What’s Behind the Nootropic Buzz?
Nootropics or “smart drugs” promising to sharpen memory, enhance focus, and boost cognitive performance line pharmacy shelves, but effectiveness and safety are often unclear to patients. Our NatMed article unpacks evidence for 3 supplements trending as nootropics: bacopa, ginkgo, and lion’s mane mushroom. For instance, evidence that gingko improves cognition is mixed, and drug interactions are often a concern (e.g. anticoagulants, diabetes medications). While evidence for nootropics is limited, and often conflicting, we encourage lifestyle strategies, including better sleep, a balanced diet, and regular physical activity.
What’s Behind the Nootropic Buzz?
Nootropics or “smart drugs” promising to sharpen memory, enhance focus, and boost cognitive performance line pharmacy shelves, but effectiveness and safety are often unclear to patients. Our NatMed article unpacks evidence for 3 supplements trending as nootropics: bacopa, ginkgo, and lion’s mane mushroom. For instance, evidence that gingko improves cognition is mixed, and drug interactions are often a concern (e.g. anticoagulants, diabetes medications). While evidence for nootropics is limited, and often conflicting, we encourage lifestyle strategies, including better sleep, a balanced diet, and regular physical activity.
Pharmacy and Prescriber Podcasts
Medication Talk
Listen to this month’s podcast episode, Notable New Meds of 2025, as our editors discuss several novel drugs approved in 2025, including two new eye drops, a new topical for chronic hand eczema, and an oral nonhormonal option for patients with menopausal hot flashes. They’ll review efficacy, safety, and considerations for use with these new treatment options.
All Medication Talk episodes offer CE credit to Pharmacist’s Letter and Prescriber Insights subscribers for 2 years after the episode release date. Go to the CE/CME & Training Organizer and search “podcast” to find available courses.
Upcoming Live CE Webinars for Your Clinicians
Antimicrobial Stewardship: Putting Principles into Practice
Dates: February 17 and 19, 2026
In this month’s live webinar, GLP-1 Agonists: Clinical Conundrums and Expert Answers, you'll hear our panelists discuss the latest evidence and practical approaches for incorporating GLP-1 agonists into practice. And you'll listen as our panelists address challenging clinical scenarios and answer frequently asked questions for these increasingly prescribed medications.
Submit your questions here for a chance to have them answered during the webinar.
Available for APRNs, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, PAs, physicians, and RNs accreditation and CE/CME:
- ACCME: 1.00 hour
- ACPE: 1.00 hour – pharmacists and technicians
- ANCC: 1.00 hour
Pharmacy Essential Updates
Upcoming 2026 Live Webinars
Check out our upcoming Pharmacy Essential live CE webinars. Topics include:
February
- Oral semaglutide for weight loss
- COPD treatment updates
- Review of therapies for fibromyalgia
*Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians can earn 1 Hour of CE for each attended webinar.
The Compounding Chronicles
The Consultant Boom — Expertise or Just a Business Card?
By Adam West, Course and Curriculum Manager at CriticalPoint
Many pharmacies rely on certifiers for technical guidance. But what happens when the scope expands beyond certification? This month, the Compounding Chronicles discuss the difference between certifying and consulting, where overlap creates risk, and how organizations can build stronger, more defensible compliance programs through clear role boundaries.
The Compounding Chronicles
The Consultant Boom — Expertise or Just a Business Card?
By Adam West, Course and Curriculum Manager at CriticalPoint
Many pharmacies rely on certifiers for technical guidance. But what happens when the scope expands beyond certification? This month, the Compounding Chronicles discuss the difference between certifying and consulting, where overlap creates risk, and how organizations can build stronger, more defensible compliance programs through clear role boundaries.
Product Spotlight
We are proud to introduce TRC Healthcare's new Pharmacy Workforce Solutions, purpose-built for health systems, enterprise care pharmacies, and national pharmacy chains.
Backed by more than 40 years of trusted pharmacy education and used by 4,000 hospitals—including all Top 10 U.S. health systems—our role-based suites support your team across the full employment lifecycle, helping you build high-performing teams and reduce administrative burden:
- Pharmacy Technician Learning & Practice Suite: Tackle shortages and turnover with end-to-end support for onboarding, certification, and retention.
- Pharmacist Learning & Practice Suite: Accelerate clinical role expansion and improve decision-making with continuous professional development.
- Pharmacy Compliance Suite: Manage evolving regulations and audit preparation for both clinical and non-clinical staff.
- Compounding Compliance Suite: Ensure consistent adherence to USP standards and inspection readiness.
Reinforced with enterprise-grade analytics, these solutions provide the visibility you need to manage risk, demonstrate program effectiveness, and drive organizational performance.
Partner with us to align your education and workforce strategy for the future of pharmacy.
From Education Vendor to Workforce Partner: Introducing TRC Healthcare’s Pharmacy Workforce Solutions
Watch this recorded webinar to learn about TRC Healthcare’s new Pharmacy Workforce Solutions—a unified, role-based approach to developing your entire pharmacy team to achieve your specific business goals.
*This webinar does not offer CE credits for watching.
About TRC Healthcare
TRC Healthcare provides unbiased education, training, and support to every healthcare professional to reduce knowledge gaps, encourage evidence-based practice, lower costs, and deliver better patient outcomes.
