What are Compounded Medications?

Compounded medications are customized medications that are specially prepared by compounding pharmacists to meet the specific needs of an individual patient. Unlike commercially manufactured drugs, which are mass-produced and available in standard dosages and forms, compounded medications are tailored to address unique patient requirements, such as allergies, dosage preferences, or the need for specific formulations.

Here are some key points about compounded medications:

1. Personalized Formulations: Compounded medications are created based on a prescription written by a healthcare provider. The compounding pharmacist combines individual ingredients in precise quantities to produce a medication that is customized to meet the patient's specific needs.

2. Diverse Dosage Forms: Compounded medications can be prepared in various forms, including capsules, creams, ointments, gels, solutions, suspensions, suppositories, or lozenges. This flexibility allows patients who have difficulty swallowing pills or need alternative delivery methods to receive their medications in a more suitable form.

3. Allergen-Free or Hypoallergenic Options: Patients who have allergies or sensitivities to certain ingredients, dyes, or fillers in commercially available medications can benefit from compounded medications. Compounding pharmacists can often create formulations without the allergenic components, providing safer alternatives for those with specific sensitivities.

4. Adjusted Strengths and Dosages: Compounding allows for precise adjustments in medication strength and dosage to accommodate individual needs. This is especially beneficial for patients who require doses that are not commercially available or need smaller or larger doses than what is typically produced.

5. Combination Medications: Compounded medications can combine multiple active ingredients into a single preparation, simplifying medication regimens and improving convenience for patients who need to take multiple medications.

6. Discontinued or Unavailable Medications: In cases where a commercially available medication has been discontinued or is temporarily unavailable, compounding pharmacists may be able to prepare a comparable medication using similar active ingredients.

7. Veterinary Compounding: Compounded medications are not limited to human use. Veterinarians often rely on compounding pharmacies to prepare medications in appropriate strengths and forms for animals, considering their specific needs, such as flavoring to enhance palatability.

It is important to note that compounding is regulated by state pharmacy boards and compounding pharmacists must adhere to strict quality standards and guidelines to ensure the safety, efficacy, and proper labeling of compounded medications. It is always recommended to consult with a healthcare provider or pharmacist to determine if compounded medications are appropriate for your specific medical needs.