What's it Worth? A Journal Club Podcast

Diana Langworthy
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Monthly

Get into the weeds with us as we take deep dives into clinical trials and build the essential skills of evidence critique! This podcast is a tool for healthcare professions students and practitioners to sharpen their science sleuth skills, learn key concepts about study design, biostatistics, and application of evidence to clinical practice.

  1. 1d ago

    S4E9.5 - What's it Worth? For Everyone. Can Lavender Oil Help Anxiety? What to Know About Silexan

    *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-6a4fb890-323c-83ea-bd01-eed2a278ec97-26" data-turn-id-container= "request-6a4fb890-323c-83ea-bd01-eed2a278ec97-26" data-testid= "conversation-turn-66" data-turn="assistant"> In this What's It Worth? For Everyone episode, we're asking: Can lavender oil help with anxiety? If you've ever felt anxious before a big test, job interview, medical appointment, or major life event, you're not alone. But when is anxiety a normal response to stress — and when is it something more, like generalized anxiety disorder? In this episode, we talk about the difference between short-term situational anxiety and ongoing anxiety symptoms that may need support from a healthcare professional. We also discuss Silexan, a specific oral lavender oil preparation that has been studied for anxiety symptoms and is available in some over-the-counter products. The key question is not simply, "Does lavender help anxiety?" It's: What kind of anxiety are we talking about, what product is being used, and how strong is the evidence? Key Takeaways Anxiety surrounding a stressful event can be normal, even when it feels uncomfortable. Generalized anxiety disorder is different from short-term situational anxiety and requires diagnosis by a medical professional. Silexan is a specific, concentrated oral lavender oil preparation, not the same thing as lavender tea, food, scent, or any random lavender supplement. Over-the-counter does not always mean proven, risk-free, or safe for everyone. Product, dose, ingredients, and labeling matter when considering supplements. Ongoing anxiety that affects sleep, concentration, work, relationships, or daily life is worth discussing with a healthcare professional. Questions Worth Asking Use these questions to guide conversations with your pharmacist, clinician, or healthcare team if you are considering an over-the-counter product for anxiety (or for any condition): What ingredients are in this product? Is this the same product and dose that has been studied? Could this interact with anything I take? Is this appropriate for my symptoms? When should I seek more help? Silexan may be an interesting option for some people, but it is not a replacement for diagnosis, therapy, prescription treatment, or ongoing care when those are needed. The goal is not just to take something. The goal is to understand what you are treating and choose a path that is safe, thoughtful, and actually helpful. This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not replace care from your own healthcare team. 🎙️ Host: Diana Langworthy, PharmD, BCPS | Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy | Clinical Pharmacist in Adult Internal Medicine, Fairview East Bank Hospital 📬 Enjoyed this episode? Find more evidence-based content, podcast episodes, social media, and ways to connect at https://beacons.ai/diana.the.pharm.d.etective

  2. 1d ago

    S4E9 - Anxiety Treatment Rankings: What a Network Meta-Analysis Can and Can't Tell Us

