Pharmacy Podcast Network

DSCSA is Coming. Are you Ready? | Drug Topics

The Drug Supply Chain Security Act has been a decade in the making. Pharmacists must be prepared to comply by November 2023.The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) has been working with state boards of pharmacy to update inspection standards and procedures, said Josh Bolin, associate executive director for Federal Affairs and Strategy at NABP. "After November 27, 2023, states will be unable to enact any tracing requirements that go beyond the obligations laid out in DSCSA but.. will check for DSCSA compliance", he noted, adding the "one of the open questions is enforcement discretion in the early period. We will continue to work with our partners as November grows closer." 

TWIRx | Children’s Book Feature

Children's Book Authors & Pharmacy Students Shay Roth & Jaccie Hisashima join "This Week in Pharmacy"  Jaccie Hisashima – University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. Now completing a PGY1 Acute Care Residency at UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento.Shay Roth, PharmD Candidate 2024 University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Co-Author and Illustrator

Exploring the Benefits and Stigma of CBD with Dr. Alex Capano | Sports Pharmacy Podcast

In this episode of the Sports Pharmacy Podcast, host Dr. H is joined by Dr. Alex Capano, a PhD in cannabinoid studies, to discuss the benefits and stigma surrounding CBD (cannabidiol). Dr. Alex shares her journey from neuroscience and chemistry studies to becoming a family nurse practitioner and eventually specializing in cannabis medicinally.The conversation delves into the importance of studying cannabis, destigmatizing its use, and providing patients with alternative therapeutic options to potentially harmful substances. Dr. H opens up about his personal connection to opioid alternatives, highlighting the need for better pain management solutions, especially in the world of sports.Dr. Alex emphasizes the responsible use of opiates when necessary but also highlights the potential of CBD and other cannabinoids in managing pain, particularly among athletes dealing with post-game pain or playing while injured. They discuss the experiences of professional athletes and the challenges they face in finding safe alternatives to manage pain and recover from injuries.

Psilocybin for Pain and TBI | Neural Pharm Podcast

Exploring the latest research on psilocybin for TBI and chronic pain
Adkins A and Ferguson MC. “Research update: MDMA and psilocybin for pain management.” Practical Pain Management. 18 June 2022. https://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/news/research-update-mdma-and-psilocybin-for-pain-management. Accessed 30 July 2023
Bornemann J, et al. “Self-medication for chronic pain using class psychedelics: A qualitative investigation to inform future research.” Frontiers in Psychiatry. 18 June 2022. https://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/news/research-update-mdma-and-psilocybin-for-pain-management Accessed 31 July 2023.
Fanciullacci M, et al. “Brief report: phantom limb pain: sub-hallucinogenic treatment with lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD).” Headache. 1977 July; 17(3): 118-119. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/893080/ Accessed 30 July 2023
Flanagan T, Nichols C. “Psychedelics as anti-inflammatory agents.” Psychedelic Research. 13 Aug 2018. Accessed 28 July 2023. https://blossomanalysis.com/papers/psychedelics-as-anti-inflammatory-agents/
Hawryluk M. “Pain, hope, and science collide as athletes turn to magic mushrooms.” WUSF Public Media. 30 Apr 2023. https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/health-news-florida/2023-04-30/pain-hope-and-science-collide-as-athletes-turn-to-magic-mushrooms Accessed 30 July 2023.
Kooijman NI, et al. “Are psychedelics the answer to chronic pain: A review of current literature.” Pain Pract. 2023 Apr;23(4):447-458. Accessed 30 July 2023. doi: 10.1111/papr.13203. Epub 2023 Jan 11. PMID: 36597700.
“Lobe Sciences announces launch of pre-clinical study in collaboration with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.” Newsfile. 30 Nov 2020. Accessed 27 July 2023. https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/69106/Lobe-Sciences-Announces-Launch-of-Preclinical-Study-in-Collaboration-with-the-University-of-Miami-Miller-School-of-Medicine
Made, Rachel. “Jim Harris was paralyzed. Then he ate magic mushrooms.” Outside. 9 Nov 2022. Accessed 27 July 2023. https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/exploration-survival/psychedelics-research-paralysis-treatment-jim-harris/
Mansoor Khan S, et al. “Psychedelics for brain injury: a mini review.” Frontiers in Neurology. 2021(12). 29 July 2021. Accessed 28 July 2023. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2021.685085/full
Price S. “Data shows combination psilocybin therapy effective for TBI and PTSD.” Psychedelic Health UK. 30 Sept 2021. Accessed 30 July 2023. https://psychedelichealth.co.uk/2021/09/30/data-shows-combination-psilocybin-therapy-effective-for-tbi-and-ptsd/
Rauchman B. “UFC fighter’s brain injury successfully treated with psychedelic therapy.” Pacific Neuroscience Institute. 6 July 2023. Accessed 28 July 2023. https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/blog/trip/ufc-fighters-brain-injury-successfully-treated-with-psychedelic-therapy/
Ramachandran V, et al. “Relief from intractable phantom pain by combining psilocybin and mirror visual feedback (MVF).” Neurocase. 2018 Apr; 24(2): 105-110. Accessed 29 July 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29764303/
Rosenhall U, et al. “Treatment of military acoustic accidents with n-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC). Int J Audiology. 2019 March; 58(3): 151-157. Accessed 30 July 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30653365/
Schindler et al. “Exploratory investigation of a patient informed low dose psilocybin pulse regimen in the suppression of cluster headaches: results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.” Headache. 23 Nov 2022. https://headachejournal.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/head.14420 Accessed 30 July 2023.
“Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion.” Centers for Disease Control. Last Reviewed: 7 July 2023. Last access 29 July 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/data/index.html

