A foundational aspect of compounding pharmacy services is the close working relationships that develop between a prescriber and a compounding pharmacist. When patients present with clinical pictures for which commercial pharmaceuticals are not optimized to treat, a compounding pharmacist can be the prescriber’s greatest resource. When ENTs or ear, nose & throat specialists (otolaryngologist) utilizes a skilled compounding pharmacist, outcomes can potentially be improved when medication care is personalized to fit the need.
See “What is a Compounding Pharmacy?” for more information.
Ailments that respond to compounded medications
An ENT specialist deals with a wide range of ailments or conditions that can be chronic. These illnesses can impact your hearing, voice, or even how well you breathe. Among the many illnesses treated by ENTs:
- Sinusitis
- Otitis Externa
- Vertigo/Meniere’s Disease
- Nose bleeds
- Nasal Polyps
- MRSA infections
- Eosinophilic
- Esophagitis
- Laryngitis
- Tonsillitis
- Mucositis
- Burning Mouth Syndrome
- Biofilms
Compounding pharmacies help patients get over barriers to treatment success
As in other areas of medicine, an ENT’s treatment plan, when it involves medication, is only as successful as a patient’s ability or desire to take the medicines as prescribed. Often, compounding pharmacists will be called on to provide novel methods for taking a medication, or in forms or combinations not available through commercial pharmacies. For ENTs, there are often special medical devices (e.g., an insufflator, troche/ lozenge molds, or metered spray bottles) that must be used when delivering medications. Other times, medication must be delivered in a way to allow it to remain in contact with oral or nasal surfaces.
Chronic and/or acute ailments can require a variety of targeted medication solutions. With a compounding pharmacist as a partner, ENTs are able to customize the medications to a particular patient or indication. This includes:
- Antifungals
- Steroids
- Antibiotics
- Antihistamines
- Expectorants
- Oral and topical decongestants
A wide variety of solutions for a wide variety of delivery methods
As an example, an ENT may want a patient to use a nasal irrigation bottle to administer antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications. The compounding pharmacist takes a base material and mixes it with antibiotics.
Common medications
For example, a common combination for sinusitis may include Levofloxacin, Betathasone, and Amphotericin B (100mg/0.5mg/5mg). Mixed with a soluble base material, this compound is provided in a capsule that the patient can put into the distilled water and administered via an irrigation bottle. This is just an example and there are many other combinations that are commonly prescribed by a healthcare provider.
Other examples for other conditions might include a Poloxamer Otic gel composed of Ketoconazole. Ciprofloxacin and Triamcinolone (2%/2%/0.5%) for broad-spectrum micro-organism coverage and inflammation. Based on the clinical need, a compounding pharmacist will work closely with an ENT to prepare the right, customized treatment.
Health Dimensions Clinical Pharmacy has been providing pharmaceutical solutions to medical and dental professionals and their patients since 1996. Locally owned and based in southern Michigan, Health Dimensions Clinical Pharmacy was among the nation’s first compounding pharmacies to earn accreditation by the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board (PCAB) of the Accreditation for Healthcare Commission (2006). Our mission is to partner with healthcare providers to provide service excellence, accuracy, and rapid response for improved patient outcomes. To learn more about building a partnership, call Health Dimensions Clinical Pharmacy at (800) 836-2303.
