Pharmacy - Emergency Medicine Deep Dive Podcast

Anthony Lau
  • 5.0 (1)
  • MEDICINE
  • UPDATED DAILY

Pharmacy - Emergency Medicine Deep Dive Podcast delivers high-impact, high-yield clinical pearls in emergency medicine, with a focus on pharmacotherapy and EM critical care. Each episode explores real-world cases, unpacks emerging research, and breaks down the latest evidence to support confident, informed decisions at the bedside. Notebook LM AI cuts down the time spent on manual scripting and narration, making episode production more efficient while maintaining expert insight and timely, practical knowledge. If you’re into meds, mechanisms, and critical decision-making, this is for you!

  1. FEB 6

    Still Febrile: When Ongoing Fevers Don’t Mean Treatment Failure

    The fever persists but does that mean treatment is failing? Not necessarily. In this episode we unpack why ongoing fevers do not automatically signal the need to escalate antibiotics. Instead, smart stewardship focuses on the bigger picture including hemodynamic stability, improving organ function, and microbiologic data that reveal the true course of infection. You will learn how to interpret persistent fevers, avoid unnecessary drug toxicity, and make informed decisions that fight antibiotic resistance all without overreacting to the thermometer.

    14 min

  2. JAN 25

    When Medications Fail: Can Keto Stop Seizures?

    Drug resistant status epilepticus and seizures are some of the highest stakes emergencies in the ED. In this episode, we explore the ketogenic diet as an emerging strategy for patients who continue seizing despite standard therapy. We highlight how quickly seizure control can be achieved, why early initiation in critically ill patients is gaining attention, and how this therapy is starting to influence acute care decision making. Tune in to see how a traditionally outpatient therapy is stepping into the ED and ICU playbook for bedside seizure management.

    13 min

  3. JAN 25

    Ketamine and Second-Line Agents in Status Epilepticus Management

    Status epilepticus is a true neurologic emergency where every minute matters. In this episode, we review modern emergency management strategies, starting with benzodiazepines as first line therapy and examining why traditional second line agents like levetiracetam often fall short in rapidly stopping seizures. We explore growing evidence supporting the early use of ketamine, highlighting its ability to terminate refractory seizures while maintaining hemodynamic stability and often avoiding immediate intubation. The discussion emphasizes the importance of adequate early dosing and decisive escalation to prevent long term neurologic injury. Ultimately, this episode makes the case for faster, more aggressive intervention to achieve seizure control within the critical first thirty minutes.

    16 min

  4. JAN 19

    From Rate to Rhythm: Why Early Treatment Changes Atrial Fibrillation Outcomes

    Rate control has long been the default strategy for atrial fibrillation, reserving rhythm control primarily for symptom management. In this episode, we examine the EAST-AFNET 4 trial and the evidence supporting early rhythm control as a means to reduce stroke and cardiovascular death in patients diagnosed within the past year. We discuss how timely initiation of anti arrhythmic therapy or catheter ablation differs fundamentally from delayed rhythm strategies studied in earlier trials. The episode explores why these findings challenge longstanding practice patterns and how they may redefine standard care for newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation, even in minimally symptomatic patients.

    12 min

  5. JAN 12

    When Heart Failure Improves...What Comes Next?

    Heart failure looks better on paper but is it really gone? In this episode, we explore the landmark TRED HF trial and why a recovered ejection fraction in dilated cardiomyopathy often represents remission rather than cure. Nearly 40% of patients relapsed within six months of stopping therapy, and that risk rose to 65% over five years, sometimes even after medications were restarted at lower doses. We discuss why cardiac imaging and biomarkers still cannot reliably identify who can safely stop treatment. The message is clear: for most patients, continuing guideline directed medical therapy (GDMT) remains essential to protect the heart and prevent relapse.

    17 min
  6. Ketamine as a Neuroprotective Agent Following Cardiac Arrest

    JAN 5

    Ketamine as a Neuroprotective Agent Following Cardiac Arrest

    In this episode, we explore the potential of ketamine as a neuroprotective therapy for patients recovering from cardiac arrest. Brain injury after arrest often follows a “two-hit” process of ischemia and reperfusion, triggering toxic chemical cascades that damage neurons. As an NMDA receptor antagonist, ketamine may interrupt these pathways and help preserve cognitive function. While animal studies show promise, human clinical trials in this population are still lacking. We also discuss how modern evidence challenges old concerns about ketamine and intracranial pressure, highlighting the need for future research on its role in post-arrest neurological outcomes.

    18 min
  7. Medetomidine: Clinical Realities of a New Illicit Drug Toxidrome

    12/31/2025

    Medetomidine: Clinical Realities of a New Illicit Drug Toxidrome

    This episode explores the emergence of medetomidine, a powerful veterinary sedative, now appearing in the illicit opioid supply and rapidly replacing xylazine across various regions of the United States and Canada. Clinicians are reporting a severe and unfamiliar withdrawal syndrome marked by extreme hypertension, rapid heart rate, and persistent vomiting, often requiring ICU care and resisting standard treatments. We explore how prolonged sedation complicates naloxone reversals, why standard opioid withdrawal treatments frequently fail, and how targeted alpha-2 agonists like dexmedetomidine are emerging as effective stabilization tools. The discussion highlights the urgent need for expanded toxicology screening and updated emergency and public health protocols as the polysubstance crisis continues to evolve.

    19 min
  8. Rethinking Rate Versus Rhythm Control in Atrial Fibrillation

    12/23/2025

    Rethinking Rate Versus Rhythm Control in Atrial Fibrillation

    When managing atrial fibrillation, clinicians face a pivotal choice...control the heart rate or restore normal rhythm. In this episode, we explore emerging evidence showing that for patients with long standing atrial fibrillation, neither strategy clearly outperforms the other in overall cardiovascular outcomes. However, timing changes everything. For patients diagnosed within the past year, early rhythm control can significantly reduce the risk of stroke and cardiac related death. Join us as we break down why the age of the condition, not just the treatment option, should guide clinical decision making.

    14 min
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About

Pharmacy - Emergency Medicine Deep Dive Podcast delivers high-impact, high-yield clinical pearls in emergency medicine, with a focus on pharmacotherapy and EM critical care. Each episode explores real-world cases, unpacks emerging research, and breaks down the latest evidence to support confident, informed decisions at the bedside. Notebook LM AI cuts down the time spent on manual scripting and narration, making episode production more efficient while maintaining expert insight and timely, practical knowledge. If you’re into meds, mechanisms, and critical decision-making, this is for you!

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