In episode 606, Jamie and James go over the best available evidence we have for the medications used in overactive bladder, with a focus on a newer agent mirabegron. We end up having to discuss the exciting topics of number of voids and dry mouth and at the end we give you all the numbers you need to have an evidence-based conversation with your patients.

Show Notes
1) Tools For Practice
Avoiding the void? Mirabegron for overactive bladder

2) PEIP Conference Edmonton October 17-18, 2025

In episode 605, James and Jamie get Emelie Braschi to answer a simple and common clinical question. ASA versus direct oral anticoagulants – which one is safer with regard to bleeding? As always it comes down to the numbers and we go over all those numbers and put them into the overall benefit and harm ratio for Afib.

Show Notes
1) Tools For Practice
An ASA a day keeps the Afib at bay?

2) SparcTool – Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation Risk Tool

3) PEIP Conference Edmonton October 17-18, 2025

In episode 604, James and Mike K get Jennifer Young to tackle the topic of nose bleeds and what the evidence shows around the use of topical tranexamic acid and how it compares to other treatments. We go over all the endpoints and give you all the numbers.

Show Notes
1) Tools For Practice
Stop the Drip: Tranexamic Acid Solution for Nosebleeds

2) PEIP Conference Edmonton October 17-18, 2025

In episode 603, James and Mike K invite Jennifer Young back to the podcast to talk about the best available evidence for topical minoxidil and hair growth. We discuss outcomes such as the numbers of hairs per squared centimeter – the main outcome reported – but when available, we also other report on other outcomes and also the side effects. So, if you want to know about numbers of hair per squared centimeter and all the other numbers, tune in.

Show Notes
1) Tools For Practice
Topical minoxidil for androgenetic alopecia: When blood pressure agents make you hairy
2) PEIP Conference Edmonton October 17-18, 2025

In episode 602, James and Mike Kolber go over the best available evidence for the benefits and the harms for one of the most commonly used classes of medications – proton pump inhibitors. We find out the benefit numbers are much larger than the harm numbers. Check out the podcast to get all the numbers you need to help people make decisions.

Show Notes
1) Tools For Practice
Side effects of long-term PPI use: Leaving a bad taste in your mouth?
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs): Is Perpetual Prescribing Inevitable?

2) PEIP Conference Edmonton October 17-18, 2025

3) SPARCTool

4) RX files PPI
Stopping your Proton Pump Inhibitor or “PPI”

In episode 601, James and Mike invite Jennifer Young back to the podcast to go over all the evidence we have for pregabalin and gabapentin in patients with fibromyalgia. During the discussion we find out how many people actually get a ≥30% reduction in pain compared to placebo. We even look at some information about different doses. All the numbers are revealed by the end of the podcast – and we give tips and suggestions throughout. Check it out.

Show Notes
1) Tools For Practice
Pharm for Fibro, Round 2: Can gabapentinoids ease the pain?

2) MEME Conference 2025 in Vancouver – May 9/10, 2025

In episode 600, James and Mike invite Jamie Falk back to the podcast again and we talk about if exercise helps movement in Parkinson’s disease. You might be surprised by the size of the effect so have a listen and get all the evidence and numbers you need.

Show Notes
Tools For Practice
Exercise for Parkinson’s Disease: More movement = Better movement?

MEME Conference 2025 In Vancouver – May 9/10, 2025

In episode 60, the sixth podcast in our saga on type-2 diabetes, we talk about what to do when metformin is not enough and get to the evidence surrounding other blood glucose lowering treatments. We fumble around in a pretty much evidence-free zone. James develops a bad case of hypoglycemia during the podcast because he hasn’t eaten since the start of the diabetes section of these podcasts; Mike comes to his aid by prescribing a low dose of a chocolate bar and eats the rest of it himself.

Show Notes

1) UKPDS (recent results)

NEJM 2008;359:1577-89

Table of results

2) Fluoxetine, orlistat, sibutramine for weight loss in type-2 diabetics

Arch Intern Med 2004;164:1395–404

3) Acarbose for impaired glucose tolerance

JAMA 2003;290:486-94

4) Glitazones meta-analyses

JAMA 2007;298:1180-8

JAMA 2007;298:1189-95

Table of results

5) Risks of an elevated A1c

Link to table

6) Long acting insulin analogues – no advantage

CMAJ 2009;180:385-97