Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD

Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD

Pain Management Clinical PharmacistSaratoga Hospital Medical Group

Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD, is a pain management clinical pharmacist at Saratoga Hospital Medical Group in New York. He completed his residency at the Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, and earned his PharmD from Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences with a concentration in nephrology.

He is a MedCentral Special Contributor in Clinical Pharmacy.

Disclosures: Board of Directors/Advisory Board: PainScript. Consultant/Independent Social Media Partner: Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Inc. (As of 1/11/24)

Related

Liver damage 3d illustration
Liver Disease

Pain Management in Liver Disease

Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD; William Amarquaye, PharmD
8 Min Read

Up to 80% of people with cirrhosis experience moderate to severe pain. How to safely manage that pain while avoiding related risks.

Liver damage 3d illustration
Liver Disease

Pain Management in Liver Disease

Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD; William Amarquaye, PharmD
8 Min Read

Up to 80% of people with cirrhosis experience moderate to severe pain. How to safely manage that pain while avoiding related risks.

Back Pain & Spinal Disorders

Low Back Pain Practice Guidelines: Which are Most Practical?

Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD; Ramon Cuevas-Trisan, MD
8 Min Read

Experts compare recent recommendations from the VA/DoD and World Health Organization for treating low back pain in primary care settings.

Back Pain & Spinal Disorders

Low Back Pain Practice Guidelines: Which are Most Practical?

Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD; Ramon Cuevas-Trisan, MD
8 Min Read

Experts compare recent recommendations from the VA/DoD and World Health Organization for treating low back pain in primary care settings.

A pharmacist checks inventory of Buprenorphine.
Opioid Use Disorder

Opioid Use Disorder Treatment: Let Community Pharmacists Fill the Gaps

Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD; Eric Smith
Commentary
5 Min Read

Buprenorphine is effective but underused for opioid use disorder (OUD). Pharmacists may be the ideal clinicians to expand access to care and make a dent in overdose epidemic.

A pharmacist checks inventory of Buprenorphine.
Opioid Use Disorder

Opioid Use Disorder Treatment: Let Community Pharmacists Fill the Gaps

Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD; Eric Smith
Commentary
5 Min Read

Buprenorphine is effective but underused for opioid use disorder (OUD). Pharmacists may be the ideal clinicians to expand access to care and make a dent in overdose epidemic.

A person holds their antidepressant medication in their hand.
Pain Management

Antidepressants for Pain Management: There Are More Options Than We Think

Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD
Commentary
7 Min Read

A closer examination of a recent Cochrane network meta-analysis reveals several antidepressants with statistically and clinically significant positive outcomes for pain relief.

A person holds their antidepressant medication in their hand.
Pain Management

Antidepressants for Pain Management: There Are More Options Than We Think

Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD
Commentary
7 Min Read

A closer examination of a recent Cochrane network meta-analysis reveals several antidepressants with statistically and clinically significant positive outcomes for pain relief.

Prescription pain pills on the counter.
Pain Management

Analgesic Use in Primary Care

Karin E. Borrelli, MD, FAAFP; Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD

A clinical primer on non-opioid medications – topicals, NSAIDs, tricyclic antidepressants, SNRIs, and gabapentinoids – for the management of acute and chronic pain.

Prescription pain pills on the counter.
Pain Management

Analgesic Use in Primary Care

Karin E. Borrelli, MD, FAAFP; Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD

A clinical primer on non-opioid medications – topicals, NSAIDs, tricyclic antidepressants, SNRIs, and gabapentinoids – for the management of acute and chronic pain.

A nurse adjusts the ketamine infusion/IV on a patient while she lying on the examination table in a medical clinic.
Psychedelics

Ketamine: More Than an Anesthetic

Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD
Journal Article
11 Min Read

Inside the pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of the anesthetic ketamine and its range of effects, from treating chronic pain to managing depression.

A nurse adjusts the ketamine infusion/IV on a patient while she lying on the examination table in a medical clinic.
Psychedelics

Ketamine: More Than an Anesthetic

Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD
Journal Article
11 Min Read

Inside the pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of the anesthetic ketamine and its range of effects, from treating chronic pain to managing depression.