Sound Bites: Opill and Ozepmic | Sex PharmD

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-nonprescription-daily-oral-contraceptive

Holistic Support for Population Health through Intrapreneurship w/ Dr. Rohit Moghe | Holistic Pharmacy Podcast

Hello everyone, I’m super excited to release this next episode that was recorded at the start of this year. We covered so many topics near and dear to my personal and professional mission and I’m so honored to introduce my next guest and what he is contributing to healthcare. Dr. Rohit Moghe is an ambulatory care & population health clinical pharmacist for accountable care organization (ACO) at Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic. He is originally from the Philadelphia area. Dr. Moghe is a residency-training pharmacist with a master's in public health and a certified diabetes care & education specialist with over 22 years of experience across various therapeutic areas and whole continuum of care. Dr. Moghe is active in leadership at both Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists as well as American College of Lifestyle Medicine as Co-Chair of the pharmacist group. His diverse professional and life experience has led him to understand that most chronic conditions don't need to be managed with medications. However, if we must use them, we should be delivering comprehensive medication management (CMM) and get paid for the work that we do. His specialty is deprescribing medications, BUT, if they are to be ramped down, we must ramp up people's lifestyle. He uses the six pillars of lifestyle medicine: nutrition, enjoyable physical activity, restful sleep, addressing stress, reducing risky behaviors (& substances), and positive social connections. The stuff we should all optimize, but always pay enough attention to it. He focuses a lot on coaching his patients and clients through change. He is also a 200-hr yoga teacher registered through the Yoga Alliance and practices many forms of meditation and deep breathing exercises. Having grown up in yoga since an early age, application of Ayurvedic principles in his lifestyle come naturally to him, including appropriate use of herbal and natural remedies.

Do You Really Know What’s In Your Primary Vendor Agreement? | Pharmacy Crossroads

Tips for understanding and managing your wholesaler's primary vendor agreement.  Scott Patterson, owner of 6 pharmacies joins Scott Wittnebel, Director of Pharmacy Services for IPC talk about strategies and tactics you can use to maximize your rebates and lower you cost of goods.

Nectar Life Sciences & The Pharma Movie

Ken Chahine, founder and CEO at Nectar Life Sciences on your radar. Ken has a fascinating story: a child of immigrant parents, neither of whom finished elementary school, he earned a PhD in Biochemistry (U of Michigan) and a JD in patent law. 
After transforming the field of genetic testing for genealogy as General Manager of Ancestry DNA, he founded Nectar, a health tech company revolutionizing the allergy space with at-home allergy testing and treatment with sublingual drops.In grad school, Ken suffered from severe allergies that made lab work in goggles near-impossible. When he discovered the healthcare system’s solution for chronic allergy sufferers is constant medications (average = 3 meds per day) and/or painful, inconvenient shots, he knew there had to be a better way.Just a sample of what Ken can elaborate on:
First-hand experience with allergies as a chronic condition and advocating for the consumer 
Long-term benefits of at-home allergy testing + treatment
Why sublingual (under the tongue) treatment is already standard in Europe as a safer alternative to subcutaneous (shots)
How he transitioned into the allergy space after revolutionizing the genetic science behind Ancestry.com
Predictions for holistic approaches in the healthcare space

