For some patients with peripheral artery disease, exercise can be impractical or impossible. Could the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists offer new hope for restoring movement and quality of life?

Guest Authors: Minitha Jacob, PharmD and Sherry Laguardia, PharmD, BCACP

Special Guest: Kristin Watson, PharmD, BCCP

Music by Good Talk

The BedMed study attempted to resolve a longstanding debate: Does the timing of administration for antihypertensive medication matter?  As it turns out, the timing of medication administration isn't terribly important so long as the medication is taken consistently.

Guest Authors:  Stefanie C. Nigro, PharmD, BCACP and Eric J MacLaughlin, PharmD, BCPS

Music by Good Talk

This iForumRx podcast episode, produced in collaboration with the ACCP Ambulatory Care Practice and Research Network (PRN), focuses on layered-learning and how to structure your practice to engage learners at different levels of experience.

Expert panelists Dr. Adenike Atanda-Oshikoya, Dr. Michelle Patterson, and Dr. Michelle Musser share their experiences working with students and residents.

Arm position can affect blood pressure accuracy. The ARMS study evaluated the effect of arm position on blood pressure readings, with implications for health care providers and patients with uncontrolled hypertension.

Guests: Emily Nuttall, PharmD, MBA and Tracie Eshelbrenner, PharmD, BCPS

Music by Good Talk

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) poses a significant challenge because of its heterogeneous nature and the scarcity of therapies that meaningfully alter its course. The SUMMIT study evaluated the impact of tirzepatide on symptoms and mortality in people with HFpEF and obesity.

Guests: Jennifer N. Clements, Pharm.D., FCCP, FADCES, BCPS, BCACP, BC-ADM, CDCES and Dawn C. Fuke, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCACP

Music by Good Talk

This iForumRx podcast episode, produced in collaboration with the ACCP Ambulatory Care Practice and Research Network (PRN), focuses on the crucial role pharmacists can play in caring for the LGBTQIA+ community. The discussion highlights the unique healthcare needs and barriers faced by this community due to societal stigma.

Expert panelists Dr. Jordan Rowe, Dr. Sarah Amering, and Dr. Kevin Astle share their experiences in providing gender-affirming care and addressing health disparities. They discuss common health problems, medication considerations, and essential resources for pharmacists seeking to enhance their knowledge and expertise. The episode also addresses the impact of current political landscapes on patient access to care and how pharmacists can advocate for and support LGBTQIA+ individuals.

Artificial intelligence (AI) will bring many opportunities to the pharmacy profession, but it can be tempting to use AI in place of critical thinking or reliable research around drug information questions (DIQs). One must wonder, will the pharmacist be held liable if AI gets it wrong?

Guest Authors: Elizabeth B. Hearn, PharmD, BCACP, CDCES; Karlyn E. Hood, PharmD, BCPS; Abigail L. Torres, PharmD

Music by Good Talk

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes; also known as e-cigs, electronic nicotine delivery systems, vapes, mods, pods, and vape pens) have surged in popularity since their market introduction in 2007. Some view e-cigarettes as a less harmful alternative to traditional cigarettes and a potential harm reduction strategy. Others worry about their addictive potential and see them as a setback in our quest for a tobacco-free society.

Guest Authors: Elizabeth S. Yett, PharmD, BCACP, CTTS and Kirk E. Evoy, PharmD, BCACP, BC-ADM, CTTS

Music by Good Talk

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are underdiagnosed due to the underuse of spirometry, underreporting of symptoms, and economic barriers.  Is there an effective way to capture undiagnosed but symptomatic patients and route them for appropriately managing their respiratory symptoms?  That's what the UCAP study attempted to answer.

Guest Authors:  Michelle Balli, PharmD, BCACP and Michelle Hernandez, PharmD

Music by Good Talk

Despite advances in the management of acute myocardial infarction (MI), up to 38% of patients will experience signs of heart failure (HF) and many have a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have well-documented cardiovascular benefits. However, data are limited regarding their use after an acute MI.

Guest Authors: Amy Hu, PharmD and Kathleen Pincus, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, CDCES

Music by Good Talk

One of the most debilitating aspects of dementia is the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) that impact nearly 90% of patients. These symptoms significantly diminish the quality of life and functional abilities of those affected. To combat the most severe of these symptoms, antipsychotic medications are often prescribed, but not without possibly harmful consequences. A new study sheds additional light on these detrimental consequences.

