Pharmaceutical compounding was the norm for the preparation of drug prescriptions until the early 1950s. Compounding is the precise mixing and dispensing of drugs by pharmacists to meet the individual needs of a patient. Most of the medications dispensed through the 1930s and 1940s were created by compounding, replaced by mass produced pharmaceutical medications that are most common now. Few community pharmacists today have the experience and equipment needed for compounding, though compounding pharmacists do still exist and play an important role in medicine.
There are many reasons why compounding a prescription medication is needed or desired. Just like there are different sizes of shoes, no one size of pill fits all needs. Dosages that are suitable for adults need to be altered for children, for instance. It may be preferable or necessary to change a medication from pill form to liquid form for those who have difficulty swallowing pills. It may be necessary to compound a drug to avoid allergens that may be present in the mass produced form of the drug such as preservatives, gluten, colorings, or fillers. It can be a blessing just to deliver a drug in a pleasantly tasting form that is more palatable to a child or adult.
Compounding pharmacists are able to provide customized medications that are specifically made for an individual's needs that are otherwise unavailable commercially. Often it involves changing the form of the medication for alternative delivery methods such as injections, capsules, liquids, suppositories, or creams for transdermal delivery. They can also duplicate ingredients and dispense medications that are not available commercially such as those that are no longer manufactured due to low demand or profitability.
Some medical conditions require very precise dosages to be most effective such as hormone replacement therapies. The compounding pharmacist will work with prescribing physicians to create drugs or drug combinations in perfect dosages for the individuals. Low dosage strengths of common medications are often required for infants or elderly patients. Compounding is also used in veterinary medicine to change a drug to a more easily administered form or add a flavoring the animal likes to make medicating easier.
Compounding pharmacists are highly trained in chemical compatibilities as well general pharmacy principles with national standards set by the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board. Compounding pharmacies, like all pharmacies, are regulated and licensed by state boards of pharmacy so you can feel confident in the safety and efficacy of your compounded prescription drugs.
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