Talking Things Pharmacists Need to Know About Urine Drug Monitoring | Locked On Pharmacy

Controlled substances, including opioids, benzodiazepines, and medical cannabis, are commonly prescribed for the treatment of chronic pain. Urine drug screens (UDS) are often used in clinical practice to test for the presence of prescribed drugs to monitor compliance. Understanding how to appropriately interpret the results of urine drug screening is critical to providing effective patient care and maintaining patient trust. Pharmacists in various practice settings can play important roles in urine drug screenings.
The goal of this podcast is to provide pharmacists and other clinicians with insight and information for appropriately interpreting urine drug screening results. The conversation will focus on the types of drug screening panels, possible causes of false- positives and negatives, and how metabolism of drugs can impact urine drug screening results. Tips on how to effectively have conversations with patients that can be difficult will also be part of the discussion.
This activity is supported by a grant from the Providers Clinical Support System (PCSS).Funding for this initiative was made possible (in part) by grant no. 6H79TI081968 from SAMHSA. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
 
 

Why Rare-Ultra Orphan Therapies need early Market Access planning and innovative solutions | Ascella Health

Success in launching new therapies for rare diseases (RDs) implies the ability for the manufacturer to achieve a level of reimbursed price and a level of market access that are commercially viable on the market. Access to RD therapies is challenging because the legal and policy frameworks may be absent, funding may be insufficient and/or payers do not see the justification with the prices for these therapies. The industry has, however, a real opportunity to partner with healthcare stakeholders.  There needs to be continued support to provide the education towards payers, drive evidence-based pricing, and innovative contracting, and address the multiple hurdles of access for these unique therapies. But how do we price and how do we gain access on the promise of long-term value when we don’t have the long-term data on these new therapies?  That is why all stakeholders need to address early market access planning, including inclusive data collection, payer models and the impact of new regulations and innovative trial design on data collection and ongoing evidence provision.
           
Podcast Participants: Jim Clement – Partner & Board Member at Coeus Holdings
                                       Donovan Quill – Executive Vice President at Terebellum

Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD at Click Therapeutics | Digital Therapeutalks

Click Therapeutics develops prescription software applications as medical devices that work independently or in conjunction with pharmacotherapies to treat disease. Click clinically validates these applications through rigorous randomized, controlled trials to demonstrate safety and efficacy.Guest:Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhDChief Medical Officer

Guest Interview with George Sellhorn of Flourish Labs (OR) | Neural Pharm Podcast

Join us for a special guest interview this week with molecular plant scientist George Sellhorn, on a wide ranging interview around psilocybin and functional mushroom testing
George Sellhorn Ph.D, is the founder, owner and Principal Scientist of Flourish Labs in Portland Oregon and earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Plant Sciences from Washington State University (2006) and his B.S. in Biology from Indiana University (1999). George has worked in both academia and the biotechnology industries from 2006-2021 working on projects such as HIV vaccine development, production, characterization and pre-clinical evaluation as well as bioconjugate-based therapeutics including pegylated interferon for multiple sclerosis, bifunctional antibodies and antibody drug conjugates for breast cancer and poly(carboxybetaine) L-asparaginase bioconjugates for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
George has 23 years of extensive experience with liquid chromatography using both High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) and these techniques are one of his primary expertise. Some of the leadership roles he has held in the laboratory include Senior Scientist, Laboratory Director and Principal Investigator. George has also worked in the medical and recreational Cannabis industries from 2009-2021 which included cultivation, processing and consulting in Washington, Oregon and Colorado. Flourish Labs, LLC was founded in August 2021 and opened its services to customers on January 1st , 2022.
Link to George’s business here at Flourish Labs (OR):
https://flourishlabsoregon.com/
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Glossary of terms
APE—Albino Penis Envy, considered one of the most potent strains of psilocybin cubensis in terms
4-ACO: Or O-acetylpsilocybin or 4-Aco-DMT: semi synthetic derivatives of psilocybin often used in pharmacologic studies
BOL or 2-Br-LSD. Non hallucinogenic LSD derivative synthesized by Albert Hofman (who also synthesized LSD).
CLIA and CAP: College of American pathologists and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments—regulatory bodies for clinical laboratories.
COA-certificate of analysis, offered by third party product testing labs.
CRM: Certified Reference Materials (not Customer Relationship Management in this context)
Entourage effect: hypothesis that compounds in cannabis other than CBD and THC act in synergy to exhibit pharmacologic effect (pretty good evidence to support this).
GPCR: G protein coupled receptor: largest family of membrane proteins
LOQ—Limit of quantification LOD—Level of detection. Level of detection is smallest concentration of a sample that can be consistently analyzed with 95% probability, LOQ is smallest concentration that can be measured with less than 10 to 20% variation.
PSK (Krestin): Also known as Polysaccharide K, derived from Coriolus versicolor mushroom, widely used as folk remedy and adjuvant therapy for cancer treatment in some cultures.
Terpenoids: Broad class of naturally occurring 5 Carbon molecules that show wide range of pharmacologic activities.
5-ME-O-DMT: Psychoactive drug derived from toad venom of glands of the Sonoran Desert toad (lots more to come on this).

