Rumor vs Truth - Evidence‑Based Mythbusting for Healthcare Professionals

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Gabapentin is showing up more often in veterinary care —but that raises an important question:

Is gabapentin toxic in animals?

In this BONUS mailbag episode of Rumor vs Truth, we answer a listener question about gabapentin use in pets. Hosts Don Weinberger, PharmD and Steve Small, PharmD dig into what’s really behind concerns about toxicity—and bring in veterinary toxicology expert Dr. Tina Wismer to...

Gabapentin has become a go-to option across a wide range of clinical scenarios—but how well does it actually hold up under closer scrutiny?

In this episode, Don Weinberger and Steve Small take a closer look at how gabapentin performs in real-world use—and where expectations may not match the data.

• 🧠Does gabapentin meaningfully improve neuropathic pain outcomes—or are we overestimating its impact in everyday pra...

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Shorter antibiotic courses are becoming the norm—but that raises an important question we hear all the time:

Can patients stop antibiotics early once they start feeling better?

In this BONUS mailbag episode of Rumor vs Truth, we step outside our regular format to answer a single listener question submitted through our fan mail audio line. Hosts Don Weinberger, PharmD and Steve Small, PharmD revisit antimic...

Antimicrobial stewardship is everywhere—but best approaches are still debated.

In this episode, Don and Steve separate fact from fiction around antimicrobial stewardship - taking a closer look at how antibiotics are used in everyday practice—and where common beliefs may fall short.

• 🦠 Does antimicrobial stewardship actually reduce antibiotic resistance?
• ⏱️ Are shorter outpatient antibiotic courses—like 5 ...

AI is fast.
AI is fluent.
AI is confident.

But is it clinically trustworthy?

🤖 AI can generate answers in seconds.
But good healthcare decisions require more than speed.

As AI tools become more accessible across healthcare, the line between assistance and authority is starting to blur.

Don and Steve put artificial intelligence under the microscope—cutting through hype to examine how AI is actually performing in healthc...

Hair today… gone tomorrow? Don and Steve are combing through the claims to find out what really works. In this episode, they separate fact from fiction about hair loss treatments, tackling everything from minoxidil and finasteride to natural remedies and trending techniques.

💊Does oral minoxidil really outperform topical versions?
🧴Is topical finasteride genuinely a safer workaround, or do the same systemic side effects ...

Hot flashes or cool facts… are menopause and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in the middle of the rumors? In this episode, Don and Steve turn up the heat on common claims about estrogen therapy and menopause management. Joined by guest expert Sara Klockars, PharmD, BCPS, they separate fact from fiction and share practical tips for clinicians.

🔥 Is HRT the go-to for every patient with hot flashes?
💊 Are bioidentical hor...

Are GLP-1 side effects food for thought or just food for rumors? In this episode, Don and Steve dig into the evidence behind the most talked-about risks of GLP-1 agonists, separating clinical truth from rumors and headlines.

🦱 Are these meds thinning waistlines—and hairlines?
🚹 Do GLP-1s cause erectile dysfunction—or could they actually help?
🛑Is holding GLP-1s before surgery a must, or just medical myth?

Our cli...

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 j...

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’l...

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-bust...

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 ...

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-bu...

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 bl...

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-but...

🎉 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 minoxi...

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 ou...

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 insigh...

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 sho...