Although not a “pharmacy-heavy” topic, ROP is essential knowledge for anyone in pediatrics. Incomplete development of the retina and surrounding blood vessels can lead to retinal detachment and blindness in severe cases. Learn the basics of patho, diagnosis, and treatment with this post.
Read MoreWhat do you get when a baby is born before their GI tract has had time to develop and mature fully? Bad things. NEC is a particularly nasty concern in these babies. Let tl;dr get you up to speed with the presentation, treatment, and prevention of Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Premature Neonates.
Read MoreHow many of you have heard a patient state that they need “the blue tablet” because nothing else works? Have you ever wondered whether there’s some underlying truth to their request? Before you get too exasperated trying to figure out which NDC they’re talking about, consider the possibility of a nugget of truth there. Although all humans are astoundingly genetically similar, we’re also clearly not clones. So it stands to reason that our genetic differences could also cause variability in our reactions to medications. Welcome to pharmacogenomics! Let tl;dr introduce you to this field and the opportunities that await.
Read MoreHave you ever stopped to marvel at how some of our littlest patients have the biggest hearts? Having just entered the world and without a clue about what’s going on, they so often fight, Fight, FIGHT for life! Total miracles. Even so, sometimes those big little hearts just don’t quite mature the way they need to, so we have to give them a little extra help. Let tl;dr give you the scoop on how a couple of common adult medications can be put to unusual uses for the neonatal heart.
Read MoreThere was a time several years ago that we here at tl;dr might have seemed a smidge obsessed with anticoagulants. (Because, tbh, we were. They were all the rage. We liked writing about them. A lot. And often.) Now, after a slight hiatus, we’re back with still more anticoagulant fun! Except this time, we’re turning the tables. What do we do when anticoagulation goes awry, and we need to hit the power button to turn it OFF? Let’s explore!
Read MoreFor those of you who enjoyed our rundown on adult vaccines this past March and were just hoping and waiting for a similar overview for children, guess what - wish granted! Let tl;dr give you the need to know info on how the immune system develops in infants, as well as what vaccines kids should receive (and why, of course!). Spoiler alert: we rather like vaccines around here.
Read MoreAfter a bit of a break from the world of pediatrics, tl;dr is diving back in! And we’re diving not just into general pediatrics but the specialty world of neonates. (We don’t play around here. Go big or go home, right?). So come with us for the start of our first ever NICU mini-series with a post on respiratory issues in the smallest of our precious gifts.
Read MoreAs pharmacists, there are maaaaany topics for which we have the luxury of time to investigate and double check answers. (You know we love that lovely phrase, “I’m not sure, but I’ll look it up and let you know.”) That being said, there are also some situations in which this extra time just isn’t on the table, and we need to have that knowledge in our hip pockets (sometimes literally!). Rapid sequence intubation (RSI) is one of these time-sensitive topics, so let tl;dr give you the need to know info.
Read MoreIt’s an understatement to say that HIV is a monster of a disease state. I mean, who’s with me? So many drugs with so many mechanisms of action, it can be hard to keep track. If this sounds like you, struggling to understand the difference between NRTIs and NNRTIs (let alone where they fit into a treatment regimen) you’re not alone. Luckily, this guide right here was literally developed with you in mind. Because someone’s gotta make it make sense, right?
Read MoreHave you ever taken a moment to consider everything that a retail pharmacist does in a given day? It’s pretty insane and amazing, especially considering their changing work environment and constraints, and it’s no wonder the retail world is experiencing difficulty retaining its staff. How might this be improved? How can employers keep these extremely valuable individuals content, fulfilled, practicing their best for patients, and quite frankly, fed during the day? We have some ideas!
Read MoreImagine designing a medication trial hoping to demonstrate one benefit…and then finding out that your study drug just happens to have significant additional health benefits? You’d be jumping for joy! Well, that’s exactly what happened with the GLP-1 receptor agonists. Originally intended for treatment of type 2 diabetes, they’re now making huge waves in the fight against obesity. Learn how in this star-studded post!
Read MoreHave you ever encountered a lab result that just didn’t make sense? Like, the clinical picture of the patient didn’t match what the lab reported? It happens, and as pharmacists, we need to have a critical brain for asking ourselves whether the lab result could be fake news. Let tl;dr share some quick knowledge about one such scenario - pseudohyperkalemia.
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