Category: Compounding

Here you will find information about compounding services, including pediatric compounding, dental compounding, and compounding for pets.

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Compounding

Non Addictive Pain Medication: How Compounding Is the Solution

Millions of people worldwide struggle with pain medication of some kind and form. Many individuals neglect their chronic pain because they struggle to find the medication that genuinely works for them. Some individuals are worried about forming a dependency and are unsure where to begin. Pain management can feel intimidating and sometimes hopeless. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. The extent of chronic pain is different for every single individual. So should be the medication. Hence, compounding meds seem like the best option for non addictive pain medication . Before diving deeper into the subject, let’s look at the common shortcomings of oral pain meds.

Shortcomings of Conventional Pain Management Meds

Various pain meds are available on the market to treat pain. They may or may not work for your specific condition. Here is why:

Not Meant for Your Specific Pain and Its Needs

OTC drugs are created to suit a variety of different people. These meds don’t generally work well for people with chronic conditions. Most people who struggle with chronic pain fail to see the results. Sometimes, they can also lead to stomach problems.

Drug Dependency

One of the major downsides of pain meds is drug dependency. People are always at risk of forming drug dependency with conventional medications. Opioids are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs for individuals struggling with chronic pain, as they are much stronger than OTC meds. They target opioid receptors in pain for extended relief. This leads to opioid dependency when used on a long-term basis. This presents a massive problem for those dealing with consistent pain as they need a treatment that can work for them as a non addictive pain medication on a long-term basis.

Unwanted Side Effects

Many opioids and OTC pain meds can lead to negative side effects. Some common ones are feeling irritated, drowsy, dizzy, and sleepy. These medications can sometimes have withdrawal effects. Even nonaddictive medications can sometimes lead to serious side effects when consumed over a long time.

Compounded Medications: What are They and How Can They Help?

Compounding meds involves custom-creating medicines to create a unique formulation per the patient’s unique needs. During the process, the compounding pharmacist can adjust, alter, and combine multiple meds to create the perfect medicine per your needs. This gives the patient more control over their medicine and health management. If you are someone who struggles with swallowing pills, a compounding pharmacist can turn the tablet into an oral pill. Similarly, they can alter the dosage, add flavor to bitter-tasting meds, and even combine multiple formulas into one.

Compounding Medication for Pain Management

Compounding comes in handy when you are trying to manage chronic pain. It essentially gives patients more control over their condition. Here is how it can help you in your pain management journey:

Specific Treatment as per Your Needs

Every single individual experience pain of different intensity and in different parts of the body for different reasons. This makes general OTC drugs quite tricky, and most people do not get optimal results. Compounding pharmacists can create a unique treatment for you that delivers the optimal outcome.

Alternative Forms of Medicine

Compounding meds can combat the shortcomings of many common OTC meds. For instance, your body takes a lot of time to process oral medications. With compounding, oral pain relievers can be converted into transdermal gels that deliver instant results.

Medications Can Be Combined

A compounding pharmacist can combine multiple medications into one or double the effects, making medication management easier. This is immensely helpful if you often forget to take your meds.

Topical Pain Management Medications

At Burt’s Rx Pharmacy, we specialize in compounding services and creating gels that are specific to your concerns/needs and help you relieve pain instantly. Our pharmacists work with your doctor to custom-create a formulation that works in your favor. Most of our clients are quite keen on compounded topical pain relievers for all the right reasons. Here are some of the major benefits of topical compounding meds: 

Targets Exact Area of Pain

Topical pain management works wonders for targeting precise pain locations. They are a great alternative to oral meds that take a long time to get absorbed by your stomach and then eventually lead to your bloodstream. In some cases, they can create a major stomach issue as well. If you are dying in pain, you simply don’t have the patience for the waiting game. Hence, a topical method is the best solution.

Higher Concentration

Topical creams have a much higher concentration of medication as compared to oral meds. This is because the medication gets quickly absorbed into the skin and creates fast-acting results. If you are looking for much needed relief and non addictive pain medication, a high-concentration topical gel is the best option.

Reduced Issues and Misuse

It is very easy to misuse oral medications. Sometimes, you might accidentally take the pill at the wrong time of the day or take one pill twice. All of these can pose serious side effects. This isn’t the case with topical medications. Oral medications can lead to unwanted side effects when used incorrectly. Topical medications are easy and effective to use and a much simpler way to manage your condition.We hope you found this article informative and helpful. If you have any more questions, leave them in the comments section below.

  • Disclaimer: This article is meant for informational purposes only. Do not substitute it for medical diagnosis or advice. Always consult your doctor before taking any form of medication.

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Compounding Medicine

Chronic Condition Management with Compounding Medication

 Chronic condition management is very different than usual illnesses. It involves a different kind of treatment plan and monitoring. The plan involves managing symptoms of a long-term disease that normally restricts patients from living a normal life. Through proper management of chronic diseases, healthcare experts can slow down the progression of the disease and enable you to control the symptoms. The goal is to give back control of your life.

Management of chronic disease needs to involve a complete health approach. This essentially means keeping the patients healthy and happy by understanding their health profile and treating their specific conditions. It is essential to understand that no chronic illness develops without the influence of lifestyle, genetics, and environment. All these factors are taken into account before devising a health solution to control the health conditions and associated symptoms.

What are Chronic Diseases?

Let’s first define what are chronic health conditions. These are the illnesses that stay with patients on a long-term basis and don’t go away on their own. Typically, these last for a lifetime or for several years at a time and are very difficult to deal with. There are instances when the cure lies in finding a way to live with the disease instead of finding a permanent solution. Some examples of chronic diseases include but aren’t limited to cardiovascular disease, arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, hypothyroidism/hyperthyroidism, lupus, diabetes, and asthma.

Management of Chronic Diseases

Proper management of chronic illness is essential to control the condition. Your doctor will take into account your complete medical history and status. Then, he/she will decide on the treatment plan and make a recommendation for the disease. Certain medications can contradict other medications and lead to an adverse reaction. Hence, a broader view of health is required to avoid problems.

