ABOUT COURSE
This course offers a deep dive into Doxylamine, an antihistamine with sedative properties commonly used as an over-the-counter sleep aid, particularly for short-term management of insomnia, including during pregnancy.
The curriculum covers essential topics for prescribers including:
- Indications
- Dosage and Administration
- Mechanism of Action
- Pharmacokinetics
- Warnings
- Drug Interactions
- Contraindications
- Augmentation Strategies
- Recommended Lab Tests
- Therapeutic Levels
- Overdose Management
- Tapering/Withdrawal
- Use in Special Populations-
- Pregnancy,
- Lactation,
- Renal Impairment,
- Hepatic Impairment,
- Cardiac Impairment,
- Elderly,
- Children and Adolescents.
- Important pearls based on years of practice.
- This course aims to enrich the clinical capabilities of psychiatric nurse practitioners and other prescribers by providing the knowledge to prescribe and manage Doxylamine therapy effectively and safely.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Brand Names & Generic:
- Learn about brand names under which Doxylamine is marketed.
- Learn about different generic names under which Doxylamine is available in the market.
Indications:
- Learn the FDA-approved uses and potential off-label applications of Doxylamine.
- Know the dosages of all potential off-label uses.
Dosage and Administration:
- Understand different medication forms and their administration.
- Implement appropriate dosage and administration guidelines for Doxylamine in various clinical scenarios.
- Learn how to dose Doxylamine correctly and identify usual dosage ranges.
Pharmacological Effects:
- Explore the mechanisms of Doxylamine.
- Understand how Doxylamine works in the brain to treat sleep therapy and other conditions.
- Discuss the impact of Dixyrazine on neurotransmitter levels and brain chemistry.
Pharmacokinetics:
- Absorption: Understand how Doxylamine is absorbed in the body.
- Distribution: Learn about the distribution of Doxylamine in the body.
- Metabolism: Discuss the metabolism of Doxylamine.
- Elimination: Understand how Doxylamine is eliminated from the body.
- Half–life: Know the half-life of Doxylamine and its clinical significance.
Drug Interactions:
- Identify common drug interactions with Doxylamine and strategies for managing them.
- Understand the mechanisms through which these interactions occur. Know which medications should be avoided with Doxylamine due to drug interactions.
Common Side Effects:
- Learn about the most common side effects of Doxylamine.
- Understand potential life-threatening side effects and how to manage them.
- Educate patients on what to expect and how to manage side effects.
Contraindications:
- Learn the conditions under which Doxylamine should not be used.
- Understand the reasons why these conditions are contraindicated.
Best Augmenting Combos for Partial Response:
- Learn about the best augmenting combinations for patients with partial response to Doxylamine.
- Discover effective strategies for augmenting Doxylamine therapy.
- Evaluate the efficacy and safety of common augmentation strategies.
Recommended Lab Tests:
- Learn about recommended lab tests for safe and effective monitoring.
- Identify necessary lab tests to monitor patients on Doxylamine.
- Interpret lab results to guide treatment adjustments.
Therapeutic Monitoring:
- Apply strategies for therapeutic monitoring to optimize treatment outcomes.
- Know about the therapeutic blood levels for Doxylamine.
Overdose:
- Understand the signs and symptoms of Doxylamine overdose.
- Recognize early warning signs of overdose and effective management strategies.
Tapering/Withdrawal:
- Apply best practices for tapering and withdrawal of Doxylamine to minimize withdrawal symptoms.
- Follow the best protocols based on decades of clinical practice to safely taper Doxylamine.
- Educate patients on the process and expected symptoms of tapering.
Usage with Special Populations:
- Gain insights into the unique considerations for prescribing Doxylamine to special populations such as pregnancy, lactation, hepatic impairment, renal impairment, cardiac impairment, elderly, and children.
- Tailor Doxylamine dosage for special populations considering their unique needs. Understand the risks and benefits of Doxylamine use in these populations.
Important Pearls:
- Learn about essential clinical pearls to enhance practice and ensure patient safety.
- Understand the most important facts about Doxylamine based on decades of clinical practice.
- Apply practical tips and experiences from clinical practice to improve patient outcomes.