    Welcome back to What's it Worth? In this episode, we tackle treatment options for a common mental health concern - anxiety. Your host, Dr. Diana Langworthy, is joined by Dr. Lucas Kosobuski, an inpatient pharmacist at St. Luke's in Duluth with prior experience providing ambulatory care services in an inpatient substance use treatment program. Together, they decode a 2025 systematic review and network meta-analysis comparing medications for anxiety disorders, including Silexan, a proprietary oral lavender oil preparation. As over-the-counter options gain attention, clinicians and patients are left with important questions: How strong is the evidence? What does "acceptable" really mean? And when a supplement ranks favorably in a network meta-analysis, how much confidence should we have? Key Points This systematic review and network meta-analysis evaluated anxiolytic medications across multiple anxiety disorders. The study included 100 randomized controlled trials and more than 28,000 patients. Silexan was represented by a much smaller subset of the overall evidence base in this paper. We discuss the difference between generalized anxiety disorder and situational/short term anxiety. We break down what a network meta-analysis can — and cannot — tell us and why definitions in these studies matter SO much! Is Silexan a meaningful option for anxiety, or is the ranking stronger than the evidence behind it? ———> Tune in to find out! Episode Study Müller TJ, Künzi A, Heitlinger E, et al. Comparative efficacy and acceptability of anxiolytic drugs for the treatment of anxiety disorders: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2026;276:1879–1894. doi:10.1007/s00406-025-02082-0 Host & Guest Information Diana Langworthy, PharmD, BCPS | Associate Professor, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy | Clinical Pharmacist -Inpatient Internal Medicine, M Health Fairview East Bank Hospital Lucas Kosobuski, PharmD | Inpatient Pharmacist, St. Luke's, Duluth | Prior ambulatory care experience in an inpatient substance use treatment program Join the Conversation Have a study you'd like us to decode on a future episode? Email whatsitworthpodcast@gmail.com or share how you're navigating evidence in practice — I love hearing how clinicians and learners think through uncertainty. Or you can find me on my socials — check out my Beacons for links to my TikTok and LinkedIn: https://beacons.ai/diana.the.pharm.d.etective Additional References National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder in adults: management. NICE Clinical Guideline CG113. Last updated June 15, 2020.  Bandelow B, Allgulander C, Baldwin DS, et al. World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry guidelines for treatment of anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and posttraumatic stress disorders – Version 3. Part I: Anxiety disorders. World J Biol Psychiatry. 2023;24(2):79-117. doi:10.1080/15622975.2022.2086295.  Kasper S, Gastpar M, Müller WE, et al. Lavender oil preparation Silexan is effective in generalized anxiety disorder — a randomized, double-blind comparison to placebo and paroxetine. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2014;17(6):859–869. doi:10.1017/S1461145714000017.  Woelk H, Schläfke S. A multi-center, double-blind, randomised study of the lavender oil preparation Silexan in comparison to lorazepam for generalized anxiety disorder. Phytomedicine. 2010;17(2):94–99. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2009.10.006. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5-TR. 5th ed., text rev. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association Publishing; 2022. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787.

  3. Jul 21

    S4E8 - Is it Possible to Decouple Bleeding from Clotting? Insights from the AZALEA-TIMI 71 Trial (Factor XI Series Part 2 of 2)

    In Part 2 of our back-to-back series on the novel frontier of Factor XI inhibition, host Dr. Diana Langworthy and student co-hosts Caleb Nelson-Lange and Tim Haas dive into the AZALEA-TIMI 71 trial. Following our Part 1 discussion on the early termination of the OCEANIC-AF trial (asundexian), we turn our attention to abelacimab—a high-affinity, fully human monoclonal antibody that targets Factor XI. Unlike the small-molecule asundexian, abelacimab offers a unique pharmacokinetic profile with a once-monthly dosing potential. We explore safety outcomes of this novel agent. The team also tackles a crucial Pharmacy Detective Moment: Why did the study use rivaroxaban as the comparator instead of apixaban? We discuss how this choice impacts the "Worth" of the findings... Key Takeaways Factor XI sits at the intersection of the intrinsic and common pathways. By inhibiting it, can we stop pathologic thrombosis while leaving "protective" hemostasis intact? Abelacimab (both 90mg and 150mg) achieved a staggering reduction in the primary outcome compared to rivaroxaban —a composite of major and clinically relevant non-major bleeding—with hazard ratios of 0.33 and 0.26, respectively. Why rivaroxaban? We dissect the strategic selection of a once-daily Xa inhibitor with a known higher GI bleeding profile and how it influences the trial's dramatic safety margin. Was the early termination a win for patients or a loss for long-term efficacy data? ---> Tune in to find out! Featured Study Ruff, C. T., Patel, S. M., Giugliano, R. P., Morrow, D. A., Hug, B., Kuder, J. F., Goodrich, E. L., Chen, S. A., Goodman, S. G., Joung, B., Kiss, R. G., Spinar, J., Wojakowski, W., Weitz, J. I., Murphy, S. A., Wiviott, S. D., Parkar, S., Bloomfield, D., & Sabatine, M. S. (2024). Abelacimab versus rivaroxaban in patients with atrial fibrillation. New England Journal of Medicine, 391(1), 21-33. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2406674 Host Diana Langworthy, PharmD, BCPS | Associate Professor, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy | Clinical Pharmacist, Inpatient Internal Medicine, M Health Fairview East Bank Hospital Student Co-Hosts Caleb Nelson-Lange | PharmD Candidate | Class of 2026 | University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy Tim Haas | PharmD Candidate | Class of 2028 | University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy Join the Conversation Have a study you'd like us to decode on a future episode? Email whatsitworthpodcast@gmail.com or share how you're navigating evidence in practice—I love hearing how clinicians and learners think through uncertainty. Or you can find me on my socials - Check out my Beacons for links to my TikTok and LinkedIn https://beacons.ai/diana.the.pharm.d.etective Additional References & Guidelines Piccini, J. P., Patel, M. R., Steffel, J., et al. (2025). Asundexian versus apixaban in patients with atrial fibrillation. New England Journal of Medicine, 392(1), 23-32. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2411777 Cohen, A. T., Hill, N. R., Luo, X., et al. (2024). A systematic review and network meta-analysis of the comparative safety of direct oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation. Journal of Comparative Effectiveness Research, 13(2), 45-58. https://doi.org/10.2217/cer-2023-0182 Joglar, J. A., Chung, M. K., Armbruster, A. L., et al. (2024). 2023 ACC/AHA/ACCP/HRS guideline for the diagnosis and management of patients with atrial fibrillation. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 83(1), 109-279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2023.08.017

