Insights Newsletter December 2023: Emerging Trends for Clinical Leadership

This month’s Insights Newsletter covers the latest practice-changing pharmacy updates, emerging trends, and popular natural medicine topics and resources. 

Prescriber’s Letter is Now Prescriber Insights! 

We are excited to share that Prescriber’s Letter is now Prescriber Insights! Prescriber Insights is an enhanced version of Prescriber’s Letter, focusing on profession-specific, evidence-based resources and recommendations to improve your clinician’s daily practice. You and your staff still have access to the same content that you know and love, only now it is more relevant to the individual’s profession, specifically tailored for physicians, PAs, and APRNs. Read More

Answer Common Questions About First-Line BP Meds

We continue to get questions about choosing blood pressure medications for initial treatment of uncomplicated hypertension. This choice can be tricky since cardiovascular benefits seem similar overall, and the decision is often made based on nuances. Our Letter articles review common first-line medications for blood pressure, including ACE inhibitors, ARBs, calcium channel blockers, and thiazide. We discuss how to choose between using an ACE inhibitor or an ARB, answer which calcium channel blocker should be the agent of choice, and review data on the various thiazide options. Read More

Compare Nalmefene and Naloxone for Opioid Overdose Reversal

Medications for opioid overdose continue to be crucial. Clinicians will need to know about a new opioid reversal agent, nalmefene nasal spray (Opvee), that will join naloxone as the latest reversal option. Our Letter articles help compare nalmefene nasal spray with naloxone nasal spray, including time to onset, duration, and cost. In addition, we explain that a longer duration of action for nalmefene doesn’t seem to translate into better outcomes, and discuss counseling points for pharmacists when dispensing opioid reversal agents. Our resource, Meds for Opioid Overdose, provides additional guidance on who should have an opioid reversal agent on hand, when they should be administered, and which products are available over the counter. Read More

Cocoa for Cognition

We all have a love/hate relationship with chocolate. We love decadent treats, but hate the effects it can have on nutritional goals. However, cocoa is now getting attention for cognitive benefits.Solution: Evidence shows that cocoa flavanols might improve some measures of cognitive function. Our NatMed article provides insight on a clinical trial where episodic memory, global cognition, and executive function were among the measures evaluated. Read More

Other Covered Topics

Learn how to navigate the latest drug therapy changes and state mandates seamlessly, elevate your pharmacy’s operations with Bula’s comprehensive USP SOPs, listen to the latest Medication Talk podcast, and check out our free immunization resources. Read More