RxTales

RxTales Episode 5: The Opium Wars

Think you know about the Opium Wars? Think again. Opium's miraculous and formidable properties have shaped our history in more ways than you know. Learn about the fascinating connections between 19th century British narco-terrorism, China's devastating opioid crisis, the US Navy, and the downfall of the Japanese feudal system. 00:00 Intro01:27 Early History + Science04:41 Colonialism + Spices08:01 Drug Money13:07 China Fights Back f. Lin Zexu 14:34 The Opium Wars17:44 How This Relates to Japan20:39 Chinese Aftermath

RxTales Episode 4: The Rx Graveyard

Happy (belated) Halloween! What could be scarier than a bunch of discontinued drugs?Join me for a walk through the RxGraveyard - where we'll take a look at the history, science and pop culture surrounding three long-dead pharmaceuticals. (at least, mostly dead....)If you're reading this, why not share this with your favorite pharmacist or pharmacy tech? I'm sure they could use a good scare, or at least something to chuckle at to keep the demons at bay. Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:20 Methaqualone (Quaalude)07:27 Glutethimide (Doriden)12:29 Propoxyphene (Darvon/Darvocet)15:34 OutroDon't forget to check out my website, and follow on the other socials for more great pharmacy contentwww.rxtales.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rx.tales/Spotify & Apple Podcasts: RxTalesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rxtales/ email: rxtalespodcast@gmail.com

RxTales Episode 3: Lice, Death, and the Corpse of Thomas Becket

It’s back-to-school season… which means head lice are back too! 🐜✏️From ancient mummies with nits, to Biblical plagues, to the trenches of WWI, lice have been crawling through human history for thousands of years. But what’s fact, what’s myth, and—most importantly—how do you actually get rid of them?In this episode of RxTales, pharmacist Dr. Mark Fulton takes you on a surprising (and itchy) journey through:✅ The ancient origins of lice and their place in history✅ Weird historical lice remedies (kerosene?! mercury?!) and why they failed✅ The real science of lice: how they spread, why they itch, and what makes them so persistent✅ Modern head lice treatments ranked — OTC vs. prescription, what really works✅ Lice myths busted (sorry TikTok, mayo won’t save you)✅ Why pharmacists are your best ally in beating head liceWhether you’re a parent battling a back-to-school lice outbreak, or just love strange and fascinating medical history, this episode will have you scratching your head—in the best way.Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:44 Meet the Louse03:55 The Cringy History of Lice06:44 Maximum Lice: The Story of Thomas Becket's Corpse10:00 Head Lice, Body Lice, and..The Other Kind 14:47 Drug and Non-Drug Treatments for Lice21:06 Lice Myths and Bad Ideas from the Internet23:51 Final Thoughts from Your Pharmacist👉 Don’t forget to subscribe to RxTales for more pharmacy history, drug science, myth-busting, and entertaining health content from a pharmacist’s perspective.📚 References & ResourcesCDC – Head Lice Overview: https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/AAP Clinical Report on Head Lice (2022): https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/150/5/e2022059284/188356Mayo Clinic – Head Lice: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/head-lice🔖 Hashtags#HeadLice #BackToSchool #Pharmacy #HealthMyths #DrugFacts #RxTales #PharmacistTips #SciencePodcast

Episode 2: Semaglutide, Ethical Dilemmas, and (weirdly) the Gila Monster

Welcome to RxTales™ [https://youtu.be/KUbs_TXWOis], the podcast where pharmacy meets history, science, and culture! 🎙️ Hosted by Dr. Mark Fulton, PharmD, MBA, BCNSP, this show takes you inside the fascinating world of drugs—from their origins and chemistry to their social and cultural impact.In this week's episode, I'm giving you a one-of-a-kind introduction to semaglutide and the GLP-1 drugs. Get the most credible and comprehensive look ever at these fascinating medications. Plus, there's a talking Gila Monster.Enjoy.00:00 Introduction00:43 History/Special Guest03:44 Rise of the GLP-1 Drugs04:28 The Importance of Research Funding05:46 Luxury Drugs vs. Health Equity08:52 Medicare & Medicaid11:15 Compounding Issues13:05 Wrapping Up"Nowadays everybody wanna talk like they got something to say. But nothing comes out when they move their lips - just as bunch of gibberish." - Marshall Mathers

Episode 1: Amanita Muscaria: The OG Toxic Shroom

Welcome to RxTales™, the podcast where pharmacy meets history, science, and culture! 🎙️ Hosted by Dr. Mark Fulton, PharmD, MBA, BCNSP, this show takes you inside the fascinating world of drugs—from their origins and chemistry to their social and cultural impact.What do Santa Claus, Super Mario and Siberian shamans have in common?In this first episode, I'm talking all about Amanita Muscaria, the OG mushroom that's seeing a renaissance in the public consciousness. Join me as I pull back the curtain on (perhaps) the most recognizable fungus of all time. If you're among the pharma-curious, this channel is for you. Join me as we break down complex pharmacy topics into entertaining and easy-to-understand insights—mixing history, pharmacology, pop culture, and commentary along the way.👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell 🔔 so you never miss an episode. Help us grow this community to 10,000 subscribers and beyond!00:00 Introduction to RxTales01:07 Amanita Muscaria - What is it?02:18 Pharmacology02:46 Historical context03:28 A bit more pharmacology04:00 More history05:35 Is this even legal?07:20 Thoughts on microdosing and cultural perception07:57 A brief rant about chemo-phobia08:45 More thoughts on microdosing11:30 Therapeutic applications12:54 Concluding thoughts#Pharmacy #Pharmacology #Podcast #RxTales #DrugHistory #Mushrooms #Microdosing #ScienceExplained #PharmacistLife #MedicineAndCulture #Healthcare #DrugScience #PharmacyPodcast