PodcastRx

Like most facets of correctional healthcare, pain management is influenced by complexities on both sides of the exam room door.For this month's discussion- inspired by Chris' recent co-presentation on pain management for the American College of Correctional Physicians Conference- we explore the environmental obstacles to effective pain management in incarcerated settings, the need for more data, and the underutilization of non-pharmacologic treatments. We also drill down on the three types of pain, multimodal analegesia, trauma in pain assessment, and spotlight a few emerging pain therapies.Before that, the medication headlines:Juvmo for adults with Parkinson's DiseaseOnswik, the second weekly basal insulin approved in the USThe latest osteoarthritis recommendations from the American College of RheumatologyUpgraded migraine prevention guidelines from the American Academy of Neurology and American Headache SocietyAnd we finish up with a look back at a "shocking" non-pharmacologic pain treatment from ancient Rome.Link to the full show notes with references for further reading.Sponsor Links:www.opticsclinical.comwww.sapphire-health.comMusic in this Episode:The Retro Synth by Art HaizVitals & Headlines (Suno AI)Breezy Thoughts (Suno AI)Trivia Time Ticker (Suno AI)

On this episode, we take a break from corrections-focused medicine to talk about the emerging uses of gray market peptide therapies. While GLP-1s have enjoyed a celebrity and social media-fueled blockbuster status with their demonstrated effects on weight loss and diabetes, their unapproved peptide cousins with nebulous names like BPC-157, TB-500, and MOTS-c are growing in popularity thanks in part to wellness influencers touting them as biohacks for injury recovery, muscle growth, and more.Chris looks at the science behind peptides as a whole and their amazing history in the annals of medicine, before focusing in on the history of the gray market agents and where the research stands on their use and supposed effectiveness. He also digs into some recent regulatory dustups that have muddied the waters for consumers.Before that, we look at some key clinical updates:The First mRNA Flu VaccineMounjaro’s New Cardiovascular IndicationA New Single Tablet HIV Switch OptionLevetiracetam UpdatesAnd for our trivia capsule, we revisit the history behind at the granddaddy of peptide therapies – insulin.Link to the full show notes with references for further reading.Sponsor Links:www.opticsclinical.comwww.sapphire-health.comMusic in this Episode:The Retro Synth by Art HaizVitals & Headlines (Suno AI)Breezy Thoughts (Suno AI)Trivia Time Ticker (Suno AI)

It’s another listener-requested episode, and this time we’re turning our attention to anxiolytics in correctional settings.Chris provides a quick 101 on anxiolytics as a class and their outsized significance in correctional health care before addressing some very practical physician questions: Are Atarax and Vistaril truly different? Does buspirone actually work? Why does benzodiazepine monotherapy persist despite guideline recommendations? What SSRIs are better for anxiety than others? And so much more.Before that, Chris covers several important medication and regulatory updates, including the first-ever Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) Syndrome guideline, the FDA approval of Simtriyo for ADHD, new international guidance on low-level HIV viremia, and emerging concerns surrounding compounded peptide therapies.We wrap things up with a fascinating look back at Miltown (meprobamate), the first “blockbuster” anxiolytic drug.Link to the full show notes with references for further reading.Sponsor Links:www.opticsclinical.comwww.sapphire-health.comMusic in this Episode:The Retro Synth by Art HaizVitals & Headlines (Suno AI)Breezy Thoughts (Suno AI)Trivia Time Ticker (Suno AI)

Dyslipidemia – It has an outsized presence in correctional health settings and can be tough to manage for those patients. Fortunately for providers across all settings, managing dyslipidemia is becoming more streamlined with a new set of guidelines from the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association.Chris is here to break down these 2026 dyslipidemia guidelines, highlighting updated risk assessment tools, cholesterol targets, and evidence-based therapies while offering practical guidance tailored to correctional healthcare.To see Chris' handy dyslipedmia pocket guide, sign up for an account at opticsclinical.com.Before that, Chris brings us up to speed with medication newsBaxfendy- A brand new aldosterone synthase inhibitorOzempic- Oral tablets and the “retirement” of RybelsusHepcludex- Accelerated approval for the only Hep D drug in the USOrphines- Another synthetic opioid to look out forAnd to finish things out, we look at the amazing story of statins and their unlikely origin.Link to the full show notes with references for further reading.Sponsor Links:www.opticsclinical.comwww.sapphire-health.comMusic in this Episode:The Retro Synth by Art HaizVitals & Headlines (Suno AI)Breezy Thoughts (Suno AI)Trivia Time Ticker (Suno AI)

Drug shortages aren’t just temporary supply hiccups—they can become full-blown healthcare crises that can last for years and directly impact patient outcomes (especially in correctional settings). We look at all the dimensions of drug shortages, from manufacturing failures and fragile supply chains to economic and regulatory challenges. Chris highlights notable examples such as heparin and norepinephrine, examines the unique risks that shortages pose in correctional healthcare, and shares practical strategies that providers can use to prepare, respond, and protect patients when critical medications become scarce.Our discussion is based on a presentation that Chris was slated to give at the NCCHC Spring Conference in New Orleans that he ultimately had to miss. We briefly diverge into the why.Elsewhere, Chris takes a look at some new FDA approvals for GLP-1s and insulin, a new generic dapagliflozin, and the promising results of a recent clinical trial examining mirtazapine for methamphetamine use disorder. And in Trivia Capsule, we look back at one of the world’s first major drug shortages: quinine in the 17th century.Full show notes with references here.Sponsor Links:www.opticsclinical.comwww.sapphire-health.comMusic in this Episode:The Retro Synth by Art HaizVitals & Headlines (Suno AI)Breezy Thoughts (Suno AI)Trivia Time Ticker (Suno AI)