  4. Jul 14

    S4E8.5 - What's it Worth? For Everyone. Are We Waiting Too Long for New Treatments?

    In this What's It Worth? For Everyone episode, we're asking: Are we waiting too long for new treatments? If you've ever heard about a promising new medication, peptide, or breakthrough therapy and wondered, "If it works so well, why isn't everyone using it yet?"—you're not alone. It can feel frustrating to hear about exciting discoveries while waiting years before they become part of routine healthcare. In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of the scientific process to explore what happens between an exciting idea and a treatment that is recommended for patients. Along the way, we use recent blood thinner research as a real-world example of why asking the right questions—and taking the time to answer them—matters. Key Takeaways A promising scientific idea is not the same as a proven treatment. Clinical trials help researchers answer two critical questions: Does it work? and Is it safe? Many exciting discoveries change as they are studied in larger groups of people. The goal of the scientific process is not to slow innovation—it is to help ensure new treatments provide meaningful benefits while minimizing harm. Progress in medicine depends on both curiosity and careful testing. Questions Worth Asking Use these questions to help guide conversations with your healthcare team when you hear about a new treatment: How strong is the evidence supporting this treatment? Has it been studied in people, or only in laboratory or animal studies? What are the known benefits? What are the known risks? How does it compare with treatments that are already available? Is this treatment appropriate for someone with my medical history? New discoveries are exciting—and they are how medicine moves forward. But every promising idea deserves careful testing before it becomes routine care. The goal isn't simply to bring new treatments to patients faster. It's to bring forward treatments that have been shown to make a meaningful difference in people's lives. This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not replace care from your own healthcare team. 🎙️Host: Diana Langworthy, PharmD, BCPS | Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy | Clinical Pharmacist in Adult Internal Medicine, Fairview East Bank Hospital 📬 Enjoyed this episode? Find more evidence-based content, podcast episodes, social media, and ways to connect at https://beacons.ai/diana.the.pharm.d.etective.

  5. Jul 14

    S4E8 - Why Efficacy Matters: Dissecting the Early Termination of Asundexian (Factor XI Series Part 1 of 2)

