The Drug Chat with Dr. Wambui

We've reached the final episode of our dyslipidemia series! In this episode, we explore several additional lipid-lowering therapies, including fibrates, niacin, omega-3 fatty acids, and Evkeeza (evinacumab). Join me as we discuss how these agents fit into the management of dyslipidemia and wrap up our journey through the world of cholesterol and lipid management. Thank you for listening!

Another incredible discovery inside the human body—our built-in recycling system and its surprising role in cholesterol control. What happens when that recycle bin works… or doesn’t? Welcome to the fascinating world of the enzyme PCSK9.

The human body is remarkably efficient—we’re built with a “waste not” mindset, constantly recycling what we can. Bile acid sequestrants tap directly into that system, turning one of our body’s recycling pathways into a powerful tool for lowering cholesterol.

Cholesterol doesn't just come from one place.... so let's treat it with more than one approach. In this episode we discuss a unique class that works in your gut to block cholesterol even before it enters your bloodstream.

Welcome to those that inhibit the "De Novo Synthesis" of cholesterol. We talk about the statins and the new kid on the block Bempedoic acid brand name Nexletol.

Not all cholesterol is created equal. In this episode, we breakdown dyslipidemia, review the major lipoproteins, and work through a patient case where the numbers signal rising ASCVD risk - connecting the dots.

We are at the end of the road of our anti-platelet pathway exploration!!!! We look at 2 different ways of inhibiting the platelets from forming a clot and the different patient populations that these drugs are used. Hooray to the anti-platelets though I'm sure this isn't the end there must be another novel/cutting edge therapy just around the corner that a scientist/discoverer is just abou...

In today's episode I give a gigantic high five to our scientists/discoveres! Figuring out yet another way to stop clot formation by working out the puzzle of how platelets work to form a clot. With that worked out they then make drugs that put a stop 🛑 to this and voila.... no clots are formed.

What a lovely name to pronounce Thienopyridines! Another nugget as to how platelets work to cause clots to form and how this class stops that from happening. Very Sci-Fi how these platelets work.

In the year 1899 (others say 1897) Asprin was marketed by Bayer Pharmaceuticals. Yep and we still use it today talk of super drug. It's used and indicated in many areas but again tunnel vision in this episode where we are specifically interested in how are clots not formed when asprin is around.

It's a wrap with the anticoagulants! The DTIs some interesting fun facts especially the one that has to do with Leeches 😊! They came into the market in the 2000s and have been very helpful on this anti-coagulation journey.

Our amazing discoverers/scientists are always at work and in the years of 2000s they gave us this class. The other oral anticoagulants besides Warfarin. Factor 10a inhibitors part of the coagulation cascade a genius way to stop that clot.

We continue with our oldies but goodies. Heparin was first discovered in 1916!!! Ofcourse we have improved on it since then but they all basically work the same way. Still a huge part of our treatment protocols.

Warfarin is over 60 YEARS OLD yet it's the most prescribed oral anticoagulant. Listen up, refresh yourself on this oldie but really a good goodie.

A stroke is an emergency! We need to break down that clot, enter the thrombo(clot) lytics(disintegrate) class of drugs.

In this episode we discuss strokes. The leading cause of disability, dementia and death globally. We answer questions like what causes a stroke and the types of strokes. This is an important conversation especially with the statistics that are out there. 

It's the last few classes of the anti-hypertensive drugs. You may not use this routinely but...... they do lower blood pressure. Very interesting how these work. Or bodies are truly a work of art.

I am sure you have heard them called the "water pill" here is your opportunity to learn or remind thyself of exactly how does this reduce volume (make me pee more). Nope this is not a weight loss drug. 

Hey Podcasters! Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs). Calcium is found in lots of places in your body but in this episode we stay in the heart and how calcium is used on a normal working day in your heart.. then we plug in the CCBs to treat hypertension. Listen up inquisitives.

The second of the RAAS system blockers! Very similar to the ACE Inhibitors with a little twist. "And all the Sartans assembled........."

Here we are with the ACE Inhibitors!! Yet another versatile class of drugs and oh how smart those scientists were to discover them. Listen up.

First of these drugs has been around since the 1960s!! We still use them. Some important info especially on the Side Effects.... Listen up!

Whichever set of data you look at globally or within your country cardiovascular diseases leads in the causes of death. Hypertension or High Blood Pressure is a risk factor for these diseases. In this session we will as usual check out how the body works on a normal day then apply the drugs that we use to treat. Stay tuned.......

The description of how these drugs work is like a really good Sci-Fi movie! It's the last class of the antiretroviral drugs we look at. The first novel ARV drug in over a decade is in this class. Listen up!!

In this class, the virus is inside the cell however we stop its replication by inhibiting yet another enzyme. Just this year this class got a new drug, how encouraging is that! We are still adding on to the ARVs who knows cure could be around the corner.