Considered tried and true in the medical community, commercialized medications have shown to deliver value to patients suffering from a range of conditions; however, the health needs of each patient are unique, which can often make prescribing medicine challenging. 

Compounding stands alongside traditional medication in supporting providers’ commitment to delivering the best care possible. While entering the compounding realm may seem a bit intimidating, especially for those providers who are more established in their processes, it’s important to remember that healthcare is continually evolving, and that compounding may be a better route for a specific patient. 

 

What is Compounding in Pharmacy?

Compounding is known for its personalization, as it’s essentially the creation of customized medications for both humans and animals that utilize individual active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to support patients who are unable to take commercialized medications. Compounding can be of value in instances when a needed commercial drug is no longer available and has become increasingly important in the rising level of drug shortages across the nation. 

Potential candidates for compounding are those who are allergic to things like dyes, preservatives, or binders, or need tailored dosage strengths as in some cases commercialized medications are not available in the needed strength. Special diets can also be taken into consideration, such as those who observe a gluten-free lifestyle.

Compounding also provides a variety of delivery forms. In cases where pills are hard to digest, or perhaps there is a discomfort in taking pills as often the case with children or those with swallowing difficulties, compounded medications can be delivered in liquids, syrups, often times even topicals, etc. that may be preferred, with more palatable flavorings, and even in the form of lollipops. For those who take multiple medications, as sometimes in the case with seniors, prescriptions can be compounded into one so there are fewer medications to deal with, offering an invaluable level of convenience and promotes adherence, ensuring that doses aren’t skipped or forgotten. 

There is a wide range of therapeutic scopes that compounding can address, so it can be useful for a variety of patients. These include Women’s Health, Men’s Health, Dermatology and Cosmeceuticals, Anti-Infective, IV/IM Nutrition, Weight Management, Animal Health, Ophthalmic/Eye Care, Allergy Immunotherapy, and Functional Medicine, and more.

 

Why Compounding Pharmacies Are Vital for Patient Care

The compounding environment is one that can be trusted and leaned on for support. According to the American Pharmacists Association, compounding pharmacies put a great deal of investment in securing crucial equipment for compounding processes, which include clean room buildouts, powder containment hoods and HEPA filters, electronic mixing machines (EMPs), graduated cylinders, beakers, and flasks for measuring, and electronic balances for weighing solids. Preparations are both nonsterile (such as ointments, creams, and liquids where absolute sterility is not required) or sterile (such as instances involving the eye, or for injections into the blood). Pharmacists at compounding pharmacies also undergo intensive training prior to practicing, with unique experience and expertise specific to compounding.

The American Pharmacists Association further notes that of the 56,000 community-based pharmacies in the U.S., about 7,500 pharmacies specialize in compounding. It will be interesting to watch this number expand as compounding continues to make a name for itself in the healthcare industry.

 

Compliance and Quality Testing in Compounding Pharmacies

With compounded medications, providers can take comfort in knowing that every batch is fully compliant with USP Guidelines and tested for quality and purity purposes. Strict potency testing is conducted to ensure the active ingredient is the strength that it claims on the label before it is delivered to a patient. What’s more, ingredients in compounded medication are sourced from FDA-registered suppliers, with compounding processes regularly validated. 

 

Steps to Incorporate Compounding Pharmacy Solutions

To integrate compounding into your practice, actively educating yourself on the approach is essential. A thorough understanding ensures a provider can properly apply it to the various patients they see and their respective conditions, regardless of whether that provider is more of a general practitioner or a specialist. A great resource for education is the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding.

Additionally, it’s important to be able to properly communicate about compounding to patients, which is naturally tied to education. Compounding may be something a patient has heard of, or perhaps the approach is entirely new to them, but regardless of their level of awareness, there will be questions. It’s important to be ready to lay out the details clearly, emphasizing the level of personalization compounding provides. This allows for providers and patients to weigh options collectively and collaboratively.

 

Learn about five health areas where compounded medications can help: https://revelationpharma.com/blog/post/compounding-to-the-rescue-five-health-areas-where-compounded-medications-can-help 

 

Find a Compounding Pharmacy that’s licensed in your state by using our easy Pharmacy Finder Map!

 

Disclaimer

The FDA does not review any compounded medication for safety or efficacy. The information contained in this article is not meant to diagnose or treat a specific healthcare condition but should be used as educational-only material.