Cropped view of a doctor gesturing while discussing opioid therapy.
Opioid Management

First-Time Opioid Therapy: An Interactive Case History

Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD; Reed J. Yaras, DO
12 Min Read

How to apply the updated CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain in individuals starting opioid therapy.

Cropped view of a doctor gesturing while discussing opioid therapy.
Opioid Management

First-Time Opioid Therapy: An Interactive Case History

Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD; Reed J. Yaras, DO
12 Min Read

How to apply the updated CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain in individuals starting opioid therapy.

A doctor discusses treatment plans with a patient in a doctor’s office.
Opioid Management

Chronic Opioid Use: An Interactive Case History

Reed J. Yaras, DO; Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD
10 Min Read

How to apply the updated CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain in patients already on opioid therapy for chronic pain.

A doctor discusses treatment plans with a patient in a doctor’s office.
Opioid Management

Chronic Opioid Use: An Interactive Case History

Reed J. Yaras, DO; Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD
10 Min Read

How to apply the updated CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain in patients already on opioid therapy for chronic pain.

Various forms of illicit drugs - pills, powder on a spoon and a syringe sit on a tabletop with a dark background.
Substance Use Disorder

The Illicit Drug Market: A Special Report

Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD
Journal Article
17 Min Read

From novel synthetic opioids to psychedelics and cocaine, a guide to today’s illicit substance market, and what prescribers need to know.

Various forms of illicit drugs - pills, powder on a spoon and a syringe sit on a tabletop with a dark background.
Substance Use Disorder

The Illicit Drug Market: A Special Report

Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD
Journal Article
17 Min Read

From novel synthetic opioids to psychedelics and cocaine, a guide to today’s illicit substance market, and what prescribers need to know.

A mature male doctor points to the pill bottle as he discusses medication with an unrecognizable female patient.
Opioid Use Disorder

CDC Updated Opioid Prescribing Guideline: Opioid Use Disorder

Reed J. Yaras, DO; Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD
13 Min Read

Guideline Analysis: A look at the updated recommendations regarding the assessment and management of patients with diagnosed or suspected opioid use disorder.

A mature male doctor points to the pill bottle as he discusses medication with an unrecognizable female patient.
Opioid Use Disorder

CDC Updated Opioid Prescribing Guideline: Opioid Use Disorder

Reed J. Yaras, DO; Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD
13 Min Read

Guideline Analysis: A look at the updated recommendations regarding the assessment and management of patients with diagnosed or suspected opioid use disorder.

A cropped image of a doctor using a calculator at a desk while working on a laptop computer with a medical stethoscope and notebook sitting nearby.
Opioid Management

CDC Updated Opioid Prescribing Guideline: Morphine Equivalent Daily Dose

Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD; Reed J. Yaras, DO
11 Min Read

Guideline Analysis: A look at the newly released CDC recommendations regarding MEDD utilization and potential cutoffs.

A cropped image of a doctor using a calculator at a desk while working on a laptop computer with a medical stethoscope and notebook sitting nearby.
Opioid Management

CDC Updated Opioid Prescribing Guideline: Morphine Equivalent Daily Dose

Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD; Reed J. Yaras, DO
11 Min Read

Guideline Analysis: A look at the newly released CDC recommendations regarding MEDD utilization and potential cutoffs.

A female doctor meets with a patient to discuss her pain. She is seated across her desk from the woman and wears a white lab coat as she smiles gently
Opioid Management

CDC 2022 Opioid Prescribing Guideline: Subsequent Treatment Visits

Reed J. Yaras, DO; Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD
10 Min Read

Guideline Analysis: Experts examine proposed updates to the CDC opioid prescribing guideline for chronic pain, with a focus on scheduling and managing follow-up visits, using drug monitoring, and how to address a patient’s failure to respond to therapy.

A female doctor meets with a patient to discuss her pain. She is seated across her desk from the woman and wears a white lab coat as she smiles gently
Opioid Management

CDC 2022 Opioid Prescribing Guideline: Subsequent Treatment Visits

Reed J. Yaras, DO; Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD
10 Min Read

Guideline Analysis: Experts examine proposed updates to the CDC opioid prescribing guideline for chronic pain, with a focus on scheduling and managing follow-up visits, using drug monitoring, and how to address a patient’s failure to respond to therapy.