Prairie Fire Pharmacy Consulting

05/16/2026

💊💊💊Could your sleep, bladder, or allergy meds be quietly increasing your dementia risk?

I love seeing other clinicians call out medications that can raise dementia risk and the importance of regular med reviews for brain health at every age.

Did you know I’m BOTH? Pharmacists are the medication experts, and I am also a Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (BCGP), so my specialty is spotting high risk meds and reducing medication related harm before it shows up as brain fog, falls, or memory problems.

If you are taking multiple prescriptions, OTCs, or supplements and want to make sure they are serving your long-term health, this is your sign to get a comprehensive medication review with me.

Book a free 15 minute consult today to get started.

05/16/2026

I love this example so much. It really captures something I learned in Dementia Friends training: meet people where they are, not where we think they should be.
When we step into their reality instead of correcting it, everything shifts.

What looks like “agitation” is often someone trying to find purpose or make sense of their world. In this case, giving him something familiar and meaningful to do brought a sense of calm and dignity back.

It makes me think about how often these behaviors get labeled and treated with medication instead of being understood.

💊How many older adults are being medicated for agitation that might actually be eased through connection and meeting unmet needs?

This kind of care isn’t just compassionate, it may also be one of the most effective ways to reduce unnecessary medication use and better support our aging population.

04/27/2026

It’s National Drug Take Back Week, but safe disposal is available year-round.

You can drop off unused or unwanted medications in our lobby 24/7.

04/21/2026

People often imagine grand, heroic sacrifices for loved ones, yet struggle with the steady discipline required to actually show up for them every day.

From a practical standpoint, everyday habits like maintaining health, managing stress, and staying present are far more meaningful because they extend the time and quality of life you share with others.

In that sense, choosing long-term responsibility over short-term heroism is less about sacrifice and more about commitment, where real care is shown not in a single moment of intensity, but in years of reliability and presence.

04/10/2026

Thank you to Texoma Council of Governments for inviting me for the 5th time to speak at an education day for the older adults and caregivers in our community. The day was filled with many great speakers to address different topics that can help help us age well and live life to the fullest.

I discussed the importance of learning to use technologies like patient portals to help manage your health data and make communication with your doctor easier. We also discussed how to and how not to use AI when it comes to health information.

Did you attend today? If so, tell me who was your favorite speaker and why.

04/09/2026

It’s a beautiful day! Will I see you at the municipal ballroom for the Texoma Aging Education day? It’s a free event for older adults all about living your best life.

04/07/2026

Would you consider donating the cost of your morning coffee to help my cousin’s family as they face another battle with childhood cancer? This is their second child with a cancer diagnosis, and these fundraisers truly help buffer the enormous expenses that come with medical care for serious illness. Every bit matters. Thank you so much for your kindness and support!

Support Wyatt’s Fight Against Lymphoma Our family has walked this ro… Matt Risner needs your support for A Double Cancer Family. Help Wyatt Fight Lymphoma

04/01/2026

Great post from my colleague at GeriatRx!

Last week, The Pitt put something on screen that healthcare sees every day but rarely says out loud.

An older adult.
A long medication list.
Symptoms that don’t quite make sense.

And the quiet realization:

It might not be the patient.
It might be the plan.

Because polypharmacy doesn’t announce itself.

It disguises itself.

Confusion becomes dementia.
Fatigue becomes aging.
Falls become “just getting older.”

When sometimes it’s medications interacting in ways no one stepped back to fully see.

And here’s where it gets uncomfortable.

Every medication may have been justified.
Every decision may have made sense in isolation.

But no one was accountable for how it all works together.

So the list grows.
And the person slowly declines.

Not because anyone did anything wrong.
But because no one was tasked with seeing everything at once.

That is the gap.

And if we don’t start catching it earlier, we will keep treating side effects like new diseases.

So here are a few ways to start thinking differently right now:

1. New symptom? Review the meds first.
Before assuming a new diagnosis, ask what changed in the last 30–90 days.

2. Every medication needs a current purpose.
If you can’t clearly say why it’s still being used today, it’s worth a second look.

3. Watch for prescribing cascades.
When a medication causes a side effect and another medication is added to treat it, the cycle has already started.

4. The full list matters more than any single drug.
Safety is not about one medication. It’s about how everything interacts together.

Because polypharmacy is not just about how many medications someone takes.

It’s about what happens when no one owns the full picture.

And until that changes, we will keep calling it aging when it is actually accumulation.

04/01/2026

Resistance training and strength work are essential for anyone using GLP‑1 medications to support healthy weight loss.

💪 Why it matters: GLP‑1s can help with appetite control and blood sugar management, but without proper training and nutrition, they can also lead to loss of muscle mass and bone density.

I’m thrilled to highlight the gym I use, Enduring Strength, because they are offering group classes designed specifically to help people using GLP-1s to preserve muscle and build functional strength while achieving their health goals.

If you’re considering a GLP‑1 medication, make sure you have a strong team in your corner to help you get the best results and minimize side effects. Your ideal support team includes:

🥗 A dietitian to teach you how to fuel your body well

🧠 A health coach to help you shift habits and mindset

🏋️‍♀️ A trainer or physical therapist to guide safe movement and strength building

🩺 A physician to monitor labs and progress

💊 A pharmacist to manage medications and supplements as your health improves

Working together, this kind of multidisciplinary support can make your health journey not just more effective, but truly sustainable.

Who are you missing on your support team? If you don’t have a pharmacist on your team, book a free 15 minute consult with me!

04/01/2026