Management of chronic illnesses goes far beyond taking a blood test or treating symptoms. The goal is to minimize symptoms while controlling the condition and progression of the disease. One health condition can sometimes impact another condition. Understanding the relationship between the two is important for both patient and doctor and is essential for proper disease management.

Your doctor will look into your lifestyle to manage what factors make the condition worse. For instance, an unhealthy diet can worsen diabetes. Similarly, an environment with airborne illnesses can make you more prone to asthma attacks. Disease management isn’t only about understanding the disease. It is also about your environment, lifestyle, and how all these elements will impact your condition.

Get All the Help You Can

Chronic diseases have become more common than ever. As per the statistics, every six in ten Americans struggle with a chronic disease. With age, every 4 in 10 Americans struggle with more than one chronic illness. Management of these conditions leads to complicated symptoms and a shortened lifespan. Pharmacists play a very important role in the treatment of the condition. They work together with the doctor to create a perfect plan for you.

What is Chronic Condition Management?

First, you must understand that chronic illnesses will not disappear soon. The treatment needs to match this fact. It calls for detailed checkups, medication management, monitoring, and education. A combination of all these will keep the patient healthy and informed, which is essential for the management of crucial diseases. This allows patients to understand how these illnesses impact their health and how to minimize the associated risks.

The Role of Pharmacists in Healthcare

Pharmacists, particularly compounding pharmacists play a very important role in the management of chronic illnesses. They are subject matter experts when it comes to medication management. They understand how these medications interact with each other and the best drugs to tackle the symptoms. Pharmacists can create customized dosages, combine multiple medications into a single pill, and alter the administration to minimize side effects.

It is important to have one or multiple consultations with a pharmacist to effectively manage chronic illness. This allows the patient to build a solid rapport with a compounding pharmacist. It means that the patient can take health advice from a pharmacist. Once the medication is dispensed, the pharmacist can educate the patient on its usage, possible side effects, and interactions with other medications/vitamins.

Tackle Challenges with Compounding

One of the biggest challenges of chronic disease management is intaking multiple medications. This involves the stress of keeping up with prescription medications, proper directions, a busy lifestyle, and the risk of non-compliance. To fix this, consultation with a pharmacist is required. Compounding can tackle this problem by combining multiple medications into one. This step alone will significantly improve your ability to manage these conditions.

Importance of Working Together for Disease Management

Managing a crucial illness involves the collaboration of doctors, nurses, compounding pharmacists, and most importantly yourself. It is important to stick to solid advice on prescriptions, side effects, and the management of drugs. With the proper information, you can save money on prescriptions, minimize risks, and improve symptoms to achieve a better life quality.

We hope you found this post informative and helpful. If you struggle with taking multiple medications, it is time to explore the option of compounding. Ask your healthcare provider to take a compounding pharmacist on board. For any questions, feel free to reach out to our team, and we will gladly guide you.

Disclaimer: This article is meant for educational and entertainment purposes only. Do not substitute it for medical advice. Always listen to your doctor for the management of your condition.

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Compounding Medicine

Using Compound Medication for Pain, Aches, and Joints

Pain, aches, and problematic joints are more common than you think. Taking conventional oral medications isn’t always the solution. Most people experience more side effects than relief. That calls for compound medication for pain.

A compounding pharmacist can especially formulate medicated gels and creams that can be applied directly onto the pain site and customize oral medications to suit each patient’s pain management needs. They are a far better option than over-the-counter meds available. Read why below.

Topical Compounded Medicines Help Patients Minimize the Use of Oral Opiates

As per the data collected by CDC, the number of opioid painkillers increased by 10 times from the year 1994 to 2014. This is alarming. This level of overprescription is mainly because of greed and abuse of the prescription system and lack of knowledge. Opioid painkillers are heavily regulated now as they have very adverse side effects and can even lead to death when not administered properly. Moreover, they are highly addictive and require vigilant monitoring.

Relying on narcotics for persistent pain can lead to long-term problems for the patient. That is why there is a strict limitation on the number of painkillers that can be prescribed. Physicians are under scrutiny for the number and types of opioid drugs they can prescribe.

Certain patients aren’t able to receive enough opioid medication for easing their symptoms as per the new rules. Hence, a lot of patients are reluctant to prescribe drugs that contain hydrocodone, Vicodin, and Percocet. Topical/Transdermal medications are a great alternative to oral pain killers and compounding pharmacists can create custom formulations to treat the pain.

Variations in Strength

While all of us deal with pain at some point, there is a wide variation in the symptoms and pain tolerances that each of us have. Commercially available meds are unable to provide the right dosage strength for every single one of us. A compounding pharmacist can work with your physician to customize the exact dosage that will suit your individual needs best. It can greatly improve the quality of life for a patient by offering the best pain relief option and minimal side effects.

Topical NSAIDS Are Safer

Oral NSAIDS are very effective in relieving pains and aches, but they do come with very serious side effects. Possible complications include but aren’t limited to gastrointestinal bleeding, increased risk of heart attack, high blood pressure, and renal problems or failure. Even aspirin can lead to come of these unwanted side effects. What is a better option? Topical analgesics are a great way to relieve pain symptoms, minus the side effects. As the topical/transdermal meds are placed directly on the pain site, the risks of drug concentration in the patient’s body are very less.

Topical Painkillers Can Treat Multiple Pain Issues

Do you know that pain is the most common reason why patients reach out to the health care system? It not only hurts but can impact a patient’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Anyone who deals with chronic pain on a regular basis can tell you that their entire life is impacted by it.  Compounded painkillers can relieve both chronic and acute pain. The conditions that can be treated with topical compounded main meds include but aren’t limited to sports injuries or strain, neuropathic pain, musculoskeletal pain, arthritis, post-surgical pain, accident- and injury-related pain, idiopathic proctodynia, vulvodynia. If you aren’t sure that this pain can be relieved with topical meds, you can consult your physician and healthcare provider. They can work with a compounded pharmacist to create a perfect plan for you.

Compounded Pain Gels/Creams Are Highly Effective

Compounding pharmacists can custom-create pain-relieving drugs to enhance their efficacy. Certain drugs can also be combined together to double the results. For instance, menthol can be added to capsaicin and methyl salicylate for improved outcome. Similarly, lidocaine and tetracaine can be combined to relieve symptoms more quickly.

