Alex Evans, PharmD, MBA

I am a pharmacist and medical writer currently living in Hiroshima, Japan. I write a wide range of articles and am especially interested in health policy, drug pricing, and regulatory systems. I also enjoy teaching and have several online medical writing courses. I am a cofounder of Experts.ink.

Combating Fraud, Waste and Abuse in the Pharmacy S •

LiveCE | Combating Fraud, Waste and Abuse in the Pharmacy Setting - Live Webinar on November 13, 2024 8PM ET

This activity will help pharmacy staff identify FWA in the pharmacy setting. This CE activity will be using public case studies of CMS actions taken specifically against pharmacies for FWA to highlight some of the various ways that FWA can take place in both community and inpatient pharmacies.Practical points and best practices are highlighted throughout the presentation that will help pharmacies address FWA. Tips will be included to help everyone from technicians and staff pharmacists to distri...
Carlat Report •

Lithium, Valproate Have Low (and Similar) Risk of Kidney Injury

REVIEW OF: Bosi A et al, JAMA Netw Open 2023;6(7):e2322056

STUDY TYPE: Retrospective cohort study

Studies have had mixed results regarding the relationship between lithium and kidney injury. A 2012 meta-analysis of lithium and kidney injury was inconclusive, and studies since then have suffered from limitations and conflicting results. In an effort to clarify this issue, researchers once again looked at the risk of kidney injury in patients taking lithium—this time comparing it to those taking...
Carlat Report •

STAR*D Reanalysis Causes New Debate Over Antidepressant Efficacy

Review of: Pigott HE et al, BMJ Open 2023;13:e063095Study type: Reanalysis of an open-label, randomized, rater-blinded clinical trialWhen it comes to antidepressant efficacy, we often hang our hats on the 67% cumulative remission rate reported in the 2006 landmark Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) study. But a new reanalysis has sparked debate over those results.STAR*D was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. It included 4,041 patients ages 18–75 who s...
Carlat Report •

Do Mood Stabilizers Prevent Death in Bipolar Disorder?

Review of: Chen PH et al, Acta Psychiatr Scand 2023;147(3):234–247Study type: Retrospective cohort studyThe mortality rate in bipolar disorder is approximately double that of the general population. While suicide is one reason, bipolar disorder increases the risk of death from natural causes, too. Rates of suicide and all-cause mortality are lower with lithium, and this study compared those rates with anticonvulsant mood stabilizers (valproic acid, lamotrigine, and carbamazepine). Antipsychotics...
Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence in •

LiveCE | Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence in Health and Medical Communication

Artificial intelligence is profoundly changing a wide range of industries, including the healthcare industry. One of its numerous applications within healthcare is with medical writing and communications. AI tools are already being used for literature searches, referencing, creating articles, and even for regulatory writing. Future directions are numerous and clinical applications and EMR integration are possible. As healthcare providers, we need to stay up-to-date on this rapidly changing techn...
The Business of Pharmacy Podcast •

AI's Influence on Medical Writing | Alex Evans, PharmD, MBA

In this insightful episode of The Business of Pharmacy Podcast, we sit down with Alex Evans, a pharmacist turned medical writer, to explore the dynamic world of medical writing in the age of Artificial Intelligence. Evans shares his journey from pharmacy to medical writing and dives deep into how AI tools are reshaping the landscape of medical communications.


This week's episode is brought to you by The Phill Box from https://www.ParcelHealth.co.


https://www.pharmcompliance.com/ai-medical-writing


[00:00:19] - Alex's background in pharmacy and medical writing


[00:01:10] - Alex's current location in Japan


[00:03:31] - Working remotely in medical writing


[00:04:15] - Interacting with editors and deadlines


[00:06:49] - First impressions of AI in medical writing


[00:09:24] - Addressing fears about AI replacing writers


[00:11:37] - The importance of fact-checking AI content


[00:14:58] - Skillfully prompting AI for effective results


[00:18:08] - Audience-targeted writing with AI


[00:20:52] - Cost-effectiveness of AI writing tools


The Business of Pharmacy Podcast™ (https://www.linkedin.com/feed/#?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_feed%3B0NX9%2BAXjQk2f4k%2F5hjZsyA%3D%3D) , hosted by pharmacist Mike Koelzer (https://www.linkedin.com/feed/#) presents candid, in-depth conversations with pharmacy industry leaders every 📅 Monday morning.
Carlat Report •

DBT and Social Rhythm Therapy: A Novel Combination

Learning objectiveAfter reading this article, you should be able to:Review of: Bailey BC et al, Am J Psychother 2023; epub ahead of print.Study type: ProposalBipolar disorder (BD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD) are hard enough to treat on their own. But it’s especially challenging for patients with both.What BD and BPD have in common–emotional dysregulation, suicidality, and disrupted circadian rhythm–are what led researchers to combine dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and interpers...
Carlat Report •

Surprise Result for Adherence in Bipolar Disorder

Review of: Lintunen J et al, J Affect Disord 2023;333:403–408Study Type: Retrospective cohort studyPeople with bipolar disorder vote with their feet when it comes to medication adherence. This study tallied those votes, using data from a large national pharmacy database.Researchers enrolled 33,131 patients from Finland’s national health records database who were under age 65 and diagnosed with bipolar disorder between 1987 and 2018. Patients were included if they were prescribed mood stabilizers...
Course Method •

How Alex Evans Started an AI for Medical Writing Course

How Alex Evans Started an AI for Medical Writing Course

Our content is reader supported, which means when you buy from links you click on, we may earn a commission.
• Interesting Stats: $1,250 in sales in the first 4 days.

