You’ve probably encountered many patients who have experienced muscle symptoms after starting a statin.  Statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS) contribute to treatment discontinuation and significantly increase cardiovascular (CV) adverse events and mortality. What strategies do you recommend to increase statin tolerance? 

Guest Author:  Rick Hess, PharmD, CDCES, BCACP

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

Measuring blood pressure (BP) and managing hypertension are among the essential roles that pharmacists play in ambulatory care and community-based practice environments.  This program is a question-and-answer session as a follow-up to the Ambulatory Care PRN program at the 2022 ACCP Global Conference on Clinical Pharmacy.  The panelists answer YOUR questions about the role of manual vs. automated BP readings, using self-monitored BP readings to make clinical decisions, 24-hour ambulatory care BP monitoring, and bedtime administration of antihypertensive agents.

Guests:  Andrew Hwang, PharmD, BCPS; Dr. Anthony Ishak, PharmD, BCPS, and Dr. Lalita Prasad-Reddy, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP

Produced by Jonathan Hughes, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP and Anna Love, PharmD, BCACP

Music by lemonmusicstudio from Pixabay

Patient for pharmacists' patient care services remains a challenge.  While provider status at the federal level has not yet been realized, there has been a steady growth of payers and programs covering services provided by pharmacists in recent years.

Guest Author: E. Michael Murphy, PharmD, MBA

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Reason for Visit: The patient is here today for hypotension and diabetes follow-up. The primary care physician has consulted the clinical pharmacist regarding hypotension.

Chief Complaint: “I feel dizzy when I stand up and feel like my heart is racing. I have never passed out, but it feels like I might, and I usually have to sit back down."

Guest Authors:  Kellie Ball, PharmD and Johnathon Proctor, PharmD

Expert Panelists:  Morgan Weaver Godfrey, PharmD, BCPS and Richard J. Silvia, PharmD, BCPP

Currently, there are no known safe, effective, and inexpensive ways that can prevent or reduce the risk of developing autoimmune diseases. Any strategy that could reduce the chances of developing an autoimmune disorder would be welcomed by practitioners and patients alike.  Perhaps vitamin D and omega 3 fatty acid supplementation can get the job done.

Guest Authors: Rileigh Provenza, PharmD and Nicole Slater, PharmD, BCACP

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Obesity is a chronic, progressive, multi-factorial, neurobehavioral disease characterized by excessive adipose tissue.  Here are some things every clinician should know about treating overweight and obesity but be sure to read the written commentary posted on iForumRx.org

Guest Authors:  Jennifer N. Clements, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, CDCES, BC-ADM and Seena L. Haines, PharmD., BCACP, NBC-HWC, CHWC

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Hyperkalemia is a common electrolyte disorder in patients with CKD that can be exacerbated by renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors. While hyperkalemia poses potential risks to patients with CKD, the potentially negative impact of discontinuing RAAS inhibitor therapy on long-term renal and cardiovascular outcomes in CKD patients is unclear.

Guest Author: Michelle A. Fravel, PharmD, BCPS

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Reason for Visit: JS was referred by her PCP to the ambulatory care pharmacist for contraceptive counseling.

Chief Complaint: “I think I’m leaning more towards the pill, but I’m really open to anything. It’s also itchy again down there, probably another yeast infection.”

Guest Author:  Elizabeth Salisbury, PharmD

Expert Panelists:  Ashley Meredith, PharmD, MPH, BCACP; Rebecca Stone, PharmD, BCACP, and Sally Rafie, PharmD, BCPS

Wanna earn continuing pharmacy education (CPE) for this program?  Be sure to log-in to the iForumRx website, review the case, listen to the podcast, and scroll to the bottom of the page to claim CE.

Check out the Birth Control Pharmacist website.

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What is the secret to staying up to date with clinical updates, tips for flourishing in your practice and life, and inspirational stories about pharmacist entrepreneurs…all at the click of a button? No, it is not magic. It is a podcast!

Guest Authors: Elizabeth Yett, PharmD, BCACP, TTS and Elizabeth Hearn, PharmD, BCACP

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Would you be willing to pay three times more for a brand-name levothyroxine product than a generic equivalent? Clinical practice guidelines recommend against switching between products. As a result, levothyroxine has higher brand-name product dispensing rates than other medications, costing patients and the healthcare system much more money.

Guest Authors:  Connie Liang, PharmD and Kathleen Pincus, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP

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