Pharmacists can custom formulate transdermal creams, patches, and gels to relieve other symptoms along with the pain and offer tailored relief for multiple conditions. The only and very rare side effect of transdermal medicine is a possibility of a rash that is temporary and goes away on its own.

Combo Therapy Made Possible

More often than usual, patients are struggling with multiple conditions at the same time. This means that they will be required to take multiple drugs. This can be overwhelming for the patients and can have side effects. Moreover, patients are more forgetful if they have to take multiple drugs and are more likely to miss a dosage which makes the treatment ineffective. A compounding pharmacist can combine multiple drugs into single or fewer tablets which makes the process of medicine administration easy and effective. It also encourages patients to stick to the treatment plan which essentially improves their condition.

Using Compound Medication For Pain

Compounded meds are a great way to treat all kinds of chronic and persistent pain. If you deal with it on a regular basis or have a sports background, it is wise to discuss all your options along with the possibility of compounded meds with your physician. At Burt’s Rx Pharmacy, we provide, safe, and effective topical pain medications for patients in need. If you have any questions, reach out to us today and our team would be happy to assist you.

We’re committed to helping you achieve your healthcare goals. From treating everyday conditions to achieving personal wellness, our talented and compassionate Burt’s pharmacy care team members can find solutions that fit you like a glove.

Disclaimer: Please note that this article is meant for information purposes only and shouldn’t be used as a source of medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider prior to using any medication for pain management.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and shouldn’t be substituted for medical advice or diagnoses. Always talk to your healthcare provider in case of any health concerns.
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Compounding

How a Compound Pharmacist Can Help You Prevent Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is on the rise, and the situation is very alarming. While there isn’t a sure-shot way to prevent breast cancer, certain factors increase the likelihood of the disease. These risks can be lowered with the right lifestyle choices:

  • Avoiding smoking and alcohol;
  • Maintaining healthy body weight;
  • Increasing physical activity;
  • Getting cancer screening regularly.

Let’s Talk About Breast Cancer

It is commonly thought that high estrogen levels can cause breast cancer. There is a correlation here, but it is essential to learn about the details. The significant risk isn’t excess estrogen; our body’s inability to metabolize or eliminate it safely can cause DNA mutations leading to cancer. Safe estrogen metabolism will reduce DNA damage significantly. Luckily, there are specific options that can help in this regard.

Diindolylmethane (DIM)

Diindolylmethane (DIM) supports healthy estrogen levels. Estrogen dominance results in numerous health concerns, such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It is also linked with environmental toxins mimicking estrogen and compromised metabolism of estrogens.

Other factors that enhance estrogen metabolism include cruciferous vegetables in your diet, which helps with bowel movements. If your bowels aren’t moving, estrogen sticks around on your body longer and has more chances to go back to the circulation in your body.  

N-Acetylcysteine and Resveratrol

Other OTC supplements that can help the situation are N-Acetylcysteine and Resveratrol. They can work magic in preventing breast cancer and other human cancers. It is seen that they reduce DNA damage in various in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are chemicals that interact with free radicals and neutralize them. This process prevents them from causing damage. Free radicals are mainly produced by cell metabolisms or external damage from pollution, smoking, radiation, medication, etc.

The accumulation of free radicals in the body creates oxidative stress. It plays a significant role in developing many chronic illnesses, including cancer. Antioxidants, aka “free radical scavengers,” are one of the most important ways to counteract oxidative stress and damage.

Chemo Compounding

In case one counters cancer, one can also take the help of chemo compounding. If you haven’t heard of the term before, it essentially refers to the process of creating compounding drugs for cancer patients. I am sure it’s not surprising that no two cancer patients have the same genetic code, habits, health history, and comorbidities.

While everyone requires unique treatment, compounding medication is the only way to fit a patient’s requirements perfectly. Generally, your doctor will work with a compound pharmacist to create the perfect plan.

Chemotherapy drugs can be pretty hazardous. Hence, only someone with substantial experience handling/compounding antineoplastic medications should create the medication for you. That calls for a specialized compound pharmacist or pharmacy.

Can a Compound Pharmacist Formulate Chemotherapy Drugs?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions regarding the subject, and we understand why. Creating compounded chemo drugs isn’t straightforward and involves a high degree of precession. That is the reason only experienced oncological pharmacists must compound these drugs.

Incorrect formulation of antineoplastic medications can be hazardous to the patient’s health. Creating chemo drugs needs to be sterile, accurate, and timely. It essentially involves a germ-free environment and using the highest quality medications.

Moreover, chemotherapy drugs are required to be administered promptly. Most chemotherapy drugs aren’t created till the patient is in the facility or ready to start home treatment. All in all, it is a highly complex procedure that must be handled timely.

Challenges of Compounding Cancer Drugs

While chemo compounding is necessary, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its challenges. Chemotherapy drugs are made using very toxic substances, and direct exposure in limited amounts can be dangerous. Guidelines for handling these drugs are pretty strict and must be followed.

Pharmacists with insufficient experience are more prone to endangering their health and other providers. The handler needs to avoid direct contact with cancer-causing chemicals at all costs. A few suitable safety measures are wearing two pairs of protective gloves, a closed-system drug transfer device, and all the other safety protocols designed to keep healthcare providers safe.

Preventing and Healing Breast Cancer Through Personalized Medicine

Preventing breast cancer is very different than treating it. What medications/supplements are great for preventing breast cancer gets very confusing. Generally, it is best to visit a compound pharmacist and explore your options.

Since they have extensive experience with hormone/nutrition medications, they can help you choose the right supplement/medication. When in doubt, it is always a great idea to talk to your healthcare provider regarding any supplements/medications that could help prevent breast cancer.

Final Takeaway

As your Good Neighbor Pharmacy, we’re committed to helping you achieve your healthcare goals. From treating everyday conditions to achieving personal wellness, our talented and compassionate Burt’s pharmacy care team members can answer your questions and find solutions that fit you like a glove.

