Real Life Pharmacology - Pharmacology Education for Health Care Professionals
A Meded101.com Production
Episodes
October 23, 2025 • 11 mins
Airsupra is a combination inhaler that contains albuterol and budesonide, approved for as-needed use in adults with asthma. It represents the first rescue inhaler to combine a short-acting beta-2 agonist (SABA) with an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) in a single device. The albuterol component provides rapid bronchodilation by relaxing airway smooth muscle, while budesonide works to reduce airway inflammation and mucus production. Thi...
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October 16, 2025 • 14 mins
In this episode of Real Life Pharmacology, we take a deep dive into daptomycin, a lipopeptide antibiotic primarily used for serious Gram-positive infections, including MRSA and VRE. Daptomycin works by binding to bacterial cell membranes in a calcium-dependent manner, causing rapid depolarization and cell death.
One key limitation is that daptomycin should never be used for pneumonia because pulmonary surfactant inactivates the ...
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October 9, 2025 • 12 mins
Cefepime is a fourth-generation cephalosporin antibiotic with broad-spectrum activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It works by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis through binding to penicillin-binding proteins, leading to cell lysis and death.
Clinically, cefepime is commonly used in hospital settings for serious infections such as pneumonia, febrile neutropenia,...
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October 2, 2025 • 12 mins
Midodrine is an oral alpha-1 agonist most commonly used for the treatment of symptomatic orthostatic hypotension. Its mechanism of action is through peripheral vasoconstriction, which helps increase blood pressure. Because of its short duration of action, it is typically dosed three times daily, with the last dose recommended in the late afternoon to reduce the risk of hypertension at night.
Clinically, midodrine is often consid...
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September 25, 2025 • 13 mins
Zosyn (piperacillin/tazobactam) is a broad-spectrum β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combination used widely in hospitals. Piperacillin covers gram-positive, gram-negative, and anaerobic bacteria, while tazobactam helps protect against β-lactamase breakdown. It is commonly used for pneumonia, intra-abdominal infections, skin and soft tissue infections, and febrile neutropenia. An important pharmacology pearl for exams is understandin...
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September 18, 2025 • 14 mins
Senna is a stimulant laxative. Its pharmacological activity comes from natural compounds called sennosides. Metabolites act locally in the colon to stimulate peristalsis, thereby accelerating bowel movements. While osmotic laxatives are generally considered first-line laxative agents, this makes senna a useful alternative for the short-term treatment of constipation.
The pharmacokinetics of senna are unique in that its onset of...
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September 11, 2025 • 13 mins
Revefenacin (brand name Yupelri) is a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) used for the maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It works by blocking muscarinic receptors, particularly the M3 subtype, in airway smooth muscle. This antagonism reduces cholinergic bronchoconstriction and leads to sustained bronchodilation. Unlike short-acting anticholinergics such as ipratropium, revefenacin provides ...
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September 4, 2025 • 14 mins
Desmopressin is a synthetic analog of vasopressin, also known as antidiuretic hormone (ADH). It works by mimicking the action of natural ADH on the kidneys, primarily increasing water reabsorption in the collecting ducts. This effect reduces urine production and helps concentrate the urine. Because of this mechanism, desmopressin is commonly used in conditions like diabetes insipidus, nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting), and sometimes ...
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August 28, 2025 • 16 mins
On this podcast, I cover ciprofloxacin pharmacology. Ciprofloxacin is one of the most widely recognized fluoroquinolone antibiotics and has been on the market for decades. Because of its broad utility, it often comes up in practice, but it also carries significant adverse effect concerns and boxed warnings that pharmacists and prescribers need to keep in mind.
From a pharmacology standpoint, ciprofloxacin works by inhibiting bac...
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August 21, 2025 • 13 mins
Vilazodone (brand name Viibryd) is an antidepressant with a unique pharmacologic profile compared to most other agents in the SSRI class. While not a first-line choice for every patient, understanding its mechanism, adverse effects, and interaction profile is essential for optimizing therapy and preventing downstream prescribing problems.
Mechanism of ActionVilazodone is classified as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SS...
