PodcastRx

For this episode, Chris takes an eyes wide open look at insomnia, particularly as it affects older adults. We talk about causes, the first line importance of non-pharmacologic treatments, and of course, the primary medications used for sleep onset and sleep maintenance and their clinical and cost considerations. We also digress briefly into insomnia management in the corrections environment and explore natural and OTC remedies. All...

When it comes to managing hypertension and reducing adverse cardiovascular events, what is the ideal blood pressure figure clinicians should target? OPTICS pharmacist Henry So joins Chris for some back and forth around this question. They look at the evolution (and proliferation) of blood pressure guidelines, examine controversies around certain studies, share some of their own personal experiences with hypertension, and ultimately...

Chris is heading to the Spring NCCHC Conference in Louisville, KY to rep Diamond/OPTICS and give a presentation on overweight and obesity management in the correctional setting. As revolutionary weight loss treatments take hold in the community and in the popular consciousness, Chris is seizing on the moment not to just to talk about GLP-1s, but to review weight management as a whole, pharmocologic and non-pharmacologic treatments,...

For the first #PodcastRx episode of 2025, Chris - in the spirit of New Year's resolutions- explores some common sense but effective tenets for improved clinical decision making.

Ahead of that, he details a few noteworthy expanded drug approvals (Vtama, Nemluvio, Zepbound) and revised treament guidelines (diabetes, metformin, borderline personaility disorder). And to close things out, he looks back at the ancient origins of the pharm...

With our hosts in a holiday mood and 2024 hurtling to a close, Chris reflects on the clinical, professional, and regulatory wants and wishes he'd like to see come true in 2025. We cover:

• Potential drug approvals
• Provider status for pharmacists
• Biosimilar substitution
• Relieving drug shortages
• A brief digression on Wegovy vs. Zepbound

Before that, Chris highlights the expanded approval of Bimzelx for hideranitis supportiva and bre...

There's no better occasion than American Diabetes Month to dive into practical treatment recommendations for Type 2 diabetes. Using the ADA's Pharmacologic Approaches to Glycemic Treatement as a roadmap, Chris breaks down his clinical approach to 8 of the most common glucose-lowering medications. We also discuss the pharmacist recommendation process, correctional environment concerns, and benchmarks for patient success.

Elsewhere in...

October is American Pharmacist Month, and to help recognize the many ways pharmacists care for communities, we talk to Chris about the influence and increasing importance of the clinical pharmacist in correctional and institutional healthcare settings. Chris details the primary strategies he and the OPTICS team use to impact patient care, reflects on the evolution of the clinical pharmacist role, explains how providers can better t...

Just one episode into the new PodcastRx with Chris Bender and we already have a special bonus for you! Chris breaks down must-know information surrounding COVID-19, influenza, RSV, and pneumonia vaccines ahead of respiratory disease season! And we learn some fun pharmacy trivia about the historical (and kinda gross) precursor to vaccination, variolation.

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It's the debut episode of PodcastRx with Chris Bender! Regular listeners know Chris is a clinical pharmacist with Diamond's Office of Pharmacy Therapeutics and Integrated Clinical Services (OPTICS) team and a repeat guest many times over on PodcastRx. We liked his appearances so much that we asked him to stay permanently- and he accepted! We're pleased to bring you a more segment driven-show centered around one of Diamond's most en...