What is Pharmaceutical Compounding? And How Does it Benefit You?

Compounding is the art of preparing medications that are customized to meet the specific needs of each individual patient.

Compounding allows physicians to modify dosing for patients who may need more or less of the drug than what is commercially available.  The goal of a compounding pharmacy is to obtain the best results for the patient by working closely with the physician AND the patient.  Through this triad, Creative Scripts Compounding Pharmacy can tailor make the prescription to fit the individual.  In some instances, compounding also allows the combination of multiple medications to have an additive effect on various medical conditions.  This applies particularly to topical preparations for pain management. Anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants and nerve pain medications can all be combined into one topical gel to help minimize systemic side effects that are experienced when they are taken orally.  Another way that compounding can help patients is to change the form of the drug.  For example, if a patient is unable to take commercially available medications due to difficulty swallowing, allergies to dyes / flavors / preservatives, etc., it may be possible to formulate the drug in another form to facilitate compliance or ease of use.

What are the Advantages to Compounding &
How Can it Benefit Me?
As mentioned above, the advantages to compounded medications are many.  For example, if the only form of the medication is a large tablet that is hard to swallow, it could possibly be compounded into a liquid that could be easily swallowed.  While this is a very simple example, the options are many when patient compliance is at risk.  For patients that are sensitive to fillers, dyes, preservatives, flavors or sweeteners, many times a compound can address those issues allowing the patient to receive the treatment without the effects of lactose or sugars.  In many of the capsules that we use for hormone replacement, we can use plant based, hypo-allergenic fillers and veggie capsules instead of lactose and animal based gelatin capsules if necessary.  Capsules, as well as sublingual tablets or troches, creams, gels, suspensions and solutions are just a few of the dosage forms that Creative Scripts has at its disposal to meet the specific patient requirements.

Who is a Good Candidate for Compounded
Medications?
Anyone who is having difficulty taking any medication, or those patients who are not being appropriately treated by the commercially available prescription medications are a candidate for compounding. All patients, from premature children to the elderly, and your pets, can benefit.  For example, for cats that are hard to pill, Creative Scripts can compound many of the medications in tasty suspensions or even gels that can be rubbed on their ears!

Are Compounded Preparations Covered by
My Insurance?
Great question…some insurance plans do cover compounded preparations.  Those that do not may still reimburse the insured patient if a claim form is submitted.  In these cases, the patient pays the compounding pharmacy, then submits the claim form to the insurance company and, if the claim is approved, the insurance company will send the patient a check for the approved amount.

It is important to note that many compounded preparations are not much more expensive than the insurance co-pays and, in most instances, less than the cash price of the commercially available counterpart.  So, the patient gets a custom built preparation, MADE by a pharmacy to their specifications for less than the cash price of the medication at the local mega-pharmacy.

In What Specialties of Medicine, Would
Compounding Be of Use?
Compounding applies to any medical specialty, including bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, veterinary medicine, hospice, pain management, oncology, otolaryngology, dermatology, ophthalmology, dental, pediatrics, sports medicine, infertility, geriatrics, podiatry, gastroenterology, and endocrinology.

Among the most popular pharmaceutical compounds are topical pain management, veterinary medications, bio-identical hormones and prescriptions for children.

Compounded Hormone Replacement
Prescriptions
With natural aging comes the natural decline of our own body’s production of hormones. As a result, all of the good health that we took for granted begins to diminish. Causing symptoms such as hot flashes, forgetfulness, anxiety, sleep disruption, low libido, just to name a few. While our bodies decrease the amount of hormones made as we age, the need for “replacement” hormones presents itself. Maintaining this balance is the goal of any of any type of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The hormones a woman produces until she reaches menopause protect her heart and bones. Once she is no longer producing these hormones, she is at a greater risk of developing heart disease and osteoporosis. The risks continue to worsen the longer she is without these essential hormones.

Bio-identical hormone replacement compounds are available as capsules, topical creams, gels, oils, sublingual tablets and troches, suppositories, and other dosage forms. Various hormones can be added per the request of the doctor and patient; such as testosterone if deemed necessary by the doctor and patient for libido problems. Customized doses of hormones are not available at a regular pharmacy and must be specially made at a compounding pharmacy. The hormones used by Creative Scripts Compounding Pharmacy are the highest grade (USP) available and are identical to the hormones produced by the body, not synthesized from animals or animal sources.  We also utilize state-of-the-art bases and equipment to ensure that the patient gets the highest quality preparations available.

Children and Prescriptions: A Special Challenge
There are often several challenges when it comes to administering medications to children. Some children may resist taking a liquid medicine due its taste, others may have difficulty swallowing pills, and many have a fear of injections.

More effective than a spoonful of sugar, pediatric compounding is the art and science of preparing customized medications for children and young patients. In recent years, compounding has experienced resurgence, as many physicians are working with pharmacists to offer their patients the benefit of medicines tailored specifically for certain needs. Children are especially suited for custom compounded prescriptions, as commercially manufactured drug forms are often not the best solutions for kids.

A great source for more information about prescription compounding and why it may be a better choice for you, is the compounding pharmacist at Creative Scripts. Call 239-261-0050 or stop in today, 600 Goodlette Rd. N. #108, to learn how custom compounding may be better for your health than commercial medications.