Who are you and what course have you created?

I am a pharmacist, but got into medical writing in 2016. When I was in pharmacy school I never heard of medical writing, and never pictured doing anything other than practicing community pharmacy.

I had written peer-reviewed pa
NetworkPharma.tv •

Embracing the AI Era in Medical Writing

Note this is a video recording of an online meeting conducted using the Zoom.us platform. Inevitably such recordings suffer a little in terms of their production values because of the internet connectivity and quality of webcams. Despite that, they allow us to provide additional valuable insights in to the MedComms business and we can involve a wider range of speakers who can participate from the comfort of their own desks, wherever in the world they are.
In this practical and engaging session,...
GoodRx •

Deflazacort vs. Prednisone: 5 Differences Between These Muscular Dystrophy Treatments

Muscular dystrophy refers to a group of genetic disorders that cause progressive muscle breakdown and weakness over time. There are over 30 different types of muscular dystrophy, each affecting muscles in their own unique way.

If you or your child have muscular dystrophy, your healthcare provider may prescribe corticosteroids to help slow down the progression of muscle weakness. They aim to keep your muscles stronger for longer. Two of the most commonly used corticosteroids for muscular dystrophy are deflazacort (Emflaza) and prednisone (Rayos).

Deflazacort and prednisone offer similar benefits, but they aren’t one in the same. Here, we’ll look at the top five differences between deflazacort and prednisone.
AchieveCE •

A Practical Pharmacy Guide to the Controlled Substance Act – 1 CE – Live Webinar on October 4, 2023 8PM ET

The Controlled Substance Act was passed in 1970 and regulates the supply chain of certain medications, chemicals, and substances designated as having the potential for abuse. Pharmacies are one step in that supply chain, and community pharmacies are the last step before those medications reach the patient. It is critical that pharmacists and technicians understand the requirements of the Controlled Substance Act, both to protect the public’s health and to maintain compliance.

This course will review the major requirements of the Controlled Substance Act, as they apply to community pharmacies, and will highlight practical points that staff can implement into their everyday practice.
GoodRx •

9 Everolimus (Afinitor) Side Effects You Should Know About

Everolimus (Afinitor) is an oral medication that treats certain types of cancer. Everolimus is also available at lower doses under the brand name Zortress, which helps prevent organ rejection after a transplant. But the focus of this article is Afinitor.

If you’ve been prescribed everolimus, you may be wondering what to expect while taking it. Here, we’ll look at nine possible everolimus side effects and how to manage them.
GoodRx •

Vraylar Dosages for Adults: Your GoodRx Guide

Vraylar (cariprazine) is an atypical antipsychotic medication. It’s approved to treat several mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Here, we’ll review the recommended Vraylar dosages for adults only, as it’s not approved for children. Keep in mind that your healthcare provider may have prescribed a different dosage for you than described below. Always follow your healthcare provider’s instructions when taking Vraylar.
GoodRx •

Charitable Pharmacies: What They Are and How They Help People Access Medications

It’s estimated that around 10% of people in the U.S. don’t have health insurance. Many more are underinsured and are forced to stretch their finances or choose between medications and other basic necessities, such as food or rent. And with rising prescription costs, nearly 40% of people say they struggle to afford their medications.

Charitable pharmacies, which are often nonprofit organizations and provide free medications to low-income and uninsured people, are tackling this problem by helping those who need it most. In fact, according to the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, there are more than 5.8 million visits to charitable pharmacies and clinics every year.

Below, we’ll answer common questions about charitable pharmacies — what they are, the services they provide, and how to find one in your area.
GoodRx •

9 Buspirone Side Effects You Should Know About

If you’re living with anxiety, you’re not alone. Anxiety disorders affect almost one-third of U.S adults at some point in their lifetime. Luckily, medications like buspirone can help manage anxiety symptoms and loosen their grasp on your day-to-day life.

While buspirone is an effective treatment for many people, it does have some side effects to be aware of. Below, we’ll discuss nine possible buspirone side effects and how to manage them if they occur.
OutcomesMTM •

Food as Medicine programs provide holistic community care

Poor nutrition is a leading cause of chronic disease in the United States and increases the risk for overweight and obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Despite this, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nine out of 10 Americans consume too much sodium, less than one out of 10 Americans eat enough fruits or vegetables and half of American adults have at least one sugary beverage every day.
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