What Is a Compounding Pharmacy?
A compounding pharmacy differs from a traditional retail pharmacy in that a compounding pharmacy creates personalized prescription medications for an individual patient. Compounded medications allow for complete customization of dosage, concentration, and formulation to meet a patient’s exact needs and, at times, to avoid unwanted side effects. This is different from commercial medications that are produced in large quantities and in standard dosages and formulations that may not work for every patient.
A compounding pharmacy bridges the gap between the specific medication a patient needs and what is commercially available.
Inside a compounding pharmacy, licensed pharmacists and pharmacy technicians follow strict protocols to combine ingredients to match the exact formulation as prescribed by the patient’s provider to meet the specific needs of the patient.
By crafting a medication unique to the patient, the treatment is more tailored and, in many cases, more practical.
When Would a Patient Need a Compounded Medication?
There are many situations in which a healthcare provider may prescribe a compounded medication. A patient may need a strength that is not commercially available or may not tolerate a tablet and needs a cream, suppository, or liquid medium to deliver the medication.
Compounding can also be useful for patients with allergies or sensitivities to certain dyes, fillers, preservatives, or inactive ingredients found in commercial medications. In other cases, healthcare providers may prescribe compounded medications to help simplify treatment or better fit a patient’s routine.
For children and pets, compounding can be especially helpful. In an effort to improve administration and adherence, medications can be flavored or prepared in a form that is easier to administer, which can make treatment more manageable for families.
In many cases, the need for compounding comes from a conversation with a health care provider. If commercially available medications are not ideal, your health care provider may recommend a compounded medication option and refer you to a compounding pharmacy.
What Types of Medications Can Be Compounded?
Almost any medication can be compounded if a healthcare provider determines a patient needs a compounded formulation. Compounded medications can be prepared in a variety of different forms to assist patients including capsules, creams, gels, ointments, liquids, suppositories, troches, and injections when appropriate. Compounding is used across a wide range of specialties including men and women’s health, dermatology, pain management, gynecology, pediatrics, wellness, veterinary medicine, and weight loss.
Because medication compounding is so individualized, the possibilities are often broader than patients tend to expect. Our goal at Ivy is always to support the healthcare provider’s plan of care by making prescription medication use more manageable for the patient.
Is a Compounding Pharmacy the Same as a Regular Pharmacy?
Yes and No! A compounding pharmacy often offers commercially available medications just like a local retail pharmacy, but a compounding pharmacy also offers much more specialized services. A compounding pharmacy has the training, equipment, and facilities needed to prepare personalized medications to match a specific prescription by your healthcare provider.
It is important to understand that compounded medications are different from commercially available medications. Commercial medications are reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration, are produced in large quantities, and available in dosages and formulations most commonly prescribed. Compounded medications are custom prepared for an individual patient to meet a specific need. They are customized in dosage, formulation, and can be combined with other medications to assist with absorption, tolerance, and side effects.
It is important to select a reputable compounding pharmacy to fill your compounded medication prescription. At Ivy, our facility is compliant with both USP <797> and <800>, and we adhere to the Food and Drug Administration’s strictest rules for compounding. Our products are sent for third-party testing for potency and sterility, so you can be confident in the medications you receive! If you are in Lubbock, Texas, we invite you to stop by our pharmacy and see our amazing facility.
Are Compounded Medications FDA Approved?
Compounded medications are not FDA-approved in the same way that commercially available medications receive FDA approval. The chemicals and ingredients used to create compounded medications are sourced from manufacturers approved by the FDA, but the final compounded medication itself is customized for the patient and is not reviewed by the FDA before dispensing.
It is important to select a licensed pharmacy like Ivy that follows recognized compounding standards and takes safety and quality seriously. We send our products for third party testing of sterility and potency to ensure the medications we are dispensing are the highest quality and exactly what your health care provider prescribed.