With over 40 years of experience as your local pharmacy serving the community, we understand what Newbury Park, Thousand Oaks, and Westlake Village patients need most. Benefit from everyday low prices, in-house compounding services, preferred pricing, easy access to medical supplies, and friendly, supportive staff that are always just a phone call away.

Our compounding pharmacy members are here for you. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns regarding the subject.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and shouldn’t be substituted for medical advice or diagnoses. Always talk to your healthcare provider in case of any health concerns.
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Compounding Medicine

Treating Hyperthyroidism in Cats With Compounding

We all want the best for our feline family members. However, giving them a pill can be a major challenge. If you are a cat owner, you’ll agree that cats are quick, have built-in weapons, and surely have the potential to hide for days at a time. Most cat owners are able to stick with a week or two of medication. When it becomes a lifelong thing, it isn’t less than a nightmare. Luckily, compounded meds for treating hyperthyroidism in cats can save the day for you and your fur baby.

What are Cat Compounded Medications for Cats?

These are essentially custom formulations for the existing drugs that are formulated by a compounding pharmacist. Compounding pharmacies either create these drugs from commercially available FDA-approved medications or via raw ingredients. These medications are usually prescribed if none of the existing meds suit your pet’s unique requirements, the drug isn’t available anymore, or your pet refuses to take a particular medication orally. The process usually involves eliminating the allergen from the meds, changing the concentration of the drug, mixing it with other medications, adding flavor to the drugs, and altering the dosage.

One of the most common goals for treating hyperthyroidism in cats with compounding medications is because of easier administration. In most cases, the tablets are transformed into liquids, chews, and quick dissolving tablets. Sometimes, the oral medication is transformed into a transdermal gel that helps the product get absorbed through the skin to produce systemic effects.

Uses of Compounded Medication in Cats

Cats are highly sensitive creatures that respond to stress with physical or behavioral problems: bladder inflammation, runny eyes and nose, sneezing, and peeing outside their designated space. Wrestling your cat into taking the pill is not only stressful for the cat but can also take a toll on your mental health. If your cat is dealing with hypothyroidism, you need to give them medication every single day of their life. Long-term pill wrestling could damage the bond between you two and cause health problems for your cat. In order to keep your pet happy and healthy, a compounding pharmacist will create an easy-to-administer version of the medication that your pet accepts readily.

A lot of medications for hypothyroidism are available in human-sized doses. It is impossible to reasonably cut the tablet into one, eight, or sometimes even smaller. Therefore, when it comes to treating hyperthyroidism in cats, it calls for compounding. The compounding pharmacist can formulate liquids, chews, capsules, and transdermals as per the customized dosage.  

Common Compounding Formulations in Cats

Liquids and transdermals are the most popular medication formulations for cats. Most cats are notoriously difficult to pill, and the struggle leads to missed dosage and a poor relationship between the owner and the cat. Liquids and transdermals are a low-stress alternative that can work wonders if your cat is dealing with hyperthyroidism.

The pharmacist can customize a liquid concentration for the hyperthyroidism medications. Any other medication can be made using a similar principle. Crushing pills and feeding them to your cat isn’t always the answer, as the pills are bitter tasting. With compounding, flavoring can be added to improve the flavor of the existing meds.

Transdermals are amazing solutions for cats who refuse to take anything by mouth and can suspect something shady in their food too. The treatment involves a measured amount of gel/cream that is rubbed onto the hairless skin where blood vessels can quickly absorb the meds. It is typically near the ear flap.

In some cats, skin redness and inflammation occur on the administration site, but usually, the benefits outweigh the risks for cats. Not all drugs can be adequately absorbed through the skin barrier. That is why compounding pharmacists work with the vet to opt for the perfect course of action.

Common Conditions in Cats that Can be Treated with Compounded Medication

The following common conditions in cats can be treated with compounded meds (compounding can help a lot of other medical conditions as well, we have shared the most common ones):

Diarrhea

Metronidazole is an antibiotic that is used to treat diarrhea in both liquid and mini-tablet form.

High Blood Pressure

It involves determining the underlying causing and working on that. Regardless, daily medication is often needed to keep the blood pressure in a normal range. Compounding pharmacists can convert Amlodipine and benazepril into a liquid form for long-term usage.

Hyperthyroidism

In most cases, your cat will need a daily medication called methimazole. It is commercially available, but most cats refuse to take any medication orally and generally respond well to liquid formulations and transdermals. Compounding can help with this, along with adjusting the dosage.

Behavior Problems

Fluoxetine, alprazolam, and gabapentin are commonly used to stress and anxiety-related problems in cats. Transdermals is the best course of action in this regard.

Is Treating Hyperthyroidism in Cats with Compounding Meds Safe?

Yes, they are completely safe when you are working with a reputable compounding pharmacy. These medications are prepared to keep in mind the FDA guidelines for manufacturing practices. Not only this, but they are also highly effective as well. Unlike conventional medications, these are customized to the unique needs of your cat. This greatly improves efficacy and minimizes the risk as well.

When you are selecting a veterinary compounding pharmacy, always look for an accreditation from the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board. It ensures the pharmacy meets certain established standards, and you surely don’t want anything less for your beloved cat who is not feeling well already. Medication administration doesn’t have to be stressful for you or your pet, and it shouldn’t damage the bond between you too. If you need any further information regarding compounding treatment options for hyperthyroidism in cats, feel free to reach out to us, and we would love to guide you.

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Compounding Medicine

Solutions to Treat an Allergic Reaction to Medication

If you have ever experienced a drug allergy, I am sure you are fully aware that it is ‘no joke.’ For those of you who haven’t experienced it ever, let me describe it to you briefly and how opting for compounding medication can help prevent a future allergic reaction to medication.

What is a Drug Allergy?

It essentially is an allergic reaction to medication or a ‘particular’ medication. This happens because your immune system starts reacting to the drug. Common symptoms of drug allergy include fever, rash, and difficulty in breathing. You will be surprised to know that only 10 percent of negative drug reactions are caused by a true drug allergy. Any other allergic reaction to medications are merely a side effect of the drug. It is important to differentiate the two in order to take the right action.

Why Does an Allergic Reaction to Medication Occur in the First Place?

