The Benefits of Compounding

More flexibility:

• Compounding allows more flexibility with regard to dosage strength and route of administration. Concentration can be change, and flavoring can disguise unpleasant aftertastes. Medication can also often be reformulated so that it is more convenient to administer. Side effects such as GI distress can be eliminated by changing the route of administration. Unique containers and devices also provide many options for medication administration.

More choices:

• Products become commercially unavailable for many reasons, such as decreased drug utilization or declining manufacturer profits. However, some of these products provide the best remedy for certain patients. Using pharmaceutical-grade chemicals, a specially trained pharmacist with the proper equipment can compound a medication containing the same active ingredients as the unavailable product.

More customization:

• Hospice, geriatric, pediatric, and veterinary patients often have unique needs, and we can provide specific solutions for their medication problems.
• Children are especially suited for custom compounded prescriptions as commercially manufactured drug forms are often not easy for children to take. Dozens of flavors are available to compounding pharmacists who can enhance the taste and color of medication. A compounding pharmacist can also make medicine in a more easily taken or administered dosage form for children who have a difficult time swallowing capsules or tablets.  Children vary in weight or size, compounding pharmacists can formulate the medication to the exact dose needed for the individual child.
• There are many ways a compounding pharmacy can work with doctors, nurses and caregivers to assist the hospice patient. Hospice patients may need several medications that could be combined into one capsule. If the patient is unable to swallow, we can make transdermal medications to be applied topically or troches to be dissolved in the mouth.

More tolerablity:

• Many patients are allergic to preservatives or dyes in standard drugs, or are lactose intolerant. A pharmacist can compound prescriptions that are preservative, dye, and lactose free.
• Many patients may have difficulty taking medicine in the prescribed form. Working with your physician, we can change the strength of a medication, alter its form to make it easier to administer, or add a flavor to make it more palatable. Children and the elderly in particular may have difficulty with flavors of commercial medication. Compounding pharmacists can work directly with the physician and the patient or the patient’s family to select a more palatable flavor and mask any unpleasant aftertaste.

Examples of how we can meet special needs:

• Optimal dosage and dosage form to achieve desired therapeutic goals, eliminating unnecessary waste and expense.
• Change in delivery system for those unable to swallow – to a troche, lollipop, topical preparation, suppository, etc.
• Targeting of drug to specific site to decrease incidence of systemic side effects.
• The elimination of preservatives, dyes, perfumes, additives, and fillers, which is useful for allergy sensitive or intolerant patients
• Combination of multiple medications into a single cream or other product (stability permitting) for more convenient use, improved compliance, and reduced cost
• The addition of flavoring to medications for a more palatable taste especially for kids and animals
• Ability to reproduce medications discontinued by manufacturers
• The creation of various strength and time-released preparations not commercially available