The Rx Bricks Podcast

USMLE-Rx
  • 4.9 (117)
  • Education
  • Updated Biweekly

The Rx Bricks podcast from USMLE-Rx is designed to help you master medical school. Each episode is an audio version of one of our revolutionary Rx Bricks, which are short, high-yield, interactive learning modules. Each week, we present a new audiobrick based on an important basic science topic (e.g., pressure-volume loops) or clinical concept (e.g., ischemic heart disease). Learn more at www.usmle-rx.com

  1. Aug 20

    Essentials – Stimulants and Cognitive-Enhancing Drugs

    In this episode, we explore stimulants and cognitive-enhancing drugs, medications used to improve alertness, attention, memory, and cognition. You’ll learn how commonly used agents such as amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, caffeine, donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine, and memantine work, along with the conditions they’re used to treat. We’ll also review important adverse effects, contraindications, and serious safety concerns, including cardiovascular complications, growth suppression, stimulant toxicity, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome. By the end, you’ll be better prepared to weigh the risks and benefits of these medications in clinical care. After listening to this AudioBrick, you should be able to: Name conditions for which stimulants and cognitive-enhancing drugs are used as treatment. Describe the mechanism of action of stimulants and cognitive-enhancing drugs. List the main examples of stimulants and cognitive-enhancing drugs. Describe the significant adverse effects of stimulants and cognitive-enhancing drugs. You can also check out the original brick on Stimulants and Cognitive-Enhancing Drugs from our Psychiatry collection, which is available for free. Learn more about Rx Bricks by signing up for a free USMLE-Rx account: www.usmle-rx.com You will get 5 days of full access to our Rx360+ program, including nearly 800 Rx Bricks. If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love for you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.  It helps with our visibility, and the more med students (or future med students) listen to the podcast, the more we can provide to the future physicians of the world.

  2. Aug 13

    Essentials – Physiology of the Renal Tubular System

    Why does a patient on furosemide end up needing a potassium supplement? In this episode we walk the length of the nephron— proximal tubule, loop of Henle, distal convoluted tubule, and collecting duct—and trace exactly how each segment reabsorbs and secretes to keep sodium, water, potassium, and acid-base in balance. Along the way we hit the transporters and drug targets that show up again and again on Step 1, from the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter that loop diuretics block to the aldosterone-driven potassium handling in the collecting duct. By the end, that furosemide-and-potassium puzzle will make complete sense. Looking for more information on this topic? Check out the Physiology of the Renal Tubular System brick. If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love for you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.  It helps with our visibility, and the more med students (or future med students) listen to the podcast, the more we can provide to the future physicians of the world. Follow USMLE-Rx at: Facebook: facebook.com/usmlerx Blog: usmle-rx.com/blog-posts X: @usmle_rx_ Instagram: @usmle_rx_ YouTube: youtube.com/USMLERX Learn how you can access over 250 of our bricks for FREE: https://usmle-rx.com/free-bricks/ Learn more about Rx Bricks by signing up for a free USMLE-Rx account: www.usmle-rx.com You will get 5 days of full access to our Rx360+ program, including over 900 Rx Bricks.

  3. Aug 6

    Essentials – Cholelithiasis and Cholecystitis

    Gallstones are hardened deposits that form when substances such as cholesterol or unconjugated bilirubin become overly concentrated in bile. They vary greatly in size and often cause no symptoms, but stones that leave the gallbladder can obstruct the biliary tract and cause inflammation or infection. After listening to this AudioBrick, you should be able to: Compare cholelithiasis, choledocholithiasis, cholecystitis, and cholangitis. Describe how cholesterol and pigment gallstones form. Identify the major risk factors, clinical course, and complications of gallstones. Distinguish acute from chronic cholecystitis. Describe the treatment of gallstones and acute cholecystitis. Explore the original Cholelithiasis and Cholecystitis brick from our Gastrointestinal collection. Access more than 230 Rx Bricks for free: https://usmle-rx.com/free-bricks/ Learn more about Rx Bricks: https://usmle-rx.com/products/rx-bricks/ — Enjoyed the episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts to help more medical students discover the show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rx-bricks-podcast/id1530646481 Follow USMLE-Rx: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/usmlerx Blog: https://usmle-rx.com/blog-posts/ X: https://x.com/usmle_rx Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usmle_rx_/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/USMLERX

  4. Jul 28

    Essentials – Gastrointestinal Regulatory Substances

    Digestion is regulated by a complex network of hormones, peptides, and neural signals. In this episode, we review the major gastrointestinal hormones, introduce several secondary regulatory peptides, and explain how the GI tract senses its luminal contents and integrates multiple signals to control digestive function. After listening to this episode, you should be able to: Identify the source, release stimulus, and function of the major gastrointestinal hormones, including secretin, cholecystokinin (CCK), gastrin, and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). Summarize the release stimuli and functions of key GI regulatory peptides, including bombesin, GLP-1, GLP-2, ghrelin, leptin, motilin, somatostatin, and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). Explain how the physical and chemical properties of luminal contents are sensed and how they trigger hormonal responses. Describe how GI cells integrate hormonal and neural inputs to regulate digestive function. You can also check out the original brick on Gastrointestinal Regulatory Substances from our Gastrointestinal collection, which is available for free. Explore more with USMLE-Rx Create a free USMLE-Rx account at www.usmle-rx.com. You’ll receive five days of full access to Rx360+, including over 800 Rx Bricks. After the trial, you can continue accessing more than 150 free Bricks, including the complete General Microbiology and Cellular and Molecular Biology collections. Enjoyed the episode? Please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts. Reviews help more medical students and future medical students discover the podcast…and help us continue creating resources for the physicians of tomorrow.

