Z-drugs, otherwise known as benzodiazepine receptor agonists, are used to help patients with insomnia that is associated with difficulty falling asleep (sleep latency), difficulty staying asleep (sleep maintenance), or not feeling rested after a night’s sleep (sleep...
Acute migraine affects up to 26% of women, and up to 9% of men in the US. It is characterized by a moderate to severe headache that lasts for 4-72 hours and may be unilateral, cause nausea/vomiting, pulsating pain, or photophobia. First-line treatment options include...
Benzodiazepines are prescribed to over 5% of the United States population and that number continues to grow. This class of medications is responsible for facilitating the binding of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA-A at various GABA receptors throughout the...
Is as needed (PRN) allopurinol appropriate? I have seen as-needed (PRN) orders for allopurinol in practice. It has been rare, but it has happened. Did I like it? No. Allopurinol helps to lower uric acid levels. Allopurinol inhibits xanthine oxidase which is an enzyme...
Benztropine (Cogentin) is an older anticholinergic agent primarily used for movement-type disorders and adverse effects. I’ll share some of my most important benztropine clinical pearls in this article. Benztropine can be used in the management of acute...
Lowering uric acid is the key to reducing gout flares. Both allopurinol (podcast) and febuxostat are effective at performing this task. However, there are some considerations you need to be aware when deciding to utilize allopurinol versus febuxostat. I’ll break...