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August 14, 2025 • 12 mins
Solifenacin is a bladder antimuscarinic medication most commonly used for overactive bladder (OAB) with symptoms of urinary frequency, urgency, and urge incontinence. Like other agents in its class, understanding the pharmacology can help anticipate potential side effects, drug interactions, and downstream prescribing problems.
Mechanism of Action
Solifenacin selectively blocks muscarinic M3 receptors in the bladder detrusor ...
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August 7, 2025 • 10 mins
In this episode, we break down itraconazole—a potent antifungal with a lot of baggage. If you’re a pharmacist, clinician, or student who needs to understand how this drug works and why it can be tricky to use, this episode is for you.
We start with the basics. Itraconazole blocks 14α-demethylase, an enzyme fungi need to make their cell membranes. That disruption kills or slows the fungus. It works against tough bugs like Aspergi...
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July 31, 2025 • 16 mins
In this episode of our pharmacology podcast, we take a deep dive into the pharmacology of levomilnacipran (Fetzima), a unique serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. Designed for pharmacy students, clinicians, and anyone interested in psychopharmacology, this episode breaks down what makes levomilnacipran different from other antidepressants and how...
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July 24, 2025 • 16 mins
Asenapine is an atypical antipsychotic that acts as an antagonist at multiple receptors, including dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT2A, contributing to its antipsychotic and mood-stabilizing effects.
Adverse effects of asenapine include somnolence, dizziness, and extrapyramidal symptoms.
Because asenapine is significantly metabolized by CYP1A2, inhibitors or inducers of these enzymes can affect its plasma concentrations.
Co-a...
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July 17, 2025 • 14 mins
Loxapine is a first-generation (typical) antipsychotic with dopamine D2 receptor antagonism as its primary mechanism, though it also has affinity for serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, making its pharmacology somewhat atypical.
Loxapine is available in multiple formulations, including oral capsules and an inhalation powder, the latter approved specifically for acute agitation in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder.
Sed...
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July 10, 2025 • 14 mins
Ketoconazole is an imidazole antifungal that works by inhibiting fungal cytochrome P450 14α-demethylase, an enzyme essential for ergosterol synthesis, which disrupts fungal cell membrane integrity.
Common adverse effects of ketoconazole include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and elevated liver enzymes, with hepatotoxicity being a notable concern.
Ketoconazole carries a boxed warning for severe hepatotoxicity, including cas...
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July 3, 2025 • 16 mins
NSAIDs can reduce the effectiveness of antihypertensive medications such as ACE inhibitors, ARBs, beta-blockers, and diuretics by promoting sodium and water retention and decreasing renal blood flow.
Combining NSAIDs with anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents like warfarin or aspirin significantly increases the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, due to additive effects on platelet inhibition and mucosal irritation.
NSAIDs can...
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June 26, 2025 • 13 mins
Lotrisone is a topical cream that contains a combination of clotrimazole, an antifungal, and betamethasone dipropionate, a corticosteroid.
It is used to treat fungal skin infections such as athlete’s foot, jock itch, and ringworm that also involve inflammation or itching.
Clotrimazole works by disrupting the fungal cell membrane, while betamethasone reduces redness, swelling, and itching.
Lotrisone should not be used on th...
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June 19, 2025 • 14 mins
Fluphenazine is a high-potency typical antipsychotic that primarily acts as a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist in the mesolimbic pathway, reducing positive symptoms of schizophrenia.
Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), such as dystonia, akathisia, and parkinsonism, are common due to potent D2 blockade in the nigrostriatal pathway.
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), though rare, is a life-threatening adverse effect characterized ...
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June 12, 2025 • 14 mins
On this podcast episode, I discuss quinapril pharmacology, adverse effects, drug interactions, pharmacokinetics, and much more.
Quinapril is a prodrug that is converted in the liver to its active metabolite, quinaprilat, which inhibits ACE, leading to decreased formation of angiotensin II and reduced aldosterone secretion.
Hyperkalemia can occur with quinapril use due to decreased aldosterone, leading to potassium retention—...
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