If At first you don’t succeed with Dr. Thu Nguyen | Road 2 Match Day

Today's episode focuses on one pharmacists determination to push forward onto to phase II after not matching in phase I. Listen to hear her amazing story of resilience

Pediatric Obesity | Pediatric Pharmacist Review

Claudia Fox, MD, MPH, is a pediatrician and weight management specialist who specializes in pediatric preventive cardiology and family weight management. She sees patients at University of Minnesota Health Masonic Children's Hospital Pediatric Specialty Care Discovery Clinic, University of Minnesota Health Maple Grove Clinics and the Specialty Clinic for Children in Burnsville. Dr. Fox is also an associate professor as well as fellowship program director and faculty member in the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota Medical School.https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/151/2/e2022060640/190443/Clinical-Practice-Guideline-for-the-Evaluation-and?autologincheck=redirected

FDA takes steps to decrease barriers for overdose reversal agents with Dr. Marta Sokolowska | Q&A with FDA

In this episode of Q&A with FDA, we hear from Dr. Marta Sokolowska, Deputy Center Director for Substance Use and Behavioral Health in FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, discuss the Agency’s vision as it relates to encouraging harm reduction, including expanding availability and access to lifesaving overdose reversal products. Dr. Sokolowska delves into the impacts of the recent approvals of nonprescription naloxone nasal spray as well as prescription nalmefene nasal spray, another medication for opioid overdose. 

Antimicrobial Stewardship | LTC Pharmacy Podcast

Dr. Deborah Milito:  linkedin.com/in/deborah-milito-32a28156
 
Dr. Scott Stewart:  linkedin.com/in/scott-stewart-34973870
 
Dr. Tamara Ruggles:  linkedin.com/in/tamara-ruggles-491882251
 
CDC Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship for Nursing Homes:  https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/core-elements/nursing-homes.html
 
ASCP Antimicrobial Stewardship Toolkit:  https://www.med-pass.com/antimicrobial-stewardship-toolkit-for-long-term-care-with-usb-flash-drive.html
 
 
FDA Advisory Committee Calendar:  https://www.fda.gov/advisory-committees/advisory-committee-calendar
 
 
 
ACIP meeting information:  https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/index.html
 
Candida auris:  https://www.fda.gov/media/141083/download
 
Updated guidelines for Asymptomatic Bacteriuria:  https://www.idsociety.org/practice-guideline/asymptomatic-bacteriuria/
 
Clostridiodes difficile clinical practice guidelines:  https://www.idsociety.org/practice-guideline/clostridioides-difficile-2021-focused-update/
 
Community-Aquired Pneumonia guidelines:  https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1164/rccm.201908-1581ST?role=tab
 
 
 
Please e-mail questions, comments, and funny pharmacy jokes to ltcpharmacypodcast@gmail.com.  We would love to hear from you!

DrugStore2Door with AJ Asgari | Sports Pharmacy Podcast

AJ Asgari, the CEO of Drugstore2Door, joined the Sports Pharmacy Podcast for a second round of discussion. We talked about their fitness journeys.  AJ shared his background, growing up in Oklahoma and initially planning to become a doctor before pivoting to pharmacy. He became an entrepreneur and currently owns nine pharmacies. AJ founded Drugstore2Door to address the challenges faced by independent pharmacies. The platform aims to digitize the entire pharmacy experience and provide a seamless online presence. They offer personalized website design, e-commerce capabilities, and services to help pharmacies generate additional revenue outside of PBMs. AJ emphasized the importance of customer feedback and continuous improvement in refining their product. Drugstore2Door's goal is to get as many independent pharmacies online as possible, allowing customers to access and pay for various pharmacy services. The platform covers prescription services, e-commerce, and other offerings, providing a turnkey solution for pharmacies. They are constantly developing new features and enhancements to make the integration seamless and user-friendly for pharmacies.

