FDA Warns Against “Gas Station Heroin” Tianeptine
The FDA recently issued a warning about tianeptine, also known as “gas station heroin” – highlighting the risks for serious harm or death. Providers should be aware of this ingredient. Our NatMed article explains what tianeptine is – an atypical antidepressant available as a prescription medication in some countries. We explain that it’s increasingly used by people seeking opioid-like effects, and that any use runs the risk of abuse, dependence, and death.
FDA Warns Against “Gas Station Heroin” Tianeptine
The FDA recently issued a warning about tianeptine, also known as “gas station heroin” – highlighting the risks for serious harm or death. Providers should be aware of this ingredient. Our NatMed article explains what tianeptine is – an atypical antidepressant available as a prescription medication in some countries. We explain that it’s increasingly used by people seeking opioid-like effects, and that any use runs the risk of abuse, dependence, and death.
Pharmacy and Prescriber Podcasts
Medication Talk
Listen to this month’s podcast episode, Antidepressant Insights, as our expert panel discusses practical considerations for starting and optimizing antidepressants for treating depression and anxiety. You’ll listen to panelists cover various aspects of antidepressant use, such as serotonin syndrome, QT prolongation, and weight gain concerns.
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.
Rumor vs Truth
Listen to or watch the latest episode, Shedding Light On Sunscreens, as two of our TRC Healthcare editors, Steven Small, PharmD, BCPS, BCPPS, BCCCP, CNSC, and Don Weinberger, PharmD, PMSP, throw some serious shade at common sunscreen myths. Grab your shades and join our myth-busting duo as they shine a light on the facts about hot-button sunscreen claims.
Clinical Capsules
Listen to our latest episode, Diabetes Treatment Debate: Should Metformin Still Be Used First?, as TRC Healthcare editor, Rachel Cole, PharmD, delves into the debate about whether newer medications for Type 2 diabetes, including SGLT-2 inhibitors or GLP-1 agonists, should be used first-line instead of metformin. She examines the benefits and drawbacks of these newer medications, including their cardiovascular and kidney benefits, side effects, and costs.
Upcoming Live CE Webinars for Your Clinicians
Mastering Meds After Acute Coronary Syndromes
Date: July 22 & 24, 2025
In this month’s live webinar, Mastering Meds After Acute Coronary Syndromes, you’ll hear our panelists discuss the latest evidence-based recommendations for managing medications after heart attacks and other cardiac events. Listen as our panelists review which antiplatelet(s) to use and how long to use them. You’ll also hear our panelists discuss optimal blood pressure meds along with the role of statin and non-statin cholesterol meds in this population.
You can submit any questions you have here and you may hear 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
Understanding Biosimilars: From Basics to Clinical Practice
Date: August 19 & 21, 2025
In this month’s live webinar, Understanding Biosimilars: From Basics to Clinical Practice, you’ll hear our panelists discuss what biosimilars are and how to incorporate them into patient care. And you’ll listen as our panelists share practical considerations for choosing and dispensing biosimilar meds.
You can submit any questions you have here and you may hear 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 2025 Live Webinars
Also, check out our upcoming Pharmacy Essential live CE webinars. Topics include:
July- Anticholinergics and new Medicare Star rating
- Diversion of non-controlled substances
- Restless legs syndrome
- NatMed Spotlight: Panax Ginseng and Ginkgo
August
- New drugs for migraine
- Sunscreens
- NatMed Spotlight: Tianeptine
*Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians can earn 1 Hour of CE for each attended webinar.
The Compounding Chronicles
Essential Training and Compliance for Immediate-Use Compounding
By Adam West, Course and Curriculum Manager at CriticalPoint
This month’s Compounding Chronicles blog post recaps a webinar on evolving sterile compounding regulations. As USP <797> compliance broadens, responsibilities extend to nurses, anesthesiologists, and other clinical staff. Presenters Adam West and Steve Small highlighted key updates on immediate-use compounding, contamination risks, and training—emphasizing that proper aseptic technique, role-specific SOPs, and ongoing education are essential for patient safety and compliance.
The Compounding Chronicles
Essential Training and Compliance for Immediate-Use Compounding
By Adam West, Course and Curriculum Manager at CriticalPoint
This month’s Compounding Chronicles blog post recaps a webinar on evolving sterile compounding regulations. As USP <797> compliance broadens, responsibilities extend to nurses, anesthesiologists, and other clinical staff. Presenters Adam West and Steve Small highlighted key updates on immediate-use compounding, contamination risks, and training—emphasizing that proper aseptic technique, role-specific SOPs, and ongoing education are essential for patient safety and compliance.
