by Eric Christianson | May 20, 2026 | Renal, Urology, and Electrolytes Medication and Disease State Clinical Pearls
A patient I was following had a sodium level of 132 mEq/L and a student asked me how much we should worry about this? It is a bit of a deep question, but in general, a slightly low sodium level of 132 is not going to be a life-threatening situation. Here are some of...
by Eric Christianson | May 17, 2026 | Psychiatry and Addiction Medication and Disease State Clinical Pearls
If you follow geriatrics or are board-certified, you probably know that nortriptyline is generally preferred over amitriptyline in this patient population. It’s kind of weird to think there is such a difference because nortriptyline is an active metabolite of...
by Eric Christianson | May 13, 2026 | Psychiatry and Addiction Medication and Disease State Clinical Pearls
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are among the most frequently prescribed medication classes in clinical practice. While they are generally considered safe and effective, clinicians should remain aware of several important drug interactions that can...
by Eric Christianson | May 10, 2026 | Psychiatry and Addiction Medication and Disease State Clinical Pearls
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) presents a unique opportunity in psychiatric prescribing because, unlike many other mood disorders, the timing of symptoms is often predictable. Patients typically experience depressive symptoms during the fall and winter months, with...
by Eric Christianson | May 6, 2026 | Polypharmacy Cases And The Prescribing Cascade
If I had 60 seconds to review a med list, I wouldn’t try to analyze every detail. That’s the biggest mistake clinicians make when time is limited. Instead, I rely on pattern recognition—quickly scanning for a handful of high-yield problem areas that consistently lead...
