Insulin NPH is an intermediate acting insulin that is meant to be given on a routine basis. It has fallen out of favor since insulin glargine and other long acting agents allow for few injections and more stable kinetics.

Be sure to check out our free Top 200 study guide – a 31 page PDF that is yours for FREE!

Support The Podcast and Check Out These Amazing Resources!

Meded101 Guide to Nursing Pharmacology (Amazon Highly Rated)

Guide to Drug Food Interactions (Amazon Best Seller)

December 5, 2024December 6, 2024

Top 200 Drugs Podcast – Medications 131-135

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:02 — 10.5MB) | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

On this episode of the Top 200 drugs podcast from Real Life Pharmacology, I cover medications 131-135 which include enoxaparin, methylphenidate, rosuvastatin, denosumab, and dabigatran.

Enoxaparin is an injectable anticoagulant that can cause heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

Methylphenidate is a stimulant medication that can be used to treat ADHD. Cardiovascular adverse effects are possible.

Rosuvastatin inhibits HMG-CoA Reductase which helps lower LDL in the management of hypercholesterolemia.

Denosumab is a monoclonal antibody that is indicated for osteoporosis and may cause hypocalcemia.

Dabigatran was one of the first direct oral anticoagulants to be produced. It is dosed twice daily and has warnings about use in patients over the age of 75.

Be sure to check out our free Top 200 study guide – a 31 page PDF that is yours for FREE!

Support The Podcast and Check Out These Amazing Resources!

Meded101 Guide to Nursing Pharmacology (Amazon Highly Rated)

Guide to Drug Food Interactions (Amazon Best Seller)

November 28, 2024November 27, 2024

Top 200 Drugs Podcast – Medications 126-130

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:59 — 11.0MB) | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

In this episode of the Top 200 Drugs Podcast, we cover medications 126-130.

Trastuzumab is a monoclonal antibody that can be used for breast cancer that expresses the HER2 protein.

Atripla is an HIV medication that contains three separate medications that are beneficial in reducing viral load.

Rivaroxaban is an anticoagulant that may be commonly used in the management of stroke and deep vein thrombosis.

Fioricet is a combination of three medications. Butalbital, acetaminophen, and caffeine are the three ingredients in this medication.

Insulin detemir is a long-acting insulin analog that lowers blood sugar. This medication is used to target fasting blood sugars.

Be sure to check out our free Top 200 study guide – a 31 page PDF that is yours for FREE!

Support The Podcast and Check Out These Amazing Resources!

Meded101 Guide to Nursing Pharmacology (Amazon Highly Rated)

Guide to Drug Food Interactions (Amazon Best Seller)