Product Spotlight
Now Live! Experience the New NatMed Pro Website
We’re excited to announce that the upgraded NatMed Pro platform is now live! Whether your organization already uses NatMed Pro or you're considering it for your team, you'll notice a fresh new look and design along with major performance and functionality improvements.
Designed with you in mind, the new platform offers:
- A refreshed, intuitive interface for seamless navigation
- Enhanced performance with faster load times
- Mobile-friendly design for access on any device
- Expanded database featuring over 300,000 commercial products with label images
- Improved clinical tools, including an updated Interaction Checker Tool and Effectiveness by Condition Tool
- Advanced search capabilities with added filters and sorting options
Watch a demo webinar that provides a walk-through of the new site and visit our website upgrade overview for more information on the new changes.
Train Smarter. Stay Compliant with our NEW Compliance Library
Compliance shouldn’t be a burden, and with our new Employer Compliance Library, it doesn’t have to be. This turnkey training solution includes 55+ expert-developed courses covering OSHA, HIPAA, FWA, ethics, dementia care, and more, designed for both clinical and non-clinical teams. Built-in assignment and tracking through the Learning Management Portal make it easy to meet CMS and state requirements across locations. Custom training options available to align with your policies and state regulations.
Pharmacy Law & Regulatory Update
Key Pharmacy Trends from the 2025 Legislative Session
We know that keeping up with policy changes can be challenging, so we’ve created a concise summary of the 2025 legislative session, providing you with a quick and easy way to learn about important pharmacy-related legislative activities you may have missed. Download the summary here.
Here Are the Key Highlights:
Prescribing and Labeling Abortifacients
California, Colorado, Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island proposed or passed legislation to allow practitioners to request the use of the name of the practice, rather than the prescriber’s name, on labels for mifepristone, misoprostol, or their generic alternatives.
Off-label/Ivermectin Dispensing
Multiple states, including, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Wyoming have introduced or passed legislative updates making Ivermectin available as an over-the-counter drug.
Providing Contraceptives
Notable proposals to contraceptive prescribing/dispensing include:
- California: AB 968 would allow pharmacists to furnish non-hormonal contraceptives.
- Illinois: If passed, SB 3489 will permit dispensing of emergency contraceptives by pharmacists.
- Iowa: HF 605 would allow pharmacists to dispense a 12-month supply of contraceptives via standing order.
- South Carolina: S 477 would authorize pharmacists to dispense self-administered hormonal contraceptives per standing order or written joint protocol.
- Wisconsin: If passed, AB 43 will permit a pharmacist to
- Prescribe and dispense hormonal contraceptive patches and self-administered oral hormonal contraceptives to individuals 18 years and older.
To learn more about how Bula can help keep your organization compliant, contact us today.
Pharmacy Law & Regulatory Update
Key Pharmacy Trends from the 2025 Legislative Session
We know that keeping up with policy changes can be challenging, so we’ve created a concise summary of the 2025 legislative session, providing you with a quick and easy way to learn about important pharmacy-related legislative activities you may have missed. Download the summary here.
Here Are the Key Highlights:
Prescribing and Labeling Abortifacients
California, Colorado, Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island proposed or passed legislation to allow practitioners to request the use of the name of the practice, rather than the prescriber’s name, on labels for mifepristone, misoprostol, or their generic alternatives.
Off-label/Ivermectin Dispensing
Multiple states, including, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Wyoming have introduced or passed legislative updates making Ivermectin available as an over-the-counter drug.
Providing Contraceptives
Notable proposals to contraceptive prescribing/dispensing include:
- California: AB 968 would allow pharmacists to furnish non-hormonal contraceptives.
- Illinois: If passed, SB 3489 will permit dispensing of emergency contraceptives by pharmacists.
- Iowa: HF 605 would allow pharmacists to dispense a 12-month supply of contraceptives via standing order.
- South Carolina: S 477 would authorize pharmacists to dispense self-administered hormonal contraceptives per standing order or written joint protocol.
- Wisconsin: If passed, AB 43 will permit a pharmacist to
- Prescribe and dispense hormonal contraceptive patches and self-administered oral hormonal contraceptives to individuals 18 years and older.
To learn more about how Bula can help keep your organization compliant, contact us today.
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.
