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Podcast Archive

HelixTalk #170 - Hope and Healing: Overcoming Opioid Use Disorder Through Evidence-Based Therapies

Date posted: August 29, 2023, 6:00 am

In this episode, together with our faculty colleague, Dr. Roberta Dume, PharmD, BCPP, we discuss the pharmacologic options and evidence for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) and how pharmacists play a vital role in assisting patients suffering from opioid use disorder.


HelixTalk #169 - Introducing HelixTalk’s 2023 Drug Superlative Awards!

Date posted: August 8, 2023, 6:00 am

In this episode, we announce the second iteration of the HelixTalk Drug Superlative Awards -- awards given to medications on the market that are outstanding or notorious. In announcing these completely fictitious awards, we review key clinical pearls and pitfalls that every clinician should be aware of with these notable medications.


HelixTalk #168 - Beyond the Controversy: Exploring Efficacy and Safety of Medication Abortion

Date posted: July 18, 2023, 6:00 am

There has been a lot of news about abortion (abortifacient) medications recently. Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022, individual states passed their own laws restricting access to abortion, this includes access to abortion medications. This clearly impacts the way pharmacists practice. In this episode, we summarize the science behind the two main abortive drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, and provide a picture of how the access to these medications stand in the United States.


HelixTalk #167 - Beyond One-Size-Fits-All: Unraveling the Genetic Tapestry of CYP2D6 Drug Metabolism

Date posted: June 27, 2023, 6:00 am

In this episode, we review the science behind genetic differences in humans in the CYP2D6 hepatic enzyme responsible for drug metabolism and how these genetic variants can lead to certain drugs being metabolized far too much or far too little, which can cause drug toxicities or a lack of effectiveness.


HelixTalk #166 - Thiazide Throwdown: Hydrochlorothiazide vs. Chlorthalidone - The Ultimate Showdown for Hypertension Management

Date posted: June 6, 2023, 6:00 am

In this episode, we compare hydrochlorothiazide and chlorthalidone, but specifically from a cardiovascular outcomes perspective when used in patients with hypertension.


HelixTalk #165 - QT and the Beast: Managing Medications That Prolong the QT Interval

Date posted: May 16, 2023, 6:00 am

In this episode, we discuss the concerns of QTc prolongation, which can cause a fatal arrhythmia called torsades de pointes (TdP). We cover the difference between QT and QTc, how to interpret a QTc (and when it is inaccurate), common medications that prolong QTc, and how pharmacists can evaluate the risk of QTc/TdP in patients who are receiving QTc-prolonging therapies.


HelixTalk #164 - Breaking Down the Updates: Key Changes and Implications of the 2023 American Diabetes Association Guidelines

Date posted: April 25, 2023, 6:00 am

In this episode, we will discuss the most important updates from the American Diabetes Association’s 2023 Standards of Care in Diabetes.


HelixTalk #163 - The Two-Drug Tango: A Concise Guide to Tacrolimus and Mycophenolate in Organ Transplantation

Date posted: April 4, 2023, 6:00 am

In this episode, we review clinical pearls and common pitfalls of immunosuppression regimens for organ transplantation with a particular focus on tacrolimus and mycophenolate.


HelixTalk #162 - A1C You Later: A Concise Review of Continuous Glucose Monitors for the Practicing Pharmacist

Date posted: March 14, 2023, 6:00 am

In this first ever CE episode, we discuss the A-Zs of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs).

ACPE-Accredited Pharmacist CE (1.0 hrs)

To obtain CE credit for a $5 fee, visit the following link: https://rfums.wufoo.com/forms/z1qzh5vf0ggr832/. Once payment is successful, you will be redirected to our CE partner (CE Impact) to complete an evaluation and to earn 1.0 hour of CE credit. CE is available for 12 months after episode publication.


HelixTalk #161 - My Loss Is Your Gain! How Drug Repository Programs Are Helping Patients Afford High-cost Medications

Date posted: February 21, 2023, 6:00 am

In this episode, we interview Dr. Shannon Rotolo and Dr. Alex Berce regarding Illinois and Wisconsin drug repository programs – these are programs that allow certain medications to be donated to participating sites and then redistributed to patients at a very low dispensing cost.