The Singing Stethoscope

The Singing Stethoscope

By The Singing StethoscopeMedicineHealth & FitnessEducation
Download on the App Store

The Singing Stethoscope episodes

  • Doxycycline

    Doxycycline is the first line treatment for Chlamydia

    Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme Disease
    So imagine you’re sitting on a dock by the sea (sounds like Doxycycline)
    And you’re eating clams (think Chlamydia)
    and Rocky Mountain oysters (Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever)
    With a squeeze of lime (for Lyme Disease)
    Doxycycline is the first line treatment for Chlamydia
    Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme Disease
    You’re sitting on a dock by the sea (Doxycycline)
    Eating clams (think Chlamydia)
    and Rocky Mountain oysters (Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever)
    With a squeeze of lime (for Lyme Disease)
    Doxycycline is the first line treatment for Chlamydia
    Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme Disease



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesingingstethoscope.substack.com
    2 min
  • Hepatitis C, Hepatitis D, and Hepatitis E

    Hepatitis C is Hepatitis Chronic

    It’s the most common cause of chronic liver disease
    It’s diagnosed with an HCV antibody test
    Followed by an HCV RNA test please
    It’s mostly transmitted through infected blood
    so IV drug users may be affected
    But now that newer antiviral meds are here
    A full cure is usually possible and expected
    Hepatitis D is Hepatitis Dependent
    Cause it requires a co-infection with Hep B
    So Hep B vaccination can be used for prevention
    And interferon alpha is how to treat it you see
    Hepatitis E is Hepatitis Embryo
    Because it usually resolves on its own
    Except for patients who are pregnant
    Then it can be a serious issue that’s full-blown



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesingingstethoscope.substack.com
    3 min
  • Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B

    Hepatitis A for Hepatitis Acute

    Cause chronic infections are almost never found
    Hepatitis A for Hepatitis Anus
    The fecal-oral route is how it spreads around
    Now let’s talk about serology
    IgG anti-HAV tests for a past or chronic infection
    IgM anti-HAV tests for an infection that’s acute
    And there is a Hep A vaccine that’s used for prevention
    Hepatitis B for Hepatitis Baby
    Because vertical transmission is a common road
    And Hepatitis B for Hepatitis Bodily fluids
    Because sex and IV drug use are the other common modes
    IgG anti-HBc indicates a chronic infection
    Think IgG for gone because IgG anti-HBc
    Means the acute infection is gone
    And that’s how it should be
    IgM anti-HBc indicates an acute infection
    Think IgM for minute because IgM anti-HBc
    Means they’ve only had it for a minute
    And they’re still fighting it acutely
    Now hang in there, just a little more serology
    Anti-HBs is the Hepatitis B surface antibody with a B
    Which indicates either a booster, as in a vaccine
    or the patient has beat it and the infection has resolved completely
    HBsAg is the Hepatitis B surface antigen with a G
    Means the patient’s got it, it’s an active infection
    Hep B generally can be acute or chronic
    And there’s a vaccine that’s used for prevention



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesingingstethoscope.substack.com
    4 min
  • Antifungals

    It’s time to have fun, fun, fun

    Fun with antifungals
    With polyene antifungals, let’s begin
    These are amphotericin B and nystatin
    Swish and swallow nystatin liquid form
    For esophageal candidiasis it's the norm
    Fungal cells’ plasma membrane is made up of ergosterol
    And basically, these drugs tear holes in that wall
    They destroy the cell membrane’s structural integrity
    So just remember that “tear” is in ampho-TEAR-icin B
    You should also know these are heavy duty medications
    And heavy duty side effects are the expectation
    Amphotericin B can cause fever, chills, and other things
    Am-PH-PH-PH-tericin B, pretend you’re shivering, am-PH-PH-PH-tericin B
    There’s also the risk of electrolyte abnormalities
    Decreased potassium and magnesium are potential realities
    So remember ampho B as in am-FLOW-tericin B
    To remind you it might lead to nephrotoxicity
    We’re having fun, fun, fun
    Fun with antifungals
    Now the next class of antifungals, we’re on a roll
    Are the real a-holes also known as the azoles
    Like clotrimazole, ketoconazole, and fluconazole
    They simply inhibit the synthesis of ergosterol
    Also inhibiting ergosterol synthesis are the allylamines
    A couple of examples are terbinafine and butenafine
    Then there’s griseofulvin, which works like this
    It prevents fungal cells’ proliferation by inhibiting mitosis
    The last class of antifungal drugs are the echinocandins
    Like caspofungin, anidulafungin, and micafungin
    They inhibit the synthesis of cell wall beta-glucan
    So echinocandins, as in, e-kinda-can’t-do that man
    Hope you had fun, fun, fun
    Fun with antifungals



