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Activity Date: 04/22/2021

Session Time and Location

The live session is complete.

Target Audience

This course is designed for pharmacists, nurse practitioners or other health care professionals involved in the comprehensive medication management of psychiatric and/or neurological patients.

Session Summary

CPNP members share their experiences dealing with clinical problems.

Phenibut Withdrawal

Joseph Cusimano, PharmD

Phenibut is an emerging drug of abuse in the United States, most commonly used for treating anxiety or insomnia, producing euphoria, or for cognitive enhancement. While uncommon, clinicians should be familiar with phenibut due to the risk of clinically significant withdrawal symptoms, including seizures. There is no standard treatment for phenibut withdrawal, but case report-level empiric data and an understanding of phenibut's pharmacology can be used to formulate practical recommendations for recognizing and preventing the sequelae of phenibut withdrawal.

Folic Acid Supplementation in Women with Epilepsy on Antiepileptic Drug(s)

Nicole Hahn, PharmD, BCACP

There remains uncertainty about what dose of folic acid should be prescribed in women with epilepsy planning pregnancy and taking antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including enzyme inducing AEDs, valproate, and lamotrigine.  High doses of folic acid are sometimes recommended in women taking AEDs.  However, there appears to be a lack of data to support this high dose recommendation and should be weighed against potential negative outcomes that may be associated with these higher doses. This clinical pearl will examine available data and guidelines on folic acid supplementation before/during pregnancy in women and its association with congenital malformations and neurodevelopment outcomes in infants.

Morbid Obesity: Implications for the Psychiatric Patient (and Practitioner)

Michael Shuman, PharmD, BCPP

Patients of extreme body weight are not well represented in clinical trials, and there is an overall lack of both data and awareness on how to factor this into drug selection and dose titration. This presentation will provide a brief overview of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic implications of obesity, focusing on the evidence regarding use of divalproex within the context of a patient case in order to give audience members more information on how to individualize dosing regimens within their own clinical practice.

Course Requirements

To receive ACPE credit for the live session at the Annual Meeting, you must:

  • Sign in (or create a FREE account).
  • Register for this course.
  • Attend and participate in the entire session and reflect upon its teachings.
  • Complete the evaluation at the end of the activity.
  • Provide the necessary details in your profile to ensure correct reporting by AAPP to CPE Monitor.

Upon successful completion, ACPE credit is reported within 24 hours to CPE Monitor although transcripts can be retrieved by participants online in their ACPE Transcript.

Faculty Information

Joseph Cusimano, PharmD
Nicole Hahn, PharmD, BCACP
Michael Shuman, PharmD, BCPP

View biographical information

Learning Objectives

Phenibut Withdrawal

  1. Discuss the pharmacology of phenibut.
  2. Recognize the signs, symptoms, and risks of acute phenibut withdrawal.
  3. Develop an evidence-based pharmacotherapy plan for mitigating phenibut withdrawal.

Folic Acid Supplementation in Women with Epilepsy on Antiepileptic Drug(s)

  1. Review data on use of folic acid supplements in women with epilepsy and effects on major congenital malformations and neurodevelopment in children.
  2. Recommend appropriate dose of folic acid supplement for women with epilepsy planning pregnancy.

Morbid Obesity: Implications for the Psychiatric Patient (and Practitioner)

  1. Describe the effects of obesity on psychotropic drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.
  2. Discuss strategies for adjusting valproate regimens based on body weight.

Continuing Education Credit and Disclosures

Activity Date: 04/22/2021
ACPE Contact Hours: 1.25
ACPE Number: 0284-0000-21-013-L01-P (Knowledge)
Nursing Credit Reminder: Note that ACPE credit is accepted for ANCC Certification Renewal and AANPCB advanced practice provider content. For specific questions related to your organization's acceptance of ACPE continuing education units, please contact your organization directly.

ACPEThe College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

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