Let’s see why some people get an allergic reaction to certain medications. Your immune system is responsible for protecting you against certain diseases and is designed to fight foreign invaders like parasites, bacteria, viruses, and other harmful substances. Sometimes, your immune system can mistake a drug from these harmful invaders and starts making antibodies that attack the drug. It leads to increased inflammation which can result in rash, difficulty breathing, and fever. Sometimes, this can happen the very first time you take a particular drug, and other times, it occurs several times without any problem.

Are Drug Allergies Dangerous?

Well, drug allergies aren’t always dangerous. Sometimes, the symptoms of a drug allergy are so mild that they go unnoticed. Other times, it isn’t anything more than a slight rash. However, there are times when a drug allergy can be life-threatening and could lead to anaphylaxis which is a life-threatening whole-body reaction to the drug occurs within 12 hours of taking the medicine.

Common symptoms of anaphylaxis include irregular heartbeat, difficulty breathing, swelling, and unconsciousness. It is fatal, so if you or someone near you experiences it, call 911 right away or visit the nearest emergency room.

Allergic-Like Reactions

Certain drugs don’t cause anaphylaxis but can create a similar reaction. It is common with the following drugs: morphine, aspirin, chemotherapy drugs, and certain dyes used in X-rays. This reaction doesn’t involve your immune system and doesn’t qualify as a true allergy, either. The symptoms and treatments can be very similar to a true drug reaction, though.

Drugs Which Commonly Lead to Drug Allergies

Different drugs will have different impacts on different people. With that being said, an allergic reaction to medication is more prone to certain drugs than others. These include but aren’t limited to antibiotics, aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, anticonvulsants, drugs used in monoclonal antibody therapy, and chemotherapy drugs.

Differences Between Side Effects and an Allergic Reaction to Medication

An allergic reaction t affect certain people that involve the immune system and results in negative side effects. It is important to know that a side effect can also occur in any person taking a drug, but it is different from having an allergic reaction as an immune system response.

For instance, aspirin is used to treat pain but can lead to an upset stomach. The helpful side effects include minimizing the risks of a heart attack and stroke. Tylenol is used to treat pain and can lead to liver damage. Nitroglycerin is used to widen blood vessels and boost blood flow, which improves mental functioning as a side effect.

Possible Treatment of Drug Allergies

The management of drug allergies depends on the severity of the allergy. If the drug causes a severe reaction, it needs to be avoided entirely. Your doctor will most likely offer a replacement for the drug that doesn’t cause a reaction. If the reaction is mild, the doctor will still prescribe it for you while prescribing another drug to control your reaction to the medication. The goal of these medications is to block the immune response and minimize symptoms. Some of the possible options include:

Antihistamines

Your body starts to make histamine in response to a substance it assumes to be harmful. The release of histamine triggers allergic symptoms like itching, irritation, and swelling. The antihistamine blocks the production of histamine and helps to relieve the symptoms of an allergic reaction: pills, eye drops, creams, and nasal sprays.

Corticosteroids

An allergic reaction to medication can result in swelling of the airways and serious symptoms. Corticosteroids help to minimize inflammation which leads to plenty of problems. They come in various forms, such as pills, nasal sprays, eye drops, powders, liquids, and creams.

Bronchodilators

If a drug allergy results in wheezing and/or coughing, the doctor recommends a bronchodilator. It helps to open up the airways, which makes breathing easier. Bronchodilators come in both liquid and powder forms which makes them the ideal option for inhalation purposes.

Long-Term Outlook for Allergic Reactions to Medication

Surprise! Surprise! Your immune system doesn’t stay the same for your entire lifetime. Sometimes, your allergy weakens, goes away, or becomes worse with time. It is crucial to follow the instructions of your doctor in this regard. If your doctor asks you to avoid a particular drug, do so.

There are times when your doctor will be able to spot the allergen in a particular drug and eliminate it with the help of compounding. That calls for the expertise and experience of a compounding pharmacist. A compounding pharmacist will work with your healthcare provider to ensure the drug doesn’t cause an allergic reaction. Please note that it isn’t possible in all cases, and you might need to avoid the drug altogether.

Always listen to your doctor’s instructions in this regard. And if they tell you to avoid the drug or give any other instructions, stick with those. We hope you found this article informative and helpful! If you have any questions, leave them down in the comments section below, and we will get back to you shortly.

Disclaimer: This article is meant for informational purposes only and isn’t meant to be used as a source of medical advice. Always reach out to your healthcare provider in case you think you’re experiencing an allergic reaction to medication and listen to your doctor’s instructions.

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Compounding Medicine

Why Does Medicine Taste Bad? Here’s How Compounding Can Help!

Nobody likes to consume a bitter-tasting medicine, especially children. There is a reason for it. Children’s tastebuds are more sensitive to bitter tastes, which makes swallowing a tablet much more difficult. The problem occurs when a kid dealing with a life-threatening illness simply refuses to take the medicine essential to save their life. So, why does medicine taste bad for children? And is there a remedy?

Luckily, there is a solution, and a compounding pharmacist can alter the taste of the medicine to make it taste better and save a patient’s life.

Contribution of Dr. Jeremy Bartlett

A few years ago, a group of pediatric cancer patients refused to take a drug that was tested in the form of an oral solution. The patients said that the medicine tasted spicy, almost like tabasco. The problem was that these patients were critically ill, and the potential drug was the only thing that could help keep them alive.

The situation was presented as a challenge to Dr. Jeremy Bartlett, who is an associate research fellow with Pfizer Drug Product Design in Groton, Connecticut. As per Dr. Bartlett, “This drives me with a passion. We have potential medicines, but need to mask their taste profiles so that pediatric patients may be more willing to take them.”

For the past four years, it has led to a Pfizer initiative working with a broad multidisciplinary team to create better-tasting medicine for kids. Around 90 percent of pediatricians report that the taste of the drug is the biggest barrier to completing children’s treatment. That is a critical situation that needs to be tackled. Luckily, compounding pharmacists have played a part in making medicines taste better and competing for children’s treatments.