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesingingstethoscope.substack.com
    4 min
  • Cephalosporins

    There are five generations

    of cephalosporins
    And I’ve got some clever ways
    You can remember them
    For the first generation we have
    Cefazolin and Cephalexin
    Now Cef-hAZ-olin sounds kind of like “has”
    And Cephalexin contains the word “ale”
    So the first question you want to ask is,
    Do you has any ale?
    That’s the first thing you might ask
    When you go to a friend’s house
    Do you has any ale?
    For Cef-hAZ-olin and Ceph-ALE-xin
    That’s the first generation
    Now we’re going to skip altogether
    The cephalosporins in the second generation
    There’s no easy way to remember this group
    So you’ll have to use the process of elimination
    But fortunately the third generation is easy
    All you gotta do is remember the number three
    You can fix things in three days with Ce-FIX-ime
    And “tri” means three in Cef-TRI-axone
    Cefo-TAX-ime reminds you people do their taxes
    Usually in the third month of the year
    And for Cef-TAZ-idime, just close your eyes
    And picture three TAZ-manian devils
    That’s the third generation
    Along the same lines, for the fourth generation
    We’ll focus on the number four
    Cefepime covers Pseudomonas,
    And that has four syllables: Pseu-do-mon-as
    So it goes with Ce-FOUR-pime
    That’s the fourth generation
    And last but not least, Ceftaroline
    Ceftaroline is in the fifth generation
    Think of a star with five points
    And say Cef-STAR-oline
    That’s the fifth generation
    There are five generations of cephalosporins
    And now you know some clever ways to remember them



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesingingstethoscope.substack.com
    4 min
  • CYP-450 Drug Interactions

    Cytochrome P450 isoenzymes play a big role

    In the metabolism of certain medications
    They’re found in the liver and throughout the body
    And they’re the star of this song today, so congratulations
    Drug interactions are what you have to watch out for
    ‘Cause these enzymes’ activity can be affected
    By certain drugs and compounds, inducers or inhibitors
    And the effect of this on other meds is connected
    This mnemonic is all you need to remember
    The inducers of Cytochrome P450
    “This CRAP GPS induces my rage”
    “This CRAP GPS induces my rage” — pretty nifty
    Now let’s break it down:
    C for Carbamazepine
    R for Rifampin
    A for Alcohol, chronic use
    P for Phenytoin
    G for Griseofulvin
    P for Phenobarbital
    S for Sulfonylureas
    These inducers increase the production and activity
    of the Cytochrome P450 isoenzymes
    This increases drug metabolism
    Which can cause a sub-therapeutic effect oftentimes
    This mnemonic is all you need to remember
    The inducers of Cytochrome P450
    “This CRAP GPS induces my rage”
    “This CRAP GPS induces my rage” — pretty nifty
    Now let’s break it down:
    C for Carbamazepine
    R for Rifampin
    A for Alcohol, chronic use
    P for Phenytoin
    G for Griseofulvin
    P for Phenobarbital
    S for Sulfonylureas
    And on a test if a drug or compound isn’t an inducer
    Then it's likely an inhibitor by process of elimination
    Inhibitors decrease Cytochrome P450 activity
    Which can lead to toxic drug levels and higher concentration
    But just memorize the inducers
    And then you’ll be good to go
    “This CRAP GPS induces my rage”
    Now you're a pharmacology pro



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesingingstethoscope.substack.com
    4 min
  • The 10 Rights of Prescription Writing

    When you write a prescription

    There’s a lot you need to know
    So sing along to avoid the most common mistakes
    And get it right from the get-go
    These are the ten rights
    of prescription writing
    1. Right patient
    2. Right date
    3. Right drug
    4. Right dose
    5. Right frequency
    6. Right route
    7. Right number of refills
    8. Right duration of treatment
    9. The Right to informed consent
    10. The Right to refuse treatment
    These are the ten rights
    of prescription writing
    If you want to be a hero
    Check your decimal points and zeros
    They always lead and never trail
    Always lead and never trail
    Point one milligrams (.1 mg) can look like one milligram (1 mg)
    So add a leading zero and write zero point one (0.1 mg)
    And one point zero milligrams (1.0 mg) might look like ten milligrams (10 mg)
    So drop the trailing zero and just write one milligram (1 mg)
    Here are the ten rights
    of prescription writing
    1. Right patient
    2. Right date
    3. Right drug
    4. Right dose
    5. Right frequency
    6. Right route
    7. Right number of refills
    8. Right duration of treatment
    9. The Right to informed consent
    10. The Right to refuse treatment
    These are the ten rights
    of prescription writing
    When you write a prescription
    Take your time and double check your work
    Always keep an eye out for patients’ allergies
    And be clear to avoid any guesswork