    Welcome to Part 1 of our "What's it Worth?" deep dive into the next generation of anticoagulation. In this episode, host Dr. Diana Langworthy and student co-hosts Tim Haas and Caleb Nelson-Lange take on the OCEANIC-AF trial. This Phase 3, non-inferiority trial was designed to prove that the oral Factor XIa inhibitor, asundexian, could match the gold-standard apixaban in preventing stroke while significantly reducing bleeding. However, the trial took a dramatic turn when it was stopped early—not for safety, but for futility in efficacy . We unpack why asundexian failed to clear the non-inferiority hurdle and what this means for the "Factor XI hypothesis. In this episode, we move past the excitement of a "bleeding-free" anticoagulant to look at the clinical necessity of efficacy. We explore the challenge of going head-to-head with apixaban—widely considered the safest and most effective agent in our current toolkit—and discuss whether the "Factor XI hypothesis" was flawed or if the bar was simply set too high for this specific molecule. Key Takeaways OCEANIC-AF was halted because asundexian was inferior to apixaban for preventing stroke and systemic embolism . In this trial, asundexian went head-to-head with apixaban, the current market leader for safety and efficacy .  While asundexian showed numerical trends toward less bleeding, those gains were overshadowed by the increased risk of ischemic events compared to standard-of-care apixaban . Is the Factor XI class dead on arrival, or was asundexian just the wrong molecule? ---> Tune in to find out! Episode Resources Link to the Coagulation Cascade: https://www.bleeding.org/educational-programs/education/online-education/the-clotting-cascade Featured Study Piccini, J. P., Patel, M. R., Steffel, J., Ferdinand, K., Van Gelder, I. C., Russo, A. M., ... & OCEANIC-AF Steering Committee and Investigators. (2025). Asundexian versus apixaban in patients with atrial fibrillation. New England Journal of Medicine, 392(1), 23–32. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2407105 Host Diana Langworthy, PharmD, BCPS | Associate Professor, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy | Clinical Pharmacist, Inpatient Internal Medicine, M Health Fairview East Bank Hospital Student Co-Hosts Caleb Nelson-Lange | PharmD Candidate | Class of 2026 | University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy Tim Haas | PharmD Candidate | Class of 2028 | University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy Join the Conversation Have a study you'd like us to decode on a future episode? Email whatsitworthpodcast@gmail.com or share how you're navigating evidence in practice—I love hearing how clinicians and learners think through uncertainty. Or you can find me on my socials - Check out my Beacons for links to my TikTok and LinkedIn https://beacons.ai/diana.the.pharm.d.etective   Additional References & Guidelines Joglar, J. A., Chung, M. K., Armbruster, A. L., et al. (2024). 2023 ACC/AHA/ACCP/HRS guideline for the diagnosis and management of patients with atrial fibrillation. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 83(1), 109–279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2023.08.017 Ruff, C. T., Patel, S. M., Giugliano, R. P., et al. (2024). Abelacimab versus rivaroxaban in patients with atrial fibrillation. New England Journal of Medicine, 391(1), 21–33. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2406674 Piccini, J. P., Caso, V., Connolly, S. J., et al. (2022). Safety of the oral factor XIa inhibitor asundexian compared with apixaban in patients with atrial fibrillation (PACIFIC-AF): A multicentre, randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, dose-finding phase 2 study. The Lancet, 399(10333), 1383–1390.

  6. Jun 30

    S4E7 - The Cirrhosis Paradox: Solving the DOAC vs. Warfarin Mystery in Liver Disease

