Activity Dates: 04/29/2025 - 04/29/2028
Date: Tuesday, 04/29/2025
Time: 3:10 PM (view in the schedule)
Room: Regency C-L4
If you are a pharmacist, nurse practitioner, or other health care professional involved in the comprehensive medication management of individuals living with mental health and/or substance use disorders, we invite you to participate in this online course.
This Clinical Pearls session consists of three, 15-minute presentations about unique psych pharmacy patient cases and/or clinical challenges. Each presentation will be recorded, and the three combined sessions are available for 1.0 hour of ACPE credit.
The Role of Buprenorphine in Restless Legs Syndrome, presented by Alissa Scalise, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP
Summary: Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a challenging neurologic condition that is treated with commonly used CNS pharmacotherapeutics. Opioid therapy has been used for many years for RLS, but many providers are hesitant given the opioid epidemic. Recent guidelines were released by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine with changes to the treatment algorithm have adjusted the place in therapy for dopamine agonists, a commonly known mainstay of RLS treatment. The importance of opioid therapy in RLS treatment will be highlighted in this clinical pearl, along with a patient case describing how buprenorphine can be a safe alternative to full agonist opioid therapy, highlighting another important clinical use of this important medication.
Pee Attention!: Interpreting Fentanyl Urine Drug Tests, presented by Roisin Sabol, PharmD
Summary: Nearly 70% of drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2023 involved fentanyl, underscoring the importance of continued harm reduction efforts to combat the opioid crisis. Urine drug monitoring can be a valuable source of objective information about fentanyl exposure, but this is contingent on appropriate use. As immunoassay and quantitative drug tests are increasingly used in clinical settings, accurate interpretation is essential. Understanding fentanyl’s unique pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties is foundational to recognizing the complexities and limitations of fentanyl urine drug tests.
Monitoring Methadone: Beyond the EKG, presented by Zoe Karavolis, PharmD, MPH, BCPP, CPH
Summary: Methadone is a first-line treatment option for opioid use disorder; however, it presents significant dosing challenges based on its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles. Serum methadone monitoring has been proposed as a tool to guide the interpatient variability that exists with dosing. To date, there is limited literature to support the use of methadone serum monitoring. This clinical pearl will review the clinical implications and potential role for methadone serum monitoring in clinical practice.
Alissa Scalise, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP
Roisin Sabol, PharmD
Zoe Karavolis, PharmD, MPH, BCPP, CPH
The American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.
AAPP owns the copyright, is licensed or has received permissions for use of, or is otherwise permitted to use copyrighted materials within any CPE activity. Authors and speakers are required to obtain necessary copyright permissions for content in CPE activities. AAPP complies with copyright laws and regulations.
Off-Label Use: This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA (see faculty information). The opinions expressed in the educational activity do not necessarily represent the views of AAPP and any educational partners. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.
Disclaimer: Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.
It is the policy of AAPP to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, scientific rigor, and integrity in continuing education activities. Those involved in the development of this continuing education activity have made all reasonable efforts to ensure that information contained herein is accurate in accordance with the latest available scientific knowledge at the time of accreditation of this continuing education activity. Information regarding drugs (e.g., their administration, dosages, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, special warnings, and precautions) and drug delivery systems is subject to change, however, and the reader is advised to check the manufacturer’s package insert for information concerning recommended dosage and potential problems or cautions prior to dispensing or administering the drug or using the drug delivery systems.
Fair balance is achieved through ongoing and thorough review of all materials produced by faculty, and all educational and advertising materials produced by supporting organizations, prior to educational offerings. Approval of credit for this continuing education activity does not imply endorsement by AAPP for any product or manufacturer identified.