Rumor vs Truth

Is your favorite cold fix fact—or folklore? In this episode, hosts Don and Steve team up with special guest Jeff Langford, PharmD, from TRC’s NatMed team, to bust the biggest myths about natural remedies for cold and flu. Together, they dig into the roots of popular remedies—from pharmacy shelves to grandma’s kitchen—to uncover what’s backed by evidence.

🍯 Is honey for cough a sweet solution or just a sticky myth?
🫐 Elderberry...

We loved our conversation with Dr. Jayson Chalmers, DDS so much that we’re sharing the full, never‑before‑heard interview. It goes deeper than our last episode “Dental Dilemmas” on the history of fluoridation, chemistry, dosing, safety signals, and what clinicians should actually recommend. 

** No CE credit for this bonus episode. (CE returns with our next regular episode on cold & flu.) **

 What you’ll learn:

• How fluoride pre...

In this episode, Don and Steve separate fact from fiction about meds and oral health.

💊 Could your favorite mouthwash be more “spirited” than you think?
😬 Can a key medication for opioid use disorder quietly sabotage your smile?
🦷 What really happens when you put aspirin on a toothache—relief, or regret? 

Ready to brush up on the facts and drill down to the truth? No need to sugarcoat it, our myth-busting pharmacist duo (a...

In this “Quick Verdicts” episode, hosts Don Weinberger and Steve Small separate fact from fiction about whether acetaminophen use during pregnancy increases the risk of neurologic disorders in kids.   

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TRC Healthcare Editor Hosts:  

• Stephen Small, PharmD, BCPS, BCPPS, BCCCP, CNSC  
• Don Weinberger, PharmD, PMSP 

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The clinical resources mentioned during the podcast are part of a subscription to Pharmacist’s Letter, ...

In this episode, Don and Steve flex their clinical muscles and bust myths about testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) - from supplements to safety risks.

🐶 Can topical testosterone transfer to pets and kids?
💊 Are supplements like ginseng and vitamin D legit testosterone boosters?
❤️ Does testosterone increase cardiovascular risk?

Stick around as our pharmacist duo breaks down the evidence and shares insights on these hot-...

In this episode, hosts Don and Steve tackle one of the most common (and commonly misunderstood) skin conditions: acne. Joined by dermatology expert Sara Klockars, PharmD, BCPS, the team breaks down the myths, meds, and marketing claims that surround acne treatment. 

💊Do doxycycline and minocycline treat acne the same way? 
🧼Is it possible to wash your face TOO much?  
🪥And can toothpaste really help banish blemishes? 

🤔Po...

In this episode, hosts Don Weinberger and Steve Small throw some serious shade at common sunscreen myths—and yes, Steve may or may not be rocking a fake sunburn.🌞

🧴 Does a higher SPF really mean better protection?
🌤️ Can sunscreen mess with your vitamin D levels?
⚠️ Are sunscreen ingredients secretly harmful?

 🕶️ Grab your shades and join our myth-busting duo as they shine a light on the facts about these hot-button sunsc...

🎉 In this special anniversary episode, Don and Steve throw it back to 1985 —complete with mullets 🦱, mustaches 🥸, and popped collars 👔—to celebrate 40 years of the Pharmacist’s Letter! 

🗂️ Join them as they dig into the archives and revisit some of the earliest (and wildest) claims ever published.

They’ll reexamine research and insights into claims from yesteryear including:

• Whether topical minoxidil really works for hair reg...

In this episode, hosts Don Weinberger and Steve Small separate fact from fiction about dyes in medications and food.

🚫 Why is the FDA banning certain artificial dyes, and what does it mean for your meds and favorite foods? 
💊 Can the color of your pills really affect how you feel about them?
🐀 Why do we talk so much about rats and sewers in this episode? 

🌈 Folks are dye-ing to know the truth...let’s find out!

They’ll shar...

In this episode, hosts Don Weinberger and Steve Small separate fact from fiction about expired medications.  

📅 How are med expiration dates chosen? Is it science or just a guess?
⏳ Can a medication that’s older than the FDA itself… still work?
💊 Are meds no longer effective after they expire?

⏰ It’s time to uncover the truth behind meds that are past their prime!

They’ll share research and insights into some interesting cla...

In this episode, hosts Don Weinberger and Steve Small separate fact from fiction when it comes to claims about tetracyclines. 

🦷 Will doxycycline stain children’s teeth? 
☠️ Is expired tetracycline truly deadly? 
🐱 What do cats have to do with all this? 

🚴‍♂️ Let’s cycle through the facts! 

They’ll share research and insights into some interesting claims including:

• Doxycycline should never be used in young kids due to te...

In this episode, hosts Don Weinberger and Steve Small separate fact from fiction about hangover remedies. 

 💧 Does drinking water actually help prevent symptoms? 
 🤕 Is acetaminophen safe for hangover headaches? 

 🔨 Let’s hammer out the facts! 

They’ll share research and insights into some interesting claims including:

• Consuming fluids before, during, or after drinking will curb hangovers.
• Having beer before switching to hard...

In this premiere episode, hosts Don Weinberger and Steve Small separate fact from fiction about medication interactions with fruit juices. 

 🍊 Does that morning grapefruit really matter with your medications? 
 👍 Are some juices beneficial? 

 🍹 Let's squeeze out the truth! 

They’ll share research and insights into some interesting claims including:

• You shouldn’t drink grapefruit juice with certain statins.
• There are othe...