Molecules to Medicines

Researchers spend years discovering all different kinds of molecules that can treat and cure illnesses. But very little time in determining how these molecules will be delivered to the patient in the form of a potential medicine. That is where drug product design comes into play. It covered everything from formulating controlled resealed tablets and oral solutions to transdermal patches. Dr. Bartlett specializes in ensuring that a drug is safe and effective to be delivered to patients.

When it comes to creating medicines for kids, it isn’t as simple as taking an adult medicine and adding berry flavor to it. It isn’t a vice to treat kids as older adults when it comes to medicine. They have very different metabolisms, stomach sizes, transit times of medicines, and responses. All these elements come into play when designing perfect medicines for kids.

The Balance of Flavor

The drug product designers are working tirelessly to formulate the right balance of flavor, which brings us back to our original question: why does medicine taste bad for kids?

Why Does Medicine Taste Bad for Kids?

Believe it or not, children are more sensitive to flavors than adults. Moreover, 10 percent of the children have elevated taste receptors that could make a particular drug acceptable to the majority but not to those 10 percent of children. Formulating drugs for global consumers come with its own set of challenges. For instance, a banana-flavored medicine might be popular for kids in the US but not in Asia.

For the past years, Bartlett and the team have been working tirelessly to resolve the issue of pediatric drugs. According to them, the best flavor is no flavor, just like water. Making medicine taste like water would be the ultimate solution, but it will take a long time for the solution to come into practice. As per Bartlett:

“If we don’t have to worry about a child swallowing a medicine – if we can remove that battle for parents – and make taking medicines like drinking a glass of water, that would be a huge step forward.”

Poor Taste and Irritation – Elimination

Dr. Bartlett and his colleagues are working on a new innovation in drug product design. The new taste-neutral drugs are tiny spheres that are used as oral multiparticulates. Each sphere is covered with a tasteless barrier membrane that prevents the release of drugs into the mouth. It prevents the drug from interacting with taste receptors in children, which eliminates the problem of poor taste and irritation in kids.

One dose of this type of drug might contain thousands of od multiparticulates that will be packed in a sprinkled capsule, sachet, or stick pack. These multiparticulates won’t feel gritty or unpleasant and will travel smoothly through the mouth, resulting in a pleasant experience. While this seems like a lot of effort, Dr. Bartlett and the team have formulated a new pediatric drug which is still in the clinical testing phase. He said, “It’s a long process that takes time and resources, but our whole team is focused on getting medicines to the kids who need them,… A potentially significant improvement over where we were, and so far no complaints.”

As we know that creating a new type of drug is more than coating a pill with sugar, especially if you are dealing with a super picky eater or taster.

What is the Solution to a Massive Revolution?

Until neutral-tasting drugs come into the market and are widely available, we all need an alternative to bitter-tasting drugs. Compounding pharmacists can help you out immensely in this regard. They cannot only change the formulation to suit your kid but also add flavoring to the medicine, which makes the process of medicine administration much easier. Compounding pharmacists work with the pediatrician to ensure your child is getting the right dosage.

We hope you found this post informative and helpful! If you have any questions, leave them down in the comments section below or visit Burt’s RX online, and we will get back to you shortly.

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Compounding

Compounded Pet Meds: The Benefits and Different Types

It is very distressing to see your pet in any sort of pain. There are times when the medications prescribed to your pet come with a lot of problems: sometimes your pet refuses to take it, other times it isn’t available in the market, or the method of administration simply doesn’t work for you. If any of these scenarios are true for you, there is a better solution: Compounded Pet Meds.

For those of you who haven’t heard the term before, let me try to explain it to you in the simplest way possible. Compounding is the practice of mixing, combining, and altering the dosage/ingredients of a drug to make it more effective. In this article, we will help you learn about compounding pet medication, different types of compounded meds, and the benefits. Without further ado, let’s get started:

How Does Compounding Pet Medication Work?

Compounded pet medications can treat a bunch of symptoms: allergies, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, eye irritation, ticks, fleas, seizures, intestinal disorders, urinary incontinence, and more. Compounding pharmacists can help tailor the medication to suit the unique needs of your pets. It can be done in a number of ways. From increasing/decreasing doses on prescribed formulations to forming a discontinued med, changing the administration method, and/or adding flavor to the nasty-tasting meds, compounded pharmacists can do it all.

One of the major problems with animal meds is the taste. The compounded pharmacist can add different flavors as per your pet’s pallet. For instance, a tuna flavor for cats, chicken flavor for dogs, sweet flavoring for birds, and more. There are instances when your pet simply refuses to take medicine via mouth despite the altered flavor. In that case, the mode of delivery can be changed to ensure optimal health. medication suited for transdermal delivery.

Different Types of Compounded Pet Medications

Let’s discuss different types of compounded pet medications (they are the most popular ones, not all of them):

Chewable Pet Treats

Medication doesn’t have to be nasty. Believe it or not, compounded medication can be served in the form of tasty meat if that is something your pet enjoys. Any kind of flavor can be added to the chewable pet treats that your pets love.

Customized Strength Medications

Sometimes, the commercial meds can be very strong or not strong enough. If that is the case, your compounded pharmacist can work with your veterinarian to adjust the strength of medicine to fit your pets’ unique needs.

Sugar-Free Medication

If your pet is diabetic, most of the meds won’t suit them as they are loaded with sugar. Compounding pharmacists can offer a sugar-free version for your diabetic pet. This will ensure that they get the right drugs without risking the increase in sugar levels.

Transdermal PLO Gels

Your pets don’t always have to take medication orally. The medicine can be transformed into transdermal PLO gels. The administration is way easier. All you have to do is rub the gel into the pet’s skin which directly gets absorbed into the bloodstream.

How Do You Compound Pet Medicine?

Well, you need to be your pet’s advocate when it comes to compounding medication. Believe it or not, compounding medication will save you a lot of time and money on meds that aren’t as effective or your pet refuses to take. Compounding of medication is mainly done with basic ingredients that are commonly found in your pet’s food and supplements. Your pet’s safety is kept in mind with medication formulation. Let us illustrate with an example:

  • Combining two drugs into one
  • Converting an oral med to a cream or a gel that can be absorbed into the skin through a bloodstream
  • Creating an ear drop by combining two or more solutions
  • Adding an interesting flavor to meds

Types of Medication That Can Be Compounded for Animal Use

Sometimes, an animal can be prescribed the same medication that is used for human beings. Similarly, your pet might be prescribed to take antibiotics to get rid of the infection and given a pain killer to tackle the pain. It is very hard to remember all the different forms of meds and their timings. Moreover, your pet can get quite cranky while taking medication multiple times. Luckily, multiple medications can be compounded to create a single customized pill/gel/injection which makes the administration much easier.

