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If you’re wondering what’s a pharmacy that offers compounding medicine, then read below for details.
Most people think of a community pharmacy as soon as they hear the term ‘Pharmacy’. They can range from different chains to single-location pharmacies, or the ones found in the hospital. While these are very common, it is important to know that there is a different type of pharmacy that exists; a compounding pharmacy.
If you have heard the term before, let us explain it to you: compounding pharmacy offers extra services that other pharmacies aren’t able to. These pharmacies essentially combine and mix different ingredients to create customized medications. In this article, we will discuss what are compounding pharmacies, the benefits of these pharmacies, and where to find them. Without further ado, let’s get started:
What is a Compounding Pharmacy?
A compounding pharmacy is a specific type of pharmacy that can create customized medications for you, your family, or a pet. Certain people/meds aren’t commercially available and are more suited for a particular individual. Compounded medications aren’t mass-produced and are available at a standard pharmacy.
Essentially, compounding pharmacies create two types of compounds: sterile and non-sterile. Some compounding pharmacies specialize in one of the following. Some do specialize in both. Sterile compounds include dosage forms such as infusions, injections, and eye drops. There is a higher risk of infections, and serious issues if your medication comes in contact with the contaminants. Sterile compounds are made in a specialized environment that minimizes the risk.
Non-sterile compounds carry a lower risk of infections and generally include creams, capsules, and suppositories. These two categories exist because of the legislation enacted by the U.S. government.
How Is It Different from a Traditional Pharmacy?
It is important to know that many community and hospital pharmacies offer compounding services. However, note that they generally don’t have the same specialized equipment/certifications as a compounding pharmacy. Hence, they only create very simple customized medications.
For instance, it is very common for a pharmacist to combine a couple of creams to create a new cream. They can combine liquid or oral medications and also sterile ones. A compounding pharmacy can also go a step further and create more complex meds.
Why Would I Need Compounded Medications?
There are multiple reasons why you might need a compounded medication. Based on the situation, you might not be able to get your hands on a standard drug medication that meets your needs. Some of the possible situations why compounding might come in handy include: adding flavor to a poor-tasting medication, having an allergy to inactive ingredients in a premade medication, needing access to a critical medication that’s unavailable or on backorder, needing a different medication dosage form (e.g. a liquid instead of pills), or need a specific medication strength.
Types of Medications Compounding Pharmacies Dispense
Compounding medications come in different forms that suit different situations. If you have a child that simply cannot swallow pills, a compounding pharmacy can turn the regular pill into a gummy, a chewable tablet, or a candy. It can make the administration process much easier.
In some cases, you might need a different strength medication than what is already available. Compounded liquids like suspensions, syrups, and solutions can be customized that better suit your needs. However, the specifics of compounding pharmacy can vary. There are compounding pharmacies that specialize in making medications that are very specific to certain health conditions. For instance, some can specialize in veterinary medicine, men’s health, dermatology, or other specialties.
Specific Medication Examples
There are multiple formulas that a compounding pharmacist will follow to use a compounding drug. Most compounded medications are made from bulk ingredients, commercial drug products, or created from a combination of these two. Some examples of compounding pharmacies include multi-ingredient topical pain creams, hormone creams, capsules, and suppositories, rectal suppositories for hemorrhoids or anal fissures, topical nipple ointment, magic mouthwash, omeprazole or lansoprazole liquid for kids, diazepam suppositories for chronic pelvic pain, sterile antibiotic eye drops, sterile nutrition therapy infusions, and much more.
How Do I Find a Compounding Pharmacy Near Me?
There are multiple ways to locate a compounding pharmacy near your local area. The first thing you can do is reach out to your healthcare provider and ask for their recommendations. Chances are, they will be able to direct you to a compounding pharmacy they typically work with or have used in the past. They can also guide you in regards to finding a specialized compounding pharmacy that suits your needs.
Another way is to simply use the internet for rescue and hunt from compounding pharmacies in your area. Essentially, your local community pharmacy will be able to compound your medication with the help of your pharmacist.
Safety of Compounding Medications
Compounded medications aren’t approved by FDA. This essentially means that FDA will not evaluate the safety and efficacy of a particular medication. FDA allows for compounding meds and must be given to the patient when there is a medical need. Moreover, it is important to note that only certain healthcare professionals, licensed pharmacists/physicians can create customized medications.
USP also created standards to ensure compounded medications are high quality and establish standards for how compounds are made, tested, and verified. Most states will require compounding pharmacies to comply with USP standards. Compounding pharmacies are regulated by their state Board of Pharmacy. All the meds are exposed to inspection to meet all the expectations. Corrective action can take place if a compounding pharmacy is not following the standards. Certain pharmacies aren’t expected with FDA as well.
We hope you found this post informative, and helpful and learned something new about compounding pharmacies and how they can work in your favor. Here, we have barely scratched the surface but have tried to explain the concept to you in the simplest way possible. If you have any further questions or would you like us to answer any specific questions, feel free to reach out to us.
In Conclusion
If you need help in creating any customized medication for you, your family members, or pets, connect with our team and we would guide you about the process in detail.