Asthma and COPD are two disease states that we need to use inhalers. As a clinical pharmacist, I understand the importance of patient education. I’ve seen numerous mistakes with inhaler technique over the years in my practice as a clinical pharmacist. Here are...
In this article, we’d like to share some of the most common dextromethorphan clinical pearls that you should be aware of. Dextromethorphan (DXM) is an over-the-counter medication often found in many of the Robitussin products, among others. It is approved...
In practice, many patients become overwhelmed by polypharmacy. A diagnosis of COPD or asthma can significantly increase the medication administration burden. I’ve heard many patients report that they are taking “too many inhalers.” The basic strategy to remedy...
I had this question the other day about the extent of tiotropium systemic absorption and I had to double-check. I knew that there was some, but wasn’t sure how prevalent it was. According to an older article, the tiotropium systemic absorption is approximately...
Cigarette smoking is a difficult problem that pharmacists and other healthcare professionals can play an important role in. Varenicline is one of the main medications that can be used to help curb this addiction. In this post, I will lay out my most important...
In this case scenario, we discuss the potential risk of leaving the nicotine patch on overnight. A 55-year-old female has a history of hypertension, GERD, and is currently a cigarette smoker. She has tried over 10 times in the last 15-20 years to quit smoking to no...
