Real Life Pharmacology - Pharmacology Education for Health Care Professionals

On this podcast episode, I cover the basics of NSAIDs, including how they work, what they are used for, significant drug interactions, and what adverse effects are important to monitor. I’ll educate about some of the major risks associated with NSAIDs and what I look out for as a practicing pharmacist. Be sure to check out our free Top 200 study guide – a 31 page PDF that is yours for...

In this episode of Real Life Pharmacology, we’re taking a closer look at three unique opioids: tramadol, tapentadol, and meperidine. These medications have some important differences in their mechanisms, clinical uses, drug interactions, and safety concerns. We’ll review the key pharmacology and practical clinical pearls you should know when using these opioids in real-world practice. Be sure to c...

In this episode of Real Life Pharmacology, we’re taking a closer look at two unique opioids: methadone and buprenorphine. Both medications have important roles in pain management and opioid use disorder, but their pharmacology, dosing, drug interactions, and safety considerations are quite different. We’ll review the key clinical pearls you need to know when using these medications in real-world p...

On this podcast episode, we will explore the most important practice pearls of codeine and fentanyl. Both medications are opioids, but codeine is frequently found in combination with acetaminophen. Fentanyl has numerous unique dosage forms, including the transdermal formulation which is a source of frequent test questions. I break these two medications down in this podcast episode.

In Part 2 of my series on opioids, I cover hydromorphone, oxycodone, and oxymorphone. Hydromorphone and oxycodone are two opioids that are used frequently in clinical practice, and I will discuss what makes them unique, in addition to numerous other practice pearls and test prep nuggets. Enjoy the podcast and be sure to share it with friends, colleagues, and students! Be sure to check out our free...

On part 1 of opioids, I’ll discuss morphine, morphine equivalents, conversion, and hydrocodone. The pharmacokinetic differences will be important between opioids, as well as the dosage forms. I hope you enjoy this podcast episode and share it with your friends! 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 Th...

On this episode of the Real Life Pharmacology podcast, I’m going to cover important practice pearls on skeletal muscle relaxants. Important medications that will be covered in this podcast include baclofen, cyclobenzaprine, tizanidine, and diazepam. 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...

Abdominal cramping and intestinal spasms are common complaints in patients with conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Two of the most frequently prescribed medications for these symptoms are dicyclomine and hyoscyamine. These medications work by blocking muscarinic receptors, reducing smooth muscle contractions in the gastrointestinal tract and helping relieve painful spasms. While th...

Heartburn is one of the most common gastrointestinal complaints, and antacids remain a go-to option for fast symptom relief. In this episode, we’ll discuss how common antacids like calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide, and sodium bicarbonate work to neutralize stomach acid. We’ll also review their advantages, common adverse effects, important drug interactions, an...

Gastroparesis can be a frustrating condition for both patients and clinicians, with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, early satiety, bloating, and poor glycemic control significantly affecting quality of life. Medication management often requires balancing effectiveness with safety, especially since many commonly prescribed drugs can either improve or worsen gastric emptying. In this episode of t...

H2 blockers may not receive as much attention as proton pump inhibitors, but they continue to play an important role in managing acid-related disorders. In this episode of the Real Life Pharmacology podcast, we’ll review how H2 blockers work, compare the available agents, discuss important adverse effects, renal dose adjustments, drug interactions, and identify the patients who are most like...

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are among the most commonly prescribed medications, but understanding how they work is essential for using them safely and effectively. In this episode of the Real Life Pharmacology podcast, we’ll break down the pharmacology of PPIs, including their mechanism of action, common brand and generic names, clinical uses, adverse effects, drug interactions, and import...

On this podcast episode, I cover commonly used medications for opioid use disorder. Buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone are all potential options in OUD. I’ll discuss the pharmacology of each medication and the most common practice pearls that will show up in practice and on your board exams. Be sure to check out our free Top 200 study guide – a 31 page PDF that is yours for FREE!...

Naltrexone is often a first-line medication for AUD. It works as an opioid receptor antagonist, reducing the rewarding effects of alcohol and decreasing cravings. Patients frequently report that alcohol becomes less pleasurable while taking the medication. Oral naltrexone is typically dosed at 50 mg daily, while a long-acting injectable formulation is also available. Avoid use in patients taking o...

In this episode, we explore monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), one of the oldest yet most effective classes of antidepressants. We discuss how MAOIs such as phenelzine, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, and selegiline work by increasing serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine levels in the brain. The episode reviews their unique role in treatment-resistant and atypical depression, key adverse eff...

I cover the most important insomnia medications. We cover adverse effects, drug monitoring, and much more. You can find the full 16+ hour nursing pharmacology review course, including PDF handouts, cheat sheets, practice questions, and on-demand videos  at meded101.com!

In this episode, we explore four unique antidepressants that do not fit neatly into the traditional SSRI or SNRI categories: trazodone, nefazodone, vilazodone, and vortioxetine. Trazodone and nefazodone are classified as serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitors (SARIs), working primarily through blockade of 5-HT2 receptors while also inhibiting serotonin reuptake. Trazodone’s strong anti...

In this section, I educate about the most common ICU sedation medications. You can find the full 16+ hour nursing pharmacology review course, including PDF handouts, cheat sheets, practice questions, and on-demand videos  at meded101.com!

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are a class of antidepressants that increase serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain. Common agents include venlafaxine (Effexor XR), desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), duloxetine (Cymbalta), levomilnacipran (Fetzima), and milnacipran (Savella). In addition to treating depression and anxiety disorders, several SNRIs have important pain indicatio...

Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV, remains one of the most important infectious diseases in modern healthcare, but advances in antiretroviral therapy have transformed it from a fatal diagnosis into a manageable chronic condition for many patients. In this episode, we’ll break down the major medication classes used to treat HIV, discuss how these drugs work, review key adverse effects and drug i...

Mirtazapine is a unique antidepressant often chosen when depression occurs alongside insomnia or poor appetite. Its antihistamine activity makes it sedating, particularly at lower doses, and it commonly increases appetite and weight. Unlike many SSRIs, mirtazapine has a lower risk of sexual dysfunction and gastrointestinal side effects because it blocks 5-HT2 and 5-HT3 receptors. It is frequently...

Fungal infections are commonly encountered across healthcare settings, ranging from oral thrush and vaginal yeast infections to serious systemic infections in critically ill patients. In this episode, we’ll review the major antifungal medications nurses should know, including azoles, echinocandins, polyenes, and topical antifungals. We’ll focus on practical nursing considerations such as monitorin...

Welcome to today’s episode on the tricyclic antidepressants, commonly known as TCAs — one of the foundational medication classes in psychopharmacology. Although newer antidepressants like SSRIs often dominate modern prescribing, TCAs remain highly relevant in clinical practice because of their effectiveness in treatment-resistant depression, chronic pain syndromes, migraine prevention, insomnia, a...

This nursing pharmacology review covers the essential antiviral medications commonly encountered in clinical practice and on nursing exams. The video explains how antiviral drugs work, what infections they treat, and the key nursing considerations for safe medication administration and monitoring. Major medications discussed may include acyclovir, valacyclovir, oseltamivir, antiretroviral therapy,...

SSRI adverse effects are critical to know. In part 2 of this 2-part series on SSRIs, we cover the most important adverse effects to know, in addition to putting a nice bow on the most important clinical practice pearls on each SSRI. Enjoy the show! 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 Resourc...