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Rumor vs Truth - Evidence‑Based Mythbusting for Healthcare Professionals

Rumor vs Truth - Evidence‑Based Mythbusting for Healthcare Professionals

By: TRC Healthcare | Pharmacist's Letter | Prescriber Insights | Pharmacy Technician's Letter
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Your trusted source for facts... where we dissect the evidence behind risky rumors and reveal clinical truths.

This podcast series from TRC Healthcare, the team behind Pharmacist’s Letter, Pharmacy Technician’s Letter, and Prescriber Insights products, is designed to help pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, prescribers, and even patients navigate some of the claims they might see about medication therapy.

Find the video version of this show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@trc.healthcare


TRC Healthcare offers CE credit for this podcast for subscribers at our platinum level or higher. Log in to your Pharmacist’s Letter, Pharmacy Technician’s Letter, or Prescriber Insights account and look for the title of this podcast in the list of available CE courses.

© 2026 TRC Healthcare Education Hygiene & Healthy Living Physical Illness & Disease Science
Episodes
  • Gabapentin

    Gabapentin
    May 19 2026
    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 practice?⚠️ How should clinicians interpret safety concerns like dependence, cognitive effects, and mood changes when counseling patients?🔍 Are we using gabapentin for the right types of pain—or defaulting to it when evidence is limited?We’ll break down the data, challenge common assumptions, and follow the evidence wherever it leads—so you can separate clinical signal from background noise when evaluating gabapentin.Key claims explored in this episode include:Gabapentin is modestly effective for neuropathic painGabapentin is addictiveGabapentin causes dementiaGabapentin is associated with suicidal behaviorYou’ll also get quick clinical insights on:Cardiovascular risk signals linked to gabapentin useWhether gabapentin plays a role in treating anxiety disorders🏷️ Our listeners can get 10% off a new or upgraded subscription with code rvt1026 at checkout. ******TRC Healthcare Editor Hosts:Stephen Small, PharmD, BCPS, BCPPS, BCCCP, CNSC Don Weinberger, PharmD, PMSP******Guest: Adam Kaye, PharmD, FASCP, FCPhA******CE Information:None of the speakers have anything to disclose. TRC Healthcare offers CE credit for this podcast for subscribers at our platinum level or higher. Log in to your Pharmacist’s Letter, Pharmacy Technician’s Letter,or Prescriber Insights account and look for the title of this podcast in the list of available CE courses.Claim Credit******The clinical resources mentioned during the podcast are part of a subscription to Pharmacist’s Letter, Pharmacy Technician’s Letter, and Prescriber Insights: Chart: Pharmacotherapy of Neuropathic PainFAQ: Treating FibromyalgiaCE: Controlled Substance Prescription ValidationChart: Potentially Harmful Drugs: Beers CriteriaAlgorithm: Treatment of HypertensionChart: Pharmacotherapy of Anxiety Disorders******Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - Call or Text: 988https://988lifeline.org/******Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to stay ahead with trusted insights and tools. 🎓 If you're a student, good news—students can access a free version of Pharmacist’s Letter. ******Rumor vs Truth is a production of TRC Healthcare.Send us Fan MailEmail us: rumorvstruth@trchealthcare.comThe content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Find the show on YouTube by searching for ‘TRC Healthcare’ or clicking here.Learn more about our product offerings at trchealthcare.com.
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    28 mins
  • BONUS: Mailbag - Should patients stop antibiotics early if they feel better?

    BONUS: Mailbag - Should patients stop antibiotics early if they feel better?
    May 11 2026

    Send us Fan Mail

    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 antimicrobial stewardship and bring back infectious‑diseases pharmacist Dr. Madeline King to break down what the evidence really tells us.

    Together, they discuss:

    • Why antibiotic durations have shortened over time
    • Whether stopping early increases the risk of resistance
    • Why “feeling better” doesn’t always mean the infection is resolved
    • When stopping early might be reasonable—and why that decision should still come from the prescriber
    • How pharmacists and clinicians can frame these conversations with patients

    No CE credit is available for this bonus episode.
    CE credit is available for our full episode on antimicrobial stewardship.

    ******

    🎧 Related Episode (CE Available)

    • Rumor vs Truth: Antimicrobial Stewardship
      (Are we overusing antibiotics?)
      🎧Listen: https://rumorvstruth.buzzsprout.com/episodes/19034041
      ▶️ Watch: https://youtu.be/L8m1g9Tq6Sw

    ******

    TRC Healthcare Editor Hosts

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

    Guest

    • Madeline King, PharmD, BCIDP

    ******

    Clinical Resources:

    • Toolbox: Antimicrobial Stewardship
    • FAQ: Antibiotic Therapy: When Are Shorter Courses Better?

    🏷️ Our listeners can get 10% off a new or upgraded subscription with code rvt1026 at checkout.

    ******

    Send us Fan Mail

    Email us: rumorvstruth@trchealthcare.com

    The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

    Find the show on YouTube by searching for ‘TRC Healthcare’ or clicking here.

    Learn more about our product offerings at trchealthcare.com.
    Show More Show Less
    6 mins
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship

    Antimicrobial Stewardship
    Apr 21 2026

    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 days—enough for most common infections?
    • 💊 When does the choice of antibiotic, route, or mechanism really matter?

    To answer those questions, we’ll narrow the spectrum of rumors and uncover the truth about these claims:

    • Stewardship isn’t reducing overall antibiotic resistance
    • Most outpatient infections only need 5 days of antibiotics
    • IV antibiotics are better than oral options
    • Bactericidal antibiotics are better than bacteriostatic ones

    🏷️ 10% off a new or upgraded subscription with code rvt1026 at checkout.

    ******

    TRC Healthcare Editor Hosts:

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

    Guests:

    • Madeline King, PharmD, BCIDP
    • John Turtle, PharmD, MBA

    ******

    CE Information:

    For the purposes of disclosure, Dr. Madeline King reports a relevant financial relationship with Shionogi (speakers bureau for cefiderocol).

    The other speakers have nothing to disclose. All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

    TRC Healthcare offers CE credit for this podcast for subscribers at our platinum level or higher. Log in to your Pharmacist’s Letter, Pharmacy Technician’s Letter,or Prescriber Insights account and look for the title of this podcast in the list of available CE courses.

    Claim Credit

    Resources:

    • Toolbox: Antimicrobial Stewardship
    • FAQ: Antibiotic Therapy: When Are Shorter Courses Better?
    • Chart: Urinary Tract Infections
    • Chart: Antibiotics in Pregnancy and Lactation
    • FAQ: Managing Beta-Lactam Allergies
    • Chart: Considerations for IV-to-PO Conversions

    Send us Fan Mail

    Email us: rumorvstruth@trchealthcare.com

    The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

    Find the show on YouTube by searching for ‘TRC Healthcare’ or clicking here.

    Learn more about our product offerings at trchealthcare.com.
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
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