  5. Feb 12

    Rx Question Lab: Neurology

    Question Lab: Neuro for Step 1 Think you can spot a subarachnoid hemorrhage from the clues alone? What about localizing a stroke to the exact arterial distribution? In this episode of Question Lab, Dr. Abraham Titus walks through 4 board-style neurology questions, breaking down the clinical clues, teaching the underlying pathophysiology, and walking through the answers step by step. Pause the episode, commit to your answer, then listen to the explanation. It’s the closest thing to a live boards review session you can get on the go. Topics covered: Berry aneurysms and their classic associations Stroke localization and aphasia types Parkinson’s disease pharmacology Traumatic intracranial hemorrhages and herniation syndromes Want to try these Qmax questions yourself? Take the test: https://usmle-rx.scholarrx.com/share/jory9yevdp5kd3g Free Rx Study Planner: https://go.usmle-rx.com/study-schedule Learn more: www.usmle-rx.com

  6. 11/12/2025

    Shock

    Looking for more information on this topic? Check out the Shock brick. If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love for you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.  It helps with our visibility, and the more med students (or future med students) listen to the podcast, the more we can provide to the future physicians of the world. Follow USMLE-Rx at: Facebook: facebook.com/usmlerx Blog: usmle-rx.com/blog-posts X: @usmle_rx_ Instagram: @usmle_rx_ YouTube: youtube.com/USMLERX Learn how you can access over 150 of our bricks for FREE: https://usmle-rx.com/free-bricks/ from our Musculoskeletal, Skin, and Connective Tissue collection, which is available for free. Learn more about Rx Bricks by signing up for a free USMLE-Rx account: www.usmle-rx.com You will get 5 days of full access to our Rx360+ program, including nearly 800 Rx Bricks.  After the 5-day period, you will still be able to access over 150 free bricks, including the entire collections for General Microbiology and Cellular and Molecular Biology.

  7. 10/18/2025

    Rx Question Lab: USMLE Step 2 CK Cardiology

    Tackle High-Yield Concepts for USMLE Step 2 CK Cardiology This interactive session, led by Dr. Abraham Titus (Hematology/Oncology Fellow, University of South Alabama) and ScholarRx’s Jeff Downing, focuses on challenging USMLE Step 2 CK cardiology questions that will sharpen your clinical decision-making skills and deepen your understanding of cardiovascular medicine. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: In this episode, we work through four board-style questions using our proven systematic approach that helps you think like a clinician first, then a test-taker second. You’ll learn how to apply clinical guidelines and make evidence-based management decisions through detailed explanations that go beyond just identifying the correct answer. Topics Covered: Cardiovascular risk management and pharmacotherapy Acute coronary syndrome management strategies Peripheral vascular disease evaluation and treatment Secondary hypertension workup and management Perfect for: Medical students preparing for USMLE Step 2 CK Clinical year medical students on cardiology rotations IMGs studying for board exams Anyone looking to strengthen their cardiology clinical reasoning Review the full test: https://usmle-rx.scholarrx.com/share/1do75erd2wnmg0y Free Resources: Biochemistry Course: https://usmle-rx.com/biochemistry-course/ More Rx Bricks Podcasts: https://usmle-rx.com/podcast Study Planner: https://go.usmle-rx.com/study-schedule/

  8. 09/02/2025

    Physiology of the Renal Tubular System

    Looking for more information on this topic? Check out the Physiology of the Renal Tubular System brick. If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love for you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.  It helps with our visibility, and the more med students (or future med students) listen to the podcast, the more we can provide to the future physicians of the world. Follow USMLE-Rx at: Facebook: facebook.com/usmlerx Blog: usmle-rx.com/blog-posts X: @usmle_rx_ Instagram: @usmle_rx_ YouTube: youtube.com/USMLERX Learn how you can access over 150 of our bricks for FREE: https://usmle-rx.com/free-bricks/ from our Musculoskeletal, Skin, and Connective Tissue collection, which is available for free. Learn more about Rx Bricks by signing up for a free USMLE-Rx account: www.usmle-rx.com You will get 5 days of full access to our Rx360+ program, including nearly 800 Rx Bricks.  After the 5-day period, you will still be able to access over 150 free bricks, including the entire collections for General Microbiology and Cellular and Molecular Biology.

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4.9
out of 5
117 Ratings

About

The Rx Bricks podcast from USMLE-Rx is designed to help you master medical school. Each episode is an audio version of one of our revolutionary Rx Bricks, which are short, high-yield, interactive learning modules. Each week, we present a new audiobrick based on an important basic science topic (e.g., pressure-volume loops) or clinical concept (e.g., ischemic heart disease). Learn more at www.usmle-rx.com

Information

  • Creator
    USMLE-Rx
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    102
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 USMLE-Rx
  • Show Website
    The Rx Bricks Podcast

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