Pharmacy what is compounding

What Is a Compounding Pharmacy? Different Forms of the Same Medication At a compounding pharmacy, you can choose what form your medication comes in, including: Liquid Powder Cream Capsule Ointment You might want your medication to come in a different form because of allergies or intolerances. Medications for Children and Pets Compounding pharmacies create specialty drugs for children and pets, who are typically finicky when it comes to taking their medications. Customized Dosages Commercial medications have standardized dosages.

Ready to Learn More? Search for:. Often times, patients will need their medications in a different form. For example, if an elderly or pediatric patient has difficulty taking their medication in capsule form; a compounding pharmacist can provide the same medication in a cream base form to allow the patient to apply the medication topically, or in a syrup or solution form for easier administration.

Pharmaceutical compounding is also used to change the taste and color of medications, to make it more palatable and aesthetically appealing to patients, especially with children and even animals. Compounded medications are ordered by a licensed physician, veterinarian or other prescriber, and must be mixed in a safe and carefully controlled environment by a licensed compounding pharmacist.

Participate in our MD Dispenser survey now! You have successfully added to the cart. Compounding drugs under insanitary conditions could lead to widespread patient harm, especially when the compounder engages in large-scale, non-patient specific compounding and distribution.

FDA may not be aware of which compounders are making such drugs, and some states may have insufficient resources to adequately oversee them. In October , the United States faced the most serious outbreak associated with contaminated compounded drugs in recent history.

More than people in 20 states developed fungal infections, and more than 60 people died. Approximately 14, patients received injections from the lots of contaminated drug product. The fungal meningitis outbreak was not an isolated event.

It was the most serious in a long history of serious adverse events associated with contaminated, super-potent, mislabeled, or otherwise poor quality compounded drugs. In addition, many serious adverse events linked to poor quality compounded drugs, including outbreaks of infections and deaths have occurred since then.

And, because most compounders do not report adverse events to FDA, the agency may not be aware of adverse events associated with compounded drugs unless a health care provider or patient voluntarily submits an adverse event report regarding his or her patients or a state official notifies FDA. Federal law addresses compounding by a licensed pharmacist in a state-licensed pharmacy, or federal facility, or by a physician, as well as compounding by or under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist in an outsourcing facility.

Outsourcing facilities are a category of compounders established in by the Drug Quality and Security Act. Unfortunately, the medication can be expensive, Mills says. Obtaining pre-approval sometimes helps, Dr. Brichta says. ChemistryRX employs two, full-time employees dedicated to helping patients obtain it, but it is no guarantee. The good news? Some compound medications—like omeprazole suspension —have become so popular they can now be purchased commercially, which means you can use your SingleCare pharmacy savings card.

To see if your prescription qualifies, check out our price comparison tool or speak with your pharmacist. Skip to main content Search for a topic or drug.

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