Moreover, an effective ingredient can be added to the originally prescribed meds to enhance their efficacy. For instance, a milk thistle extract can be added to conventional anti-inflammatory meds for life protection. This prevents an additional step of giving milk thistle extract to your pets separately.

Common conditions that can be treated with compounded meds include but aren’t limited to hormonal imbalances, pain management issues (pain medication), skin issues, gastrointestinal problems, heart disease ·, and more.

Benefits of Compounding Pet Medications

Compounding medications for a pet are a great option for getting your pet on an individualized treatment plan that comes with custom dosing schedules. The number of prescriptions on the rise is alarming which has led to a higher risk of drug interactions and side effects. With compounding, you can get a customized treatment plan which maximizes the benefit and reduces the side effects. The top benefits include but aren’t limited to:

  • A compounded pharmacist can alter dosing schedules into smaller quantities that result in better absorption.
  • A compounding pharmacist can make the medication more palatable by adding the desired flavoring as per your pet’s taste. This is a blessing if your pet is a picky eater,
  • Compounding pharmacist will also offer a nutritionally complete and balanced prescribed diet for your pet to ensure optimal health
  • Offering alternatives to traditional meds with better active ingredients, minus any harmful ingredients, will enhance the efficacy and minimize any side effects.
  • Smaller meditation quantities can prevent toxicity and drug interactions. This is something your compounded pharmacist can help you with.
  • Sometimes, you can actually save money on your pet’s medication by opting for compounding.

We hope you found this information informative and helpful! If you have any questions regarding pet medications, leave them down in the comments section below.

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Compounding

Treating Infant Acid Reflux With Compounding

I am sure you are familiar with baby spit-up if you have a baby. In most cases, it is very typical, and you shouldn’t worry. However, there are instances when it is a sign of infant acid reflux. Acid reflux in infants is when the stomach’s content backs up into the throat and esophagus. If your child has it, they will spit up more frequently and might vomit.

Signs of Infant Acid Reflux

Look out for the following signs:

  • Wheezing and gurgling after or during a feeding
  • Drooling more than usual
  • Uncontrollable crying
  • Irritability
  • Poor sleep, excessive wiggling, and arching of the back
  • Problems with feeding
  • Inadequate weight gain
  • Spit up might look green

When it comes to different options for fixing infant acid reflux, the treatment essentially depends on the severity of the problem as well as the age of your infant. Sometimes, lifestyle changes (we will discuss that later) can work wonders. Other times, however, proper treatment is needed.

Diagnosis of Infant Acid Reflux

First, the doctor will begin with a physical exam and ask about your child’s symptoms. If your baby’s health is fine, and they are growing as expected, then further testing is needed. If the doctor suspects something deeper, your doctor might recommend the following tests:

  • Ultrasound. The imaging test is for detecting pyloric stenosis.
  • Lab Tests. The blood and urine tests identify/rule out possible causes of vomiting and poor weight gain.
  • Esophageal pH Monitoring. To measure the acidity levels in your baby’s esophagus, the doctor will insert a tiny thin tube through the baby’s nose or/and mouth into the esophagus.
  • X-Rays. These images will detect abnormalities in your child’s digestive tract.
  • Upper Endoscopy. In very complex cases, an upper endoscopy is done by passing a unique tube equipped with a camera lens and light through the mouth of the baby, all the way into the first part of a small intestine.

Treatment for Infant Acid Reflux

In most cases, making minor adjustments to the feeding routine will ease the infant’s reflux. In very rare cases, your infant will require treatment which we will discuss below:

Medications

Typically, the doctor will prescribe short-term acid-blocking medicines to give your child. Doctors usually recommend these medications when conservative treatments haven’t worked for your infant in the past, your child has poor weight gain, refuses to feed, has an inflamed esophagus, and struggles with chronic asthma and reflux. If the lifestyle changes haven’t worked for your child and they have uncomplicated reflux, the doctor might recommend the use of medication.

Surgery

In rare cases, your doctor may decide that your infant needs surgery. The lower esophageal sphincter is surgically tightened during the procedure to prevent acid from flowing backward. It prevents growth as well as any interference with your baby’s breathing.

Compounding For Treating Acid Reflux

Unfortunately, there aren’t any commercially available meds to treat infant acid reflux. A lot of formulations that doctors prescribe at the moment are bitter tasting. It makes it very hard to give babies the due dosage. At Burt’s Rx Pharmacy, we can prepare meds for acid reflux for your infant with a pleasant taste. It makes the process of medication administration easy and effective.

Tips to Prevent Infant Acid Reflux

In most cases, a few lifestyle changes to your baby’s routine can manage infant acid reflux easily. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Frequent Feedings

Increasing the frequency of your feedings while decreasing the amount of milk can sometimes bring about a considerable change in your child’s health. If your baby’s stomach is too full, they are more likely to spit up. Less-full stomach means less pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter, which prevents reflux. Feeding on demand is also a great way to ensure your baby isn’t overfed.

Positioning While Feeding

Feeding your baby upright is extremely helpful for preventing acid reflux. Keep your baby in this position for at least 30 minutes after the feed. Don’t use a sleep positioner while feeding your baby because it can do more harm than good.

Pay Attention to the Bottle and Nipple Size

You have to keep the nipple filled with milk all the time to prevent air gulping. You can try various anti-colic nipples to see which one suits your child best. Avoid any nipples with large holes. Opt for slow-flow nipples instead.

Thicken Your Breast Milk or Formula

Thickening the food prevents stomach contents from sloshing into the esophagus, significantly decreasing acid reflux symptoms. Sometimes, adding a small amount of infant rice cereal to thicken the consistency of milk will result in less spit-up. For this one, you will have to consult your pediatrician first.

