Insights Newsletter July 2025: 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. 

Keep Noncontrolled Med Diversion on Your Radar

Some meds that are targets for diversion are surprising. Our articles identify several of these unexpected meds along with the likely rationale for diversion. Your team can use these articles to identify potential signs of patient diversion, such as an insistence to pay cash, frequent early refills, or unusual knowledge of the medication. Similarly, we discuss behaviors that may be red flags for staff diversion such as excessive inventory restocking or unexpected stockouts. Finally, we give recommendations on how patients can prevent diversion by other household members and provide guidance on what staff should do if they suspect diversion from a team member. Read More

Community Pharmacies: Shed Light on Sunscreen Rumors

Questions and myths about sunscreen are common. Our articles delve into the benefits of regular sunscreen application in preventing skin carcinomas and photoaging, while addressing misconceptions about SPF levels and the safety of sunscreen ingredients. Your team can use these articles to recommend appropriate sunscreen products, educate patients on proper application techniques, and clarify the importance of sun protection for all skin types. Additionally, we discuss the impact of sunscreen on vitamin D production and provide guidance on alternative sun protection methods. For more detailed guidance, readers can review our FAQ, Shedding Light on Questions About Sunscreens. Read More

Hospitals: Expect a Limited Role for Ceftobiprole

Your team will start to get questions about ceftobiprole medocaril (Zevtera), a new IV antibiotic targeting methicillin-resistant Staph. Our article compares ceftobiprole to other antibiotics, highlighting its noninferiority in trials and similar mortality and adverse effect outcomes to ceftaroline. We also point out cost and workload considerations with ceftobiprole, along with its spectrum gaps. We tie up the article by pointing out ceftobiprole’s possible role for rare patients that need IV gram-negative plus MRSA coverage when other options can’t be used. Readers can use and share our ceftobiprole quick skim graphic for dosing, administration, side effects, and more. Read More

Natural Medicines: FDA Warns Against “Gas Station Heroin” Tianeptine

Surveys suggest that about 75% of Americans use dietary supplements. Many also take prescription medications – opening the door for various drug-supplement interactions. Our NatMed article discusses common drug-supplement interactions to watch out for, including glucosamine with warfarin and magnesium with antibiotics. We also developed a new one-page resource chart as a quick reference. Read More

Pharmacy & Prescriber Podcasts

Medication Talk

Listen to this month’s podcast episode, Antidepressant Insights, as our expert panel discusses practical considerations for starting and optimizing antidepressants for treating depression and anxiety.  You’ll listen to panelists cover various aspects of antidepressant use, such as serotonin syndrome, QT prolongation, and weight gain concerns.  

All Medication Talk episodes offer CE credit to Pharmacist’s Letter and Prescriber Insights subscribers for 2 years after the episode release date. Go to the CE/CME & Training Organizer and search “podcast” to find available courses.  

Rumor vs Truth

Listen to or watch the latest episode, Shedding Light On Sunscreens, as two of our TRC Healthcare editors, Steven Small, PharmD, BCPS, BCPPS, BCCCP, CNSC, and Don Weinberger, PharmD, PMSP, throw some serious shade at common sunscreen myths. Grab your shades and join our myth-busting duo as they shine a light on the facts about hot-button sunscreen claims.

Clinical Capsules

Listen to our latest episode, Diabetes Treatment Debate: Should Metformin Still Be Used First?, as TRC Healthcare editor, Rachel Cole, PharmD, delves into the debate about whether newer medications for Type 2 diabetes, including SGLT-2 inhibitors or GLP-1 agonists, should be used first-line instead of metformin. She examines the benefits and drawbacks of these newer medications, including their cardiovascular and kidney benefits, side effects, and costs.

Upcoming Tradeshows

We have a packed tradeshow schedule this year and would love to meet with you in person! Send us a meeting request if you’ll be attending any of these shows. 

Check out where we’ll be in the coming months: 

• AACP: July 20-21
• NACDSTSE25: August 23-25
• HCP Hospital Pharmacy Fall Reverse Expo: September 29 – October 1 
• ANCC Magnet/Pathway Conference: October 8-10

See the Full List of Events for 2025 

New Blog! Compounding Chronicles

Essential Training and Compliance for Immediate-Use Compounding

By Adam West, Course and Curriculum Manager at CriticalPoint.

This month’s Compounding Chronicles blog post recaps a webinar on evolving sterile compounding regulations. As USP <797> compliance broadens, responsibilities extend to nurses, anesthesiologists, and other clinical staff. Presenters Adam West and Steve Small highlighted key updates on immediate-use compounding, contamination risks, and training—emphasizing that proper aseptic technique, role-specific SOPs, and ongoing education are essential for patient safety and compliance. 

Read the Blog

Other Covered Topics

Explore our popular clinical resources, check out the all-new NatMed Pro platform, that features a fresh new look and design along with major performance and functionality improvements, and learn about the key pharmacy trends from the 2025 Legislative Session.