WHAT IS COMPOUNDING?
Pharmacy compounding is the science and art of preparing customized medications.
In every field of medicine, there are some patients who don’t respond to traditional methods of treatment. Sometimes they need medicine at strengths that are not manufactured by drug companies, or perhaps they simply need a different method of ingesting a medication. Pharmacy compounding meets these needs. It provides a way for the physicians and compounding pharmacists to customize an individualized prescription for the specific needs of their patients.
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IS COMPOUNDING NEW?
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No. The compounding of medications by pharmacists is a long-standing and traditional part of pharmacy. In fact, before the advent of multinational pharmaceutical companies, the majority of medications were prepared at local independent pharmacies. Compounding has experienced a resurgence, as modern technology, innovative techniques and research have allowed more compounding pharmacists to customize medications when the manufactured product is unable to meet specific needs of the patient.
WHY COMPOUND?
Most medications today are mass-produced by pharmaceutical companies. But what happens when a patient has a medical condition that cannot be met by off-the-shelf, mass-produced medicines? You turn to prescription compounding from a pharmacy like ours.
Pharmaceutical compounding is preparing custom prescription compounds for patients with unique medical needs. The art and science of compounding custom medications requires experience, knowledge and a sophisticated lab. We have all three.
WHEN TO COMPOUND?
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There are many factors that can create such a need, including:
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UNAVAILABLE MEDICATIONS
A pharmaceutical company may discontinue a necessary medication or a medication may be on back order and unavailable for the pharmacy to order.
CONSUMABLE FORMS
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If the patient cannot ingest a typical commercially available medicine, a compounding pharmacist may prepare the medication in alternative forms such as creams, liquids or gels.
COMBINING MEDICATIONS
Physicians and compounding pharmacists may elect to combine medications to increase compliance.
ALLERGIES
A patient may be allergic to certain preservatives, dyes or binders in commercially available medications, requiring to be compounded
SPECIAL DOSAGES
Sometimes a specific dosage strength or delivery form is required due to age, physical limitation or disability (e.g. disabled citizens, infants, young children or pets).
ENHANCING PALATABILITY
Compounding pharmacists may suggest adding flavor to make the medicine more palatable.
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1-888-237-4737