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This Is Why with Dr. Busti

This Is Why with Dr. Busti

Written by: Anthony Busti MD PharmD MSc FNLA FAHA
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About this listen

This Is Why exists to help medical professionals understand the why behind the decisions they make every day in patient care. Our approach is about integrating evidence, clinical relevance and real-world application so that what your learn connects directly with the patients you serve.

© 2026 This Is Why with Dr. Busti
Hygiene & Healthy Living Physical Illness & Disease Science
Episodes
  • SAMA (Short-Acting Muscarinic Antagonists) Bronchodilator Pharmacology
    Jan 27 2026

    Short-acting muscarinic antagonists (SAMAs) are a core bronchodilator drug class you’ll see constantly in COPD care. In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will learn about short-acting muscarinic antagonists (SAMAs) are a core bronchodilator drug class you’ll see constantly in COPD care—and on exams like the NCLEX. In this lecture, you’ll learn exactly how SAMAs work, when to use them, and what safety pearls can help you avoid common clinical pitfalls in COPD.

    You’ll learn how to:

    • Mechanism of action: muscarinic (M3) blockade → decreased bronchoconstriction
    • Key drug: ipratropium (Atrovent)
    • Common combinations: ipratropium/albuterol (DuoNeb, Combivent)
    • Clinical uses: COPD maintenance/symptom relief, COPD exacerbation support, select asthma situations (often as add-on therapy in acute care)
    • Routes & devices: MDI vs nebulized treatments, dosing frequency, and practical inhaler/neb pearls
    • Adverse effects & warnings: dry mouth, cough, urinary retention (BPH), blurry vision/precipitating angle-closure symptoms if sprayed into eyes, and other anticholinergic considerations
    • High-yield comparisons: SAMA vs LAMA (where tiotropium and other long-acting agents fit)

    The goal = make medical education easy and clinically relevant.

    Access bonus materials and downloads from this episode at: https://www.thisiswhy.health/topics/sama-short-acting-muscarinic-antagonist-ipratropium-bronchodilator

    Get more with a free membership at https://www.thisiswhy.health/

    • Access free downloads from our videos
    • Access deep dive content from Dr. Busti
    • Organize content via playlists & collections
    • Join live Q&A
    • Receive member newsletters
    • Coupons & discounts for exam prep resources

    If this helped you, please like, subscribe, and share it with a classmate or colleague. That will help this new channel continue producing free, high-yield medical education content.

    Don’t forget to turn on notifications so you don’t miss upcoming lectures in pharmacology, medical rounds, and more!

    Disclaimer:

    This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not replace individualized evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition and never delay care because of educational content.

    Show More Show Less
    24 mins
  • LAMA (Long-Acting Muscarinic Antagonists) Bronchodilators for COPD
    Jan 27 2026

    In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will explain the COPD maintenance inhalers you’ll actually see in practice. In this pharmacology review, we break down LAMA (long-acting muscarinic antagonist) bronchodilators—one of the most important bronchodilator classes for COPD treatment—so you can confidently understand the drugs, the mechanism, and the real-world clinical use.

    You’ll learn how to:

    • What LAMA / antimuscarinic bronchodilators are and how they work
    • Where LAMA inhalers fit in COPD therapy and long-term symptom control
    • Key differences and practical pearls for common COPD inhalers
    • High-yield side effects, contraindications, and patient counseling points
    • How to recognize and avoid common med errors and confusion with inhaler names/classes

    Drugs covered:

    • Tiotropium (Spiriva)
    • Umeclidinium (Incruse Ellipta)
    • Aclidinium (Tudorza Pressair)
    • Glycopyrrolate (COPD maintenance formulations)

    The goal = make medical education easy and clinically relevant.

    Access bonus materials and downloads from this episode at: https://www.thisiswhy.health/topics/lama-bronchodilators-copd-tiopotropium-umeclidinium-pharmacology

    Get more with a free membership at https://www.thisiswhy.health/

    • Access free downloads from our videos
    • Access deep dive content from Dr. Busti
    • Organize content via playlists & collections
    • Join live Q&A
    • Receive member newsletters
    • Coupons & discounts for exam prep resources

    If this helped you, please like, subscribe, and share it with a classmate or colleague. That will help this new channel continue producing free, high-yield medical education content.

    Don’t forget to turn on notifications so you don’t miss upcoming lectures in pharmacology, medical rounds, and more!

    Disclaimer:

    This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not replace individualized evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition and never delay care because of educational content.

    Show More Show Less
    26 mins
  • SABA (Short-Acting Beta Agonists) Bronchodilators for Asthma & COPD
    Jan 27 2026

    In this lecture from This is Why, Dr. Busti will break down SABA (Short-Acting Beta Agonist) bronchodilators, like albuterol, for the acute management of asthma symptoms and COPD flare-ups.


    You’ll learn how to:

    - What SABAs are and when they’re used (rescue vs controller)

    - Beta-2 agonist mechanism of action (bronchodilation and smooth muscle effects)

    - How fast albuterol works, typical duration, and why it’s “short-acting”

    - Core therapeutic uses in asthma and COPD

    - How SABAs fit into treatment plans (including “as needed” use)

    - Common adverse effects: tachycardia, tremor, palpitations, and more

    - Key patient counseling: inhaler technique and when to seek urgent care


    Drugs discussed:

    - Albuterol (rescue inhaler; MDI and nebulizer)

    - Levalbuterol (alternative SABA)


    The goal = make medical education easy and clinically relevant.


    Access bonus materials and downloads from this episode at: https://www.thisiswhy.health/topics/saba-short-acting-beta-agonists-albuterol-rescue-inhaler-asthma-copd


    Get more with a free membership at https://www.thisiswhy.health/

    - Access free downloads from our videos

    - Access deep dive content from Dr. Busti

    - Organize content via playlists & collections

    - Join live Q&A

    - Receive member newsletters

    - Coupons & discounts for exam prep resources


    If this helped you, please like, subscribe, and share it with a classmate or colleague. That will help this new channel continue producing free, high-yield medical education content.


    Don’t forget to turn on notifications so you don’t miss upcoming lectures in pharmacology, medical rounds, and more!


    #SABA #albuterol #asthma #COPD #busti


    Disclaimer:

    This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not replace individualized evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition and never delay care because of educational content.

    Show More Show Less
    39 mins
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