March 24, 2023
The Link Between Pain and Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD)
Treating patients with severe dementia is complex and challenging. The frustrating reality is that these individuals are usually unable to communicate basic needs. In turn, unmet needs contribute to the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) — in particular, agitation, aggression (verbal and/or physical), apathy, and depression.1,2 BPSD are disruptive and distressing to the […]
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February 22, 2023
Auvelity (dextromethorphan-bupropion) – A New, Fast-Acting Antidepressant
One of the problems with starting traditional antidepressants in hospice patients is that they might take too long to start working (typically a few weeks) and/or reach their full effect (up to 8 weeks). To get around this, some hospice clinicians will prescribe methylphenidate or ketamine to treat depression more rapidly; the onsets are about […]
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August 2, 2022
Albuterol vs. Levalbuterol: What’s the Difference?
Albuterol and levalbuterol are short-acting beta-2 agonists (SABAs) that are used to manage acute breathlessness associated with asthma, COPD, or bronchospasm.1-3 Both drugs exert their primary effects by binding to beta-2 receptors in the lungs, which causes smooth muscle relaxation and bronchodilation.1-3 So, what’s the difference between the two? Albuterol is a racemic mixture, meaning it contains […]
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November 23, 2021
In The News: Are Barnacles the Answer for Bleeding Humans?
Thankfully, most hospice patients will never experience significant bleeding. That said, when it does occur in can be extremely traumatic. Patients with end-stage renal or liver disease, cancer (especially head/neck and large lung tumors), and those receiving anticoagulation are at higher risk for serious bleeding. OnePoint’s Clinical Symptom Guide, now in its 3rd edition, details numerous […]
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July 19, 2021
In the News: LIFE Trial Sheds Light on Entresto Use in Advanced Heart Failure
ACE-inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are mainstays of heart failure treatment. But, if you have heart failure patients on your census, it might seem like more of them are taking sacubitril/valsartan (marketed as Entresto) – a sign that providers are keeping up with the 2021 update to the American College of Cardiology’s (ACC) […]
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June 7, 2021
One Minute Consult: Fact or Fiction? Atarax is Better for Itch and Vistaril is Better for Anxiety and Sleep
Hydroxyzine is a first generation histamine (H1) antagonist that’s been on the market since the 1950’s.1 Its mechanisms of action are unique. Not only does it compete with histamine for H1 receptor sites in the GI tract, blood vessels, and respiratory tract, but it also it exhibits activity at muscarinic, serotonergic, and dopaminergic receptors in various parts […]
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