Our most-listened-to podcast series is now available in full — all ten episodes, free to stream. Dr. Chris Aiken, Editor-in-Chief of The Carlat Psychiatry Report, and Kellie Newsome, PMHNP distill ten essential principles every prescriber should know about psychopharmacology: the rules that keep patients safe, the pitfalls that catch clinicians off guard, and the evidence that should guide your prescribing every day.

Each episode ends with a practice-changing research update drawn from Dr. Aiken’s daily psych social media feed. Follow along and join the conversation:

All Episodes — The 10 Psychopharmacology Commandments

• Episode 1 10 Psychopharm Commandments #1

  The first commandment — the foundational principle every prescriber should build their practice on.

• Episode 2 10 Psychopharm Commandments #2: Med Withdrawal

  How to safely taper and discontinue psychiatric medications — and what happens when you don’t.

• Episode 3 Psychopharm Commandment #3: Lithium Toxicity

  Recognizing and preventing lithium toxicity — one of the most dangerous and most avoidable emergencies in psychopharmacology.

• Episode 4 Psychopharm Commandment #4: Lamotrigine Rash

  How to distinguish a benign rash from Stevens–Johnson syndrome, and what titration strategy minimizes the risk from the start.

• Episode 5 Psychopharm Commandment #5: Benzos & Opioids

  The evidence behind the black box warning — and how to counsel patients who are on both.

• Episode 6 Psychopharm Commandment #6: MAOIs

  Why MAOIs are underused, what makes them uniquely effective, and how to prescribe them safely — including the dietary rules that actually matter.

• Episode 7A Psychopharm Commandment #7A: Red Flags & Controlled Meds

  How to identify warning signs of misuse and diversion before they become a problem in your practice.

• Episode 7B Psychopharm Commandment #7B: Red Flags & Controlled Meds

  Continued — practical strategies for managing controlled substance prescribing with confidence and documentation.

• Episode 8A Psychopharm Commandments #8A: Polypharmacy Makeover

  How to systematically review and simplify a complex medication regimen — without destabilizing the patient.

• Episode 8B Psychopharm Commandments #8B: Unwise Combinations

  The drug pairings most likely to cause harm — and the evidence-based alternatives to reach for instead.

• Episode 9 Psychopharm Commandment #9: Meds to Avoid in Pregnancy

  Which psychiatric medications carry the greatest fetal risk, what the data actually show, and how to counsel pregnant patients.

• Episode 10 Psychopharm Commandment #10: Don’t Fear These Meds

  The medications clinicians avoid out of habit or myth — and why the evidence says it’s time to reconsider.