Have you ever been handed a prescription by your doctor and told to go to a speciality compounding pharmacy? It’s a common occurrence that can be beneficial for patients across the lifespan, but many people don’t understand the process. At the latest Sunnybrook Speaker Series – Keeping Your Pharmacy Team in the Know – Registered Pharmacy Technician Harjeet Bola provided a primer on compounding.
Compounding is the method of preparing customized medications by combining individual ingredients in the exact strength and dosage form required to help meet each patient’s unique needs. There are numerous formulations, ranging from creams and eye drops to mouthwashes and suppositories.
Medications are compounded for many different reasons. This process provides access to discontinued medications and drug strengths that are not commercially available. For some patients, medical reasons mean they need a medication to be made in a different form, like a tablet or liquid, or to avoid an ingredient they are allergic to. Compounding can also help when there is a shortage of raw materials, or an increased demand for a certain drug.
Here are some of the most common applications of compounding at Sunnybrook’s outpatient pharmacy:
Pain Management
Pain relievers have long been available commercially to address chronic pain. Compounding has now made it possible for patients to have medications tailored to their particular needs to help provide targeted relief through specialty creams, gels, sprays and capsules.
Dermatology
Many people suffer from skin problems like rosacea, eczema, acne and psoriasis. To help reduce the risk of unpleasant side effects like redness and irritation, medications can be compounded by carefully selecting ingredients for each patient’s skin type.
Pediatrics
It’s not uncommon for children to refuse to take medications because they don’t like the taste or have a hard time swallowing pills. Doses catered specifically for children may contain dyes and preservatives that cause allergy or sensitivity, or be unavailable. In these cases, compounding can individualize the treatment into a child-friendly format that’s easy to administer, like a liquid or suppository.
Geriatrics
Needing several different medications for various health issues is increasingly common as we age. Conditions like dry mouth, however, can make it hard to ingest tablets and capsules. By compounding, multiple drugs can be combined into one easy to swallow preparation. Medication strengths can be lowered if necessary, and ingredients causing sensitivity can be avoided.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormones play an important role in our overall health, but their levels can fluctuate as we age. Common symptoms include mood changes and hair loss. Compounding allows for customized hormone replacement delivered through applications like creams, capsules, vaginal suppositories and topical solutions.
Sports Medicine
Sports injuries impact both seasoned athletes and those who are new to exercise. They reflect damage from a diverse range of activities that can flare up issues like inflammation, muscle spasms and fungal infections. Compounding solutions provide the ability to alter and deliver the exact strength and application of prescribed medications.
If you have questions about compounding, be sure to check in with your pharmacist.
