News

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs are frequently dispensed in our pharmacy. We’ve had them for many years and new information about when NOT to use them seems to come out rather frequently. With all the pressure on prescribers to avoid opioids, NSAIDs are being called upon to provide pain relief...

Last week we discussed the role of antihistamines in the treatment of seasonal allergies, and delineated the three generations of antihistamines.  Since everything we do as practicing clinicians revolves around patient care, let’s discuss counseling points to share with each patient that utilizes our expertise. SECOND GENERATION ANTIHISTAMINES:  do...

Last week we discussed the abundance of ragweed and its associated effects right here in Central Pennsylvania.  This week we will discuss the use of antihistamines, of the first generation. MECHANISM: ANTI-histamines block the action of histamine on tissues containing histamine receptors.  Some also block histamine release, but only...

Achoooo.. That most familiar sound we hear this time of the year as the ravages of ragweed in the fields affects our patients.  A retired allergist once told me that Central Pennsylvania was the best place on earth to practice!  We have the deciduous and evergreen tree pollens in...

My students frequently ask me to create charts to help them have a “fast and dirty” means to look things up based on efficacy, cost and mechanism.  I have rolled the past 15 newsletters into this chart for your reference. As always feel free to reach out to your...

Simply put, glucagon raises blood sugars. Glucagon increases glucose by mobilizing conversion of sugar (glycogen) stored in the liver. Glucagon is administered for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia, especially for patients unable to swallow. Up until 2019, glucagon could only be administered as an injection that needed reconstituted.  This...

NPH “Neutral Protamine Hagedorn”  as we mentioned in the history of insulin is regular insulin that is matched molecule for molecule with the protein Protamine, which makes the regular insulin longer acting. The first commercially available NPH was available in 1950.  The human insulin formulations became available in the...

Rapid acting insulins are used for mealtime management of blood sugars.  The insulin is given before a meal, with some clinicians telling patients “have a fork in one hand, and your insulin pen in the other!” Ideally the patient does their carb counting and calculates the dose of mealtime...