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesingingstethoscope.substack.com
    3 min
  • When Drugs Get Withdrawn

    Pharmacology is ever evolving

    So keep in mind that what you learn today
    Might be slightly out of date
    By the time you graduate
    When safety signals start to show
    Sometimes medications have to go
    Darvocet, an opioid was widely prescribed for years
    But fatal heart issues led to lots of tears
    Post-marketing surveillance is key
    We keep watching drugs even after they're released
    Phase IV never really ends
    Cause we're always tracking adverse events
    Cylert was a stimulant for treating ADHD
    But it was withdrawn because of severe hepatotoxicity
    Vioxx nearly doubled the risk of heart attack or stroke
    So it was pulled too cause that’s no joke
    But not every risky drug goes away completely
    Especially if it provides benefits uniquely
    Sometimes a strong warning is given instead
    So everyone’s informed about the risks ahead
    A black box warning was added for Celebrex
    Cause this COX-2 inhibitor increases the risk of GI events
    As well as the risk of heart attacks and strokes
    So the FDA decided they should warn folks
    Post-marketing surveillance is key
    We keep watching drugs even after they're released
    Phase IV never really ends
    Cause we're always tracking adverse events
    New data and updates can easily accrue
    So staying current is what you gotta do
    Post-marketing surveillance is key
    We keep watching drugs even after they're released
    Phase IV never really ends
    Cause we're always tracking adverse events



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesingingstethoscope.substack.com
    4 min
  • Drug Development Process

    The process of drug development

    Is something that’s quite relevant
    It has a lot of different steps
    And it’s kind of long and complex
    Preclinical studies are what happen first
    So starting here let’s get immersed
    Cell cultures or animals are used to check
    If a drug seems safe and has the wanted effect
    Then clinical studies, they come next
    Four phases take place with human subjects
    For Phase I the volunteers are healthy and strong
    Twenty to a hundred of them for several months long
    About two thirds of drugs make it to the next phase
    Because these are the ones that seem to be safe
    Phase II involves hundreds of folks with the target condition
    Checking for effectiveness is the primary mission
    It takes several months to two years to see
    And only 45 percent of these drugs move on to Phase III
    In Phase III it takes 1 to 4 years to collect data like a detective
    Confirming if a drug is both safe and effective
    Hundreds to thousands of patients participate
    But only five to ten percent of these drugs will graduate
    Phase IV begins after a drug hits the market
    To post-marketing surveillance we’ve gotta commit
    Monitoring for rare adverse events in the population
    To protect public health across the nation



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesingingstethoscope.substack.com
    3 min
  • Controlled Substances

    Some drugs have the potential

    for dependence and abuse
    These controlled substances are consequential
    And Schedules I through V are used to help prevent misuse
    Schedule I is the most restrictive
    Cause these drugs like LSD and heroin
    Are highly, highly addictive
    So there’s no situation you’d prescribe them in
    Now something that might surprise you
    Is that at the level of the federal government
    Marijuana is considered Schedule I it’s true
    So “no accepted medical use” is what’s meant
    Controlled substances are a delicate dance
    Weighing risks and benefits in every circumstance
    From Schedule I to V, they're all clearly defined
    To help protect patients in both body and mind
    Schedule II includes drugs like oxycodone and Vicodin
    The potential for abuse is still pretty high
    Cocaine, Dilaudid, fentanyl, Adderall, and Ritalin
    Drugs like these aren’t always people’s ally
    With Schedule III like ketamine and testosterone
    The risk of dependence is moderate
    That’s what the research has shown
    So you still need to be smart about it
    Controlled substances are a delicate dance
    Weighing risks and benefits in every circumstance
    From Schedule I to V, they're all clearly defined
    To help protect patients in both body and mind
    Schedule IV drugs are ones like Xanax
    And its potential for abuse is relatively low
    So this doesn’t need to get too complex
    Then there’s Ambien and Valium too you know
    Schedule V is the least restrictive
    Because meds like Lyrica and Robitussin A.C.
    Are much less likely to be addictive
    So their potential for abuse is the lowest you see
    Controlled substances are a delicate dance
    Weighing risks and benefits in every circumstance
    From Schedule I to V, they're all clearly defined
    To help protect patients in both body and mind



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesingingstethoscope.substack.com
    4 min

About The Singing Stethoscope

From the publisher's feed

The Singing Stethoscope is a podcast that uses music to make medicine more memorable. Starting with pharmacology and other high-yield topics, the songs feature tips, tricks, and mnemonics to help…