Guest Authors:  Melissa C. Palmer, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP and Jessa Marie Koch, PharmD, APh, BCPP

Music by Good Talk

It is still difficult for patients to quit despite their best efforts. Of the nearly 70% of current smokers who want to quit smoking, only about 7.5% succeed.  Unfortunately, there is a lack of evidence to inform subsequent treatment strategies if the initial quit attempt is unsuccessful.

Guest Authors:  Elizabeth Yett, PharmD, BCACP, TTS and Katherine Montag Schafer, PharmD, BCACP, CDCES

Music by Good Talk

Reason for Visit: The patient is a 76-year-old Hispanic referred to the ambulatory care pharmacist for dyslipidemia management.  The patient has a remote history of an MI (15 years ago) but states he is unable to take statins.

Guest Authors: Mayela Warner, PharmD and Maricar Conson, PharmD, BCPS

Expert Panelists: Sara Wettergreen, PharmD, BCACP, BC-ADM and Tomasz Jurga, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, BCCP, CDCES

Music by Good Talk

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors are one of the established treatments used to slow the progression of CKD and improve outcomes.  Could perhaps the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists provide similar, additive, or different benefits in patients with CKD? 

Guest Author: John Swegle, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP 

Music by Good Talk

Over the last several decades, the popularity of cannabis (aka marijuana, weed) has increased significantly, and the recognition of medical benefits is evolving. Cannabis is often celebrated in popular culture as a relaxation-promoting, pain-relieving, harmless substance, and its use among young adults and pregnant women is increasing steadily.  A recently published ancillary analysis of the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-Be (nuMoM2b) aimed to characterize the association between maternal cannabis use and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Guest Author: Courtney Cameron, PharmD, BCACP

Special Guest: Leah Sera, PharmD, MA, BCPS

Music by Good Talk

This episode is a collaboration between the ACCP Ambulatory Care Practice and Research Network (PRN) ... and iForumRx.org.

We speak with three panelists who describe the use of remote patient monitoring within their cardiology practices.  From measuring weight, blood pressure, heart rate, blood glucose, and even pulmonary artery pressure, the use of remote patient monitoring devices has the potential to revolutionize patient care by making more data available "real-time" and engaging patients more in their care.  Nonetheless, there are significant barriers too. 

Panelists:  Christine Cadiz PharmD, BCPS; Rachel Klosko, PharmD, BCCP, and Aimon Miranda, PharmD, BCPS

Produced by  Rebecca Khaimova, PharmD, BCACP, CDCES and Anna K Love, PharmD, BCACP

Music by lemonmusicstudio from Pixabay

It is now uncommon to see warfarin therapy initiated for stroke prevention. However, quality patient care is never a “one-size-fits-all” approach.  New evidence from the FRAIL-AF trial suggests that some of our most vulnerable older adults might be better off maintained on a vitamin K antagonist rather than (automatically) switched to a direct oral anticoagulation (DOAC).  

Guest Author:  Matthew Cantrell, PharmD, BCPS

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Reason for Visit:  Patient presents today for routine follow-up in the heart failure clinic to optimize his medications.

Guest Authors: Jushua W. Skaggs, PharmD, and Jessica Wooster Thomas, PharmD, BCACP

Expert Panelists: Kristin Watson, PharmD, MS, BCCP and Robert DiDomenico, PharmD

Music by Good Talk

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are the standard of care for stroke prevention in most patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Data on the safety and efficacy of DOACS in patients with obesity are limited and, at times, contradictory.  What would you recommend for a patient with a BMI>40: warfarin, which requires periodic monitoring and dose adjustments, or a DOAC, which may not be as effective?

Guest Authors: Taylor M. Benavides, PharmD, BCPS and Elizabeth B. Hearn, PharmD, BCACP

Music by Good Talk

This episode is a collaboration between the ACCP Ambulatory Care Practice and Research Network (PRN) ... and iForumRx.org.

The treatment of COPD has evolved significant over the past few years.  The GOLD classification system was recently changed with a greater focus on exacerbations, and the role of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) is limited to those with evidence of inflammation.  Pharmacists can play a critical and positive role in the lives of people with COPD by encouraging lifestyle changes, administering vaccines to immunize against respiratory illnesses, ensuring proper inhaler technique, and assisting with medication access.

Panelists:  Melissa Lipari, PharmD, BCACP; Thomas Levi Lancaster, PharmD, BCACP, BC-ADM; and Rachel Basinger, PharmD, BCACP, CTTS, DipACLM

Produced by  Rebecca Khaimova, PharmD, BCACP, CDCES and Anna K Love, PharmD, BCACP

Music by lemonmusicstudio from Pixabay