In an interview with Pharmacy Times®, Pranav Garimella, MD, chief medical officer of the American Kidney Fund and board-certified nephrologist at UC San Diego Health, explains how pharmacists play a crucial role in guiding patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who may benefit from semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy; Novo Nordisk) by ensuring proper dosing, educating on potential gastrointestinal side effects, and monitoring for drug-drug interactions. Garimella discusses how CKD can be a silent killer that often goes undetected until advanced stages and that by fostering a collaborative care model involving endocrinologists, nephrologists, and primary care providers, pharmacists can help improve patient outcomes with semaglutide treatment.
Pharmacy Times: How can pharmacists appropriately counsel and educate patients…