Insights Newsletter: Calm the hype about new cannabinoids, get the latest on natural insect and tick repellents, new CE for April, and More!

Calm the Hype About New Cannabinoids

• Pain Point: New cannabinoids are crowding into the market. For instance, CBC (cannabichromene) is touted for pain, CBN (cannabinol) for sleep, and CBDV (cannabidivarin) or CBG (cannabigerol) for GI problems. Clinicians need to understand how these “minor” cannabinoids stack up to CBD (cannabidiol) and THC. They need to be ready to discuss possible benefits and risks with patients.
• Solution: Our Pharmacist’s Letter, Pharmacy Technician’s Letter, Prescriber’s Letter, Hospital Pharmacy Technician’s Letter, Hospital Pharmacist’s Letter, Pharmacist’s Letter Canada, and Pharmacy Technician’s Letter Canada articles summarize the efficacy, safety, and legality of new cannabinoids to put the hype into perspective. Recommendations are provided regarding drug interactions, adverse effects, use in pregnant or breastfeeding patients, and considerations with urine drug testing. You can find answers to other frequently asked questions in our Comparison of Cannabinoids resource.

The Latest on Natural Insect and Tick Repellents

• Pain Point: Now that spring has arrived, there will be renewed interest in insect repellants, from classic “bug sprays” to natural alternatives. The evidence supporting (or not supporting) the use of natural repellants is all over the place. In this article, we provide guidance related to the most popular products.
• Solution: There are many popular ‘natural’ insect repellants, including lemon eucalyptus oil, soybean oil, citronella oil, and peppermint oil. But only the first two oils have any strong evidence to support their use. And most research suggests that these products should not be used alone, especially for repelling ticks. We discuss how these products compare with traditional bug sprays, such as DEET, and how long their effects seem to last after application.

This month’s Insights also features PTU Elite: Controlled Substances & Diversion, a training program designed to help technicians identify and prevent diversion and the misuse of controlled substances. Now available for group purchases.

And don’t miss out on our most popular charts, as well as helpful resources from our Diabetes Resource Hub. You’ll also get details on freshly released CE/CME courses, and can’t-miss webinars.

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