#pharmacology
81 episodes
#4535: Gilbert's Syndrome to Rare IEMs: A Metabolic Spectrum Tour
One elevated lab value leads to a tour of 1,450 inborn errors of metabolism, from benign quirks to treatable disorders.
#4441: The Unforgiving Cold Chain
How Israel kept Pfizer's vaccine at -70°C from Belgium to Tel Aviv — and why one mistake destroys everything.
#4365: When ADHD Meds Cause Evening Depression
How to tell if your evening despair is a stimulant crash or actual depression — and what to do about it.
#4355: How to Treat Back Pain Without NSAIDs
Safe pain relief for back pain when NSAIDs aren't an option, plus how to stop acute pain from becoming chronic.
#4260: Rewriting Trauma: Psychedelics and Memory Reconsolidation
How psilocybin, MDMA, and ibogaine may help rewrite traumatic memories at the neural level.
#4253: How Alcohol Quietly Rewires Fear Memories
The surprising neuroscience of why a drink can silence fear — and how that opens a door to better treatments.
#4160: Why That "Dry" Wine Tasted Like Flat Coke
The chemistry of why "dry" on a label doesn't mean what you think — and which grapes deliver the real deal.
#4100: Can ADHD Drugs Be Heart-Safe?
Stimulants work for ADHD but strain the heart. Can we separate the benefits from the risks?
#3900: Why Zero-Side-Effect Drugs Are Impossible
Side effects aren’t design flaws—they’re physics. Here’s why no drug can ever be perfectly safe for everyone.
#3894: Why Your Asthma Inhaler Won't Stop Construction Dust
Your steroid inhaler blocks one inflammatory pathway. Irritants like dust use another. Here's how to close the gap.
#3880: The Safer Trap: Quaaludes and the Drug That Fooled Everyone
How a "safer" sedative became one of history's most dangerous cautionary tales in drug regulation.
#3759: Drug Interaction Alerts: Why Doctors Ignore 90% of Warnings
Why do doctors override 90% of drug interaction alerts? The gap between database warnings and clinical judgment, explained.
#3758: Singulair's Black Box Warning: What's the Real Risk?
What the FDA's strongest warning actually means for asthma patients — and how to monitor safely.
#3757: Why 7 Meds Is Safer Than You Think
Seven meds for seven conditions isn't a burden—it's appropriate care. Here's why the "bucket" metaphor is wrong.
#3756: The Late-Phase Asthma Trap: How to Actually Escalate
Why you feel fine after smoke exposure, then crash hours later — and a practical 4-phase plan to stay safe.
#3702: The Silent Side Effect of SSRIs
60% of patients on SSRIs experience sexual dysfunction. We break down the why and what to do.
#3700: Splitting Vyvanse for a Smoother Curve
Can you split a Vyvanse dose for better focus? We break down the pharmacokinetics of lisdexamfetamine and water titration.
#3604: The Bile Balancing Act After Gallbladder Surgery
Managing bile reflux and fat digestion after gallbladder removal – why the standard treatments often pull in opposite directions.
#3591: How SSRIs Change Your Body's Thermostat
Why some people melt in heat while others thrive — and how SSRIs, brown fat, and air conditioning all play a role.
#3530: How Pharmacies Stock 4,000 Drugs Without Running Out
How retail pharmacies stock thousands of obscure drugs while maintaining 97-99% in-stock rates.
#3529: Pill Organizer vs. App: What Actually Works?
Evidence shows a simple pill organizer beats apps for compliance. But the ideal system uses both.
#3527: When SNRIs Beat SSRIs: Pain, Energy & ADHD
Why pick an SNRI when withdrawal is worse? The answer depends on pain, energy, attention, and which molecule we're talking about.
#3521: SSRIs: How Different Are They Really?
Prozac, Lexapro, and beyond — how similar are SSRIs? A deep dive into selectivity, side effects, and what comes next.
#3507: Gout’s Hidden Fire: Rethinking a Systemic Disease
Gout is being reclassified as a whole-body inflammatory disease. Here’s what that means for treatment.