    For patients with atrial fibrillation and chronic liver disease, the "correct" anticoagulation strategy has long been a clinical catch-22. Balancing the high risk of stroke against the elevated risk of catastrophic bleeding—all while navigating a lack of randomized controlled trial (RCT) data—leaves clinicians in a difficult position. In this episode, host Dr. Diana Langworthy is joined by Dr. Erin Pauling (ambulatory care and cardiology specialist) and Caleb Nelson-Lange, PharmD (Class of 2026!) to decode a 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis. Together, they explore how DOACs perform against warfarin in this complex population and whether apixaban truly holds a safety edge. As evidence evolves, we must ask: Does the safety signal in observational data outweigh the lack of RCTs? Does the "worth" of DOACs hold up when the liver is failing? Key Points  *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:cf4247c1-f811-45ea-a623-2c3768584f43-3" data-turn-id-container= "request-WEB:cf4247c1-f811-45ea-a623-2c3768584f43-3" data-testid= "conversation-turn-8" data-turn="assistant"> This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated DOACs versus VKAs in patients with atrial fibrillation and liver disease, including a cirrhosis subgroup. Most included studies were observational, with limited randomized data. Overall, DOACs appeared to have a favorable bleeding profile compared with VKAs, with similar stroke/systemic embolism outcomes. Similar bleeding trends were seen in the cirrhosis subgroup. We discuss why anticoagulation in liver disease requires individualized decision-making, including liver disease severity, bleeding history, clotting risk, and medication-specific considerations. We also dig into the apixaban versus rivaroxaban subgroup findings and why they may differ between the broader liver disease population and the cirrhosis subgroup. How should we interpret DOAC safety in liver disease and cirrhosis — and what do the agent-specific findings add? ---> Tune in to find out!   Featured Study Zhou Q, Liu X, Liu S, Gu Z, Wu Y, Yang Y, Tao Y, Wei M. Effectiveness and safety of direct oral anticoagulants versus vitamin K antagonists in atrial fibrillation patients with liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Pharmacol. 2025 Jul 14;16:1620394. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1620394.  Host & Guest Information Diana Langworthy, PharmD, BCPS | Associate Professor, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy Clinical Pharmacist | Inpatient Internal Medicine, M Health Fairview East Bank Hospital Erin Pauling, PharmD, BCACP, FAPhA | Clinical Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | Ambulatory Care Pharmacist, United Health Services (UHS) Caleb Nelson-Lange PharmD | Class of 2026 | University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy Have a study you'd like us to decode on a future episode? Email whatsitworthpodcast@gmail.com or share how you're navigating evidence in practice—I love hearing how clinicians and learners think through uncertainty. Additional References Joglar, J. A., Chung, M. K., Armbruster, A. L., et al. 2023 ACC/AHA/ACCP/HRS guideline for the diagnosis and management of patients with atrial fibrillation: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation, 2024 149(1), 109–279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2023.08.017 Miranda, M., Sangos CKM, Barbosa GA, et al. Efficacy and safety of direct oral anticoagulants compared to vitamin K antagonists for atrial fibrillation in patients with liver cirrhosis: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Exper Hepatol 2025;15(4): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jceh.2025.102534 Simon TG, Singer DE, Zhang Y, Mastrorilli JM, Cervone A, DiCesare E, Lin KJ. Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Apixaban, Rivaroxaban, and Warfarin in Patients With Cirrhosis and Atrial Fibrillation : A Nationwide Cohort Study. Ann Intern Med. 2024 Aug;177(8):1028-1038. doi: 10.7326/M23-3067.  Yoo SY, Kim E, Nam GB, Lee D, Shim JH, Kim KM, Lim YS, Lee HC, Chung YH, Lee YS, Choi J. Safety of direct oral anticoagulants compared to warfarin in cirrhotic patients with atrial fibrillation. Korean J Intern Med. 2022 May;37(3):555-566. doi: 10.3904/kjim.2020.622.

  7. Jun 30

    S4E7.5 - What's it Worth? For Everyone. AFib, Blood Thinners, and Liver Disease: Questions to Ask Your Doctor

    In this What's It Worth? For Everyone episode, we're talking about AFib, blood thinners, and liver disease. AFib stands for atrial fibrillation. It is a common heart rhythm problem that can increase the risk of stroke. Because of that stroke risk, many people with AFib are prescribed a blood thinner. But what if someone has AFib and also has liver disease or cirrhosis? That decision can be more complicated. In the full What's It Worth? episode, we discussed a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing DOACs with warfarin in people with atrial fibrillation and liver disease. DOACs are a group of blood thinners that include apixaban, also known as Eliquis, and rivaroxaban, also known as Xarelto. Key Takeaways In this study, DOACs appeared to work similarly to warfarin for preventing stroke in people with AFib and liver disease. DOACs also appeared to have a more favorable bleeding profile than warfarin in many patients, including patients with cirrhosis. This episode explains why blood thinner decisions in liver disease are not one-size-fits-all. We talk about how liver function, kidney function, bleeding history, clotting risk, and other medications can all affect which blood thinner may be the safest choice. The core takeaway from the review is that DOACs may be reasonable options for many people with AFib and liver disease, but the decision still needs to be individualized. Practical takeaway: Bring your full medication list to your appointment and ask your healthcare team how your liver disease, kidney function, age, weight, bleeding risk, and other medicines affect the blood thinner choice. Questions Worth Asking Use these questions to help guide a conversation with your healthcare team: Why do I need a blood thinner? What is my risk of stroke if I do not take one? What is my personal risk of bleeding? How severe is my liver disease? Is this blood thinner safe for my level of liver function? How is my kidney function? Are any of my medicines raising my bleeding risk? Are any of my medicines interacting with this blood thinner? What bleeding symptoms should I watch for? Who should I call if I notice bleeding or need a procedure? Bring your full medication list to your appointment. This includes prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, pain relievers like ibuprofen or naproxen, aspirin, vitamins, supplements, and medicines you only take once in a while. Having liver disease or cirrhosis does not automatically mean a person with AFib can never take a blood thinner. But it does mean the decision needs extra care. The goal is thoughtful, personalized care. This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not replace care from your own healthcare team.