Politics, PBM Roadblocks, and Accomplishing Real Reform | PUTTcast

With more than 30 bills in progress this session at the federal level alone, PBM reform is barreling down the legislative tracks - but what's the best way to get legislation and enforcement across the finish line? Listen in as PUTT Executive Director, Monique Whitney, and Board Vice President, Lauren Young dive into the past, present, and (possible) future of PBM reform, who's getting it done, and why continuing to educate and follow through with legislation enforcement is such a critical component.

Live From The IPC Booth At The McKesson IdeaShare Booth | Pharmacy Crossroads

Bruce Kneeland attended the McKesson IdeaShare show and was able to interview several show attendees and learn from them some of what they saw, heard and learned at this show. Tips for making show attendance a success, examples of the benefits of networking and other ideas your peers will take home and implement are shared. If you did, or did not, attend this show you'll benefit from the comments on this podcast

Psilocybin for mental health | Neural Pharm Podcast

A review of current literature around magic mushrooms for nicotine and alcohol dependency, end of life therapy, and more.
Notes: Per Christopher Toney, a reminder that psilocybin dosing is based on dry weight of the whole mushrooms, for those curious about how dosing is calculated. How well does this approximate actual psilocybin content? This will be a good future topic for discussion.
References:
Link to FDA’s Considerations for Clinical Investigations of Psychedelic Drugs (Accessed 11 July 2023): https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/psychedelic-drugs-considerations-clinical-investigations.
 
Bogenschutz MP, et al. Percentage of heavy drinking days following psilocybin assisted psychotherapy vs placebo in the treatment of patients with alcohol use disorder: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry. 2022; 79(10): 953-962 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2795625
Carhart-Harris R, et al. Trial of psilocybin versus escitalopram for depression. New England Journal of Medicine. 2021: 384: 1402-1411. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa2032994
Ebbesen-Jensen M, et al. Psilocybin assisted therapy for reducing alcohol intake in patients with alcohol use disorder: protocol for a randomized, double blinded, placebo controlled 12 week clinical trial (the QUANTUM trip trial). BMJ Open. 2022; 12(10). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9577917/
Ercolano, A. (2023) Johns Hopkins Center for psychedelic and Consciousness Research, Johns Hopkins Medicine. Available at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/psychiatry/research/psychedelics-research.html
Fauber J and Fiore K. Slippery slope: Fen-Phen users recall a “miracle” turned nightmare. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/Med Page Today. 19 April 2015. https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/slipperyslope/51044
Goodwin GM, et al. Single dose psilocybin for treatment for a treatment resistant episode of major depression. New England Journal of Medicine. 2022; 387(18). https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMoa2206443?articleTools=true
Griffiths RR, et al. Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized double blind trial. Journal of Psychopharmacology. 2016; 30(2): 1181-1197
Grob CS, et al. Pilot study of psilocybin for anxiety in patients with advanced stage cancer. JAMA Psychiatry. 2011; 68(1): 71-78. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/210962
Kenney A. What to know about Colorado’s psychedelic law. Colorado Public Radio. 21 June 2023. https://www.cpr.org/2023/06/21/colorado-psychedelic-law-for-psilocybin-mushrooms/
Rosenbaum D, et al. Psychedelics for existential distress in palliative and cancer care. Current Oncology. 2019; 26(4): 225-226. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6726261/
Ross S, et al. Acute and sustained reductions in loss of meaning and suicidal ideation following psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for psychiatric and existential distress in life threatening cancer. ACS Pharmacology and Translational Science. 2021; 4(2): 553-562. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33860185/
Rotz VR, et al. Single dose psilocybin assisted therapy in major depressive disorder: a placebo controlled, randomized double blind trial. The Lancet. 2023;56: 101809. https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2589-5370%2822%2900538-7
 
To read about “Mad Honey” that we referenced towards the end of the podcast: see here: https://bigthink.com/health/mad-honey/#:~:text=But%20what%20really%20distinguishes%20mad,%2C%20in%20rare%20cases%2C%20death.