Burp Them Often

Regardless of the chosen type of feed, it is important to burp your infant frequently and adequately. It can immensely help with reflux symptoms. Typically, bottle-fed infants will burp after every one to two ounces, and breastfed babies must be burped every time they pull off the nipple.

Sleeping Position

Make sure your infant sleeps on their back on a firm mattress. Please ensure that their sleeping area doesn’t have loose objects that can go onto their face.

Key Takeaways

I hope you found this article helpful and informative. In most cases, a few minor changes to your baby’s feeding routine can fix infant acid reflux. However, if medication is required, compounding is the best option. For more information on how we can make the medicine child-friendly, reach out to our team. If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below.

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Compounding Dental Health

Top Compounding Supplements for TMJ

Any nutritional deficiency can rob your body of the essential building blocks required to thrive. As a result, we are subjected to various health complications. One such widespread problem is TMJ disorder. Using the right vitamins for treating TMJ disorder has been very effective.

This article will share a list of supplements that work wonders in treating this condition.

The Trouble With TMJ

For those who aren’t aware of the term TMJ disorder, let us try to explain it in the simplest way possible. TMJ refers to the hinge joints connecting either side of your jawbone to the skull. With time, problems can arise with these joints, resulting in aching, grinding pain in the jaw. Sometimes, you might hear clicking sounds while opening and closing your jaw. Other times, the condition is accompanied by earaches, chewing problems, trouble opening the mouth, or facial discomfort. There are several culprits to be blamed for the malfunction:

  • Genetics
  • Anatomy
  • Arthritis
  • Connective tissue disorders
  • Injury to the jaw
  • Bruxism
  • Vitamin deficiency

Luckily, specific vitamins can help with the condition and have proven effective in treating TMJ disorder.

Vitamins for TMJ Disorder: Are They Right for You?

Whether your diet is very healthy or unhealthy, you can never be sure of a vitamin deficiency. After all, it isn’t just what you eat. Your behaviors, as well as genetics, also impact how your body processes food. Sometimes, vitamin deficiencies are diagnosed with a mix of blood work along with a clinical evaluation.

If you are concerned that vitamin deficiency might be connected with TMJ, you should talk with your doctor. Even if you don’t have an apparent deficiency, vitamins and supplements can help with your TMJ symptoms. However, it is essential to be cautious and take a healthcare provider on board to prevent vitamin toxicity. Make sure to stick to the guidelines provided on the packaging.

 

 

Vitamins and Supplements to Treat TMJ Disorder

Let’s look at a few vitamins and supplements that can help treat TMJ:

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is essential for collagen production and healthy, painful joints. This vitamin is mainly known for keeping colds at bay and as a powerful antioxidant. Moreover, it also boosts your immunity, prevents damage to cells, and reduces capillary fragility. This vitamin is water soluble and is also found in many fruits and vegetables. It has a low risk of toxicity, so it is a very safe option to begin with.

Vitamin D

Also known as the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D is produced by the body when exposed to sunlight. It isn’t found in a lot of food sources. Hence, it is best to consume it in the form of supplements. Many people are deficient in vitamin D. That is unfortunate as this vitamin is essential for many critical bodily functions, especially muscle and bone health. Taking vitamin D supplements not only strengthens your bones, improves muscle function, helps with TMJ disorders, and also decreases pain significantly. Vitamin D will greatly enhance your mood as well.

Calcium

Calcium is essential for bone health, nerve signaling, and muscle functioning. Having adequate calcium can help your jaw relax and help with the problems associated with TMJ. Milk, yogurt, and cheese are natural sources of calcium. It is also available as a supplement if you aren’t a fan of dairy. Generally, your body can manage calcium levels very effectively, but excessive amounts of calcium can lead to kidney problems.

Magnesium

Magnesium is essential for controlling biochemical reactions in the body. It is also necessary for muscle and nerve function as well as structural development of bones, blood glucose control, and energy production. This multitasking mineral reduces inflammation, relaxes tense muscles, and prevents painful muscle spasms. It is an excellent choice for TMD sufferers.

B Vitamins

B vitamins are essential for your immune function and tissue repair. They are necessary for turning food into energy. Lack of these vitamins can lead to stress and fatigue, which increases behaviors like clenching of the jaw, and teeth grinding, leading to problems with TMJ.

Turmeric

This vivid orange-hued spice has a distinctive flavor and plenty of anti-inflammatory powers. It intensely soothes jaw pain and minimizes swelling and inflammation. You can consume it directly by incorporating it into food or take supplements after consulting your healthcare provider.

Glucosamine

Glucosamine is naturally found in cartilage. Consuming it as a supplement will repair the cartilage and improve joint lubrication and range of motion. As a result, it dramatically minimizes joint pain and silences the clicking that accompanies troubled joints. Many pain sufferers report that glucosamine minimizes pain more effectively than ibuprofen. It is generally considered safe but can also lead to minor digestive problems.

Chondroitin

It is a complex sugar that is found in connective tissues. If consumed in the form of supplements, it prevents the breakdown of cartilage and repairs damaged tissues. Chondroitin also has anti-inflammatory properties and helps to relieve pain. Consuming chondroitin as directed is considered to be reasonably safe. However, if you have any bleeding disorder, it is best to avoid it.

Methylsulfonylmethane

Methylsulfonylmethane is widely known due to its anti-inflammatory properties. It has been used to treat arthritis and other joint disorders, including TMDs.

Compounding for TMJ Disorders

If you are taking medication as well as supplements for TMJ disorder, it can all get very overwhelming. Remembering to take all these different supplements isn’t something practical. It is very hard, which is why most people miss these supplements. Moreover, figuring out the correct dosage for each one is incredibly taxing on your brain.

A compounding pharmacist will help you create a perfect supplement to tackle your TMJ disorder. They can work with your healthcare provider to devise an ideal plan that allows you to take a pill or two instead of consuming a handful of supplements. We hope you found this post informative. Let us know in the comments section below if you have any questions.

And check out Burt’s Rx’s compounding pharmacy services, which include pediatric compounding, pet compounding, compounded medication for pain management, BHRT, and dental compounding.

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