  8. Jun 19

    S4E6.5 - What's It Worth? For Everyone: Does Tylenol Cause Autism? What Studies Can and Can't Tell Us

    Welcome to What's It Worth? For Everyone — a shorter, everyone-friendly version of What's It Worth? focused on making health evidence clearer, calmer, and easier to use. In this episode, Dr. Diana Langworthy revisits the recent What's It Worth? long-form discussion with Dr. Tory Pressman and Dr. Alexis Quade about Tylenol — also known as acetaminophen or paracetamol — during pregnancy and concerns about autism, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental disorders. The full episode breaks down a 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis in more detail. This companion episode pulls out the big-picture takeaways: what the study asked, why this question is hard to answer, what makes the evidence reassuring, and what we still cannot say with 100% certainty. If you've seen headlines about Tylenol and autism and wondered what to do with that information, this episode is designed to help you slow down the claim, understand the evidence, and ask better questions with your healthcare team. Key Points Tylenol, acetaminophen, and paracetamol refer to the same medication, which is commonly used during pregnancy for fever and pain. Questions about autism, ADHD, and neurodevelopmental disorders can feel deeply personal for parents and pregnant people, which is why clear and careful communication matters. The episode explains why observational studies can be tricky, especially when people take a medication because of fever, pain, infection, or another condition. We unpack the idea of confounding by indication — the possibility that the reason someone took the medication may also be part of the story. The 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis is reassuring because its stronger analyses, including sibling-comparison studies, did not show a meaningful association between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability. The practical takeaway is not "take it whenever, however, forever," but rather: use medications thoughtfully, talk with your healthcare team, and do not let scary headlines become a source of blame. Questions Worth Asking What are the risks of not treating fever or pain during pregnancy? If I need acetaminophen, what dose and timing make sense for me? How often is too often to need it? Are there non-medication options that fit my symptoms? Is there anything about my pregnancy or health history that changes the risk-benefit balance? This episode is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to replace advice from a licensed healthcare professional. Host Information Diana Langworthy, PharmD, BCPS Associate Professor, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy Clinical Pharmacist, Adult Inpatient Internal Medicine LinkedIn: Diana (Mack) Langworthy www.linkedin.com/in/diana-langworthy-4a765957 TikTok: Diana The Pharm.D.etective (@whatsitworthrx) References [Episode Study] D'Antonio F, Flacco ME, Della Valle L, Prasad S, Manzoli L, Samara A, Khalil A. Prenatal paracetamol exposure and child neurodevelopment: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Obstet Gynaecol Womens Health. Published online January 16, 2026. doi:10.1016/S3050-5038(25)00211-0 Prada D, Ritz B, Bauer AZ, Baccarelli AA. Evaluation of the evidence on acetaminophen use and neurodevelopmental disorders using the Navigation Guide methodology. Environmental Health. 2025;24:56. doi:10.1186/s12940-025-01208-0 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Acetaminophen Use in Pregnancy and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes. Practice Advisory. Published September 22, 2025. Accessed April 13, 2026. Bérard A, Cottin J, Leal LF, et al. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy and the Risk of Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Childhood. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2026;65(4):484-504. Sheikh J, Allotey J, Khashan AS, et al. Maternal paracetamol (acetaminophen) use during pregnancy and risk of autism and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in offspring: umbrella review of systematic reviews. BMJ. 2025;391:e088141. Lee PC, Chen CY, Pan ML, et al. Maternal Acetaminophen Use and Child Neurodevelopment. JAMA Pediatr. Published online March 9, 2026. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2026.0071.

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About

Get into the weeds with us as we take deep dives into clinical trials and build the essential skills of evidence critique! This podcast is a tool for healthcare professions students and practitioners to sharpen their science sleuth skills, learn key concepts about study design, biostatistics, and application of evidence to clinical practice.

Information