What is a compounding pharmacy?

Before pharmaceutical companies began mass-producing medications, pharmacies were responsible for putting medications together for specific needs. Today, a compounding pharmacy uses this ageless craft with state-of-the-art technology to produce medications specific to the needs of individual patients.

A compounding pharmacy, in partnership with the prescribing physician, provides treatment in the right form and combination to reach the best treatment outcome.

Compounding professionals can prepare:

• unique dosage forms containing the ideal quanity of medication for each individual.
• medications in dosage forms that are not commercially available, such as transdermal gels, troches, “chewies”, and lollipops.
• medications free of problem-causing excipients such as dyes, sugar, lactose, or alcohol.
• combinations of various compatible medications into a single dosage form for easier administration and improved compliance.
• medications that are not commercially available.

Pharmacists who work in a compounding pharmacy receive special training required to safely compound medications. This specialty process can provide medications that are specific to a patient, through a combination not commercially available, by removing unnecessary ingredients that a patient is allergic to, or by creating a customized dosage unique to the patient.

Quality compounding maximizes therapeutic outcomes

The efficacy of any formulation is directly related to its preparation, which is why THE SELECTION OF YOUR COMPOUNDING PHARMACY IS CRITICAL.

Ongoing training for compounding pharmacists and technicians, state-of-the-art equipment, and high-quality chemicals are essential.

Experience and ingenuity are important factors as well. When modifying a formula or developing a unique preparation, the compounding pharmacist must consider the physical and chemical properties of both the active ingredient and excipients, solubility, tonicity, viscosity, and the most appropriate dosage form or device for administering the needed medication.

Standard Operating Procedures should be in place and appropriate potency testing should be performed.

Compounding pharmacists help prescribers find the best treatment options for immune health, hormone therapies, women’s health, men’s health, pediatrics, and even veterinary medicine.

Advantages of compounded medications

There are several advantages for both doctor and patient when a compounding pharmacy is part of the treatment plan. With personalized medication, a doctor does not have to base a medication plan on the commercially available combinations, dosages, or forms that don’t necessarily match the patient’s needs, and sometimes discourages a patient from following through with taking medication as prescribed. Compatible medications can be combined to specifically take on hard-to-address medical issues. If a patient has tolerance issues due to such things as dyes or gluten, a compounding pharmacy can create medications without those unnecessary ingredients.

For a patient, compounded medications can cut down on the number of pills that have to be swallowed, and that will help patients follow through with medications as prescribed. Medications can be provided in a more palatable form whether it is a liquid or chewable rather than a pill. If a patient is concerned about gluten or various dyes in drugs, personalized medication is the most convenient way to make sure unnecessary chemicals or dyes are not present.

Compounding professionals can formulate suitable medications as sublingual drops, oral and nasal sprays, lollipops, rectal solutions and suppositories, and other customized dosage forms. Please contact Health Dimensions to discuss your needs and medication problems.

Personalized medicines and hard to treat medical conditions

Some medical conditions can be hard to treat with singular, commercially available medications. The treatment of conditions involving the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT), dermatological conditions, pain management, hormone therapy, and many others can benefit the specific combinations, dosages, and delivery methods available through a compound pharmacy.  A few examples of conditions that are being treated with compounded medications. Learn more about personalized medicine.

Patient education and medication compliance assistance

Patient adherence to medication prescriptions is one of the reasons treatment plans can fail. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC)suggest that coordinated care between the patient, doctor, and pharmacy can significantly increase patient adherence.

A compounding pharmacy is fully involved in the treatment process, partnering with the prescriber to provide medication in a form that is designed to ensure better compliance, as well as providing support through education and follow-up to the patient. This takes much of the after-visit support that the CDC suggests off the shoulders of the physician.

Affordable medications

One of the myths about medications from a compound pharmacy is that they are very expensive.  In reality, compounded medications are often not significantly more expensive than commercially available drugs. In some cases, the compounding pharmacy is producing medication at a different, less expensive dosage than a retail pharmacy.  Compounded medications are often covered by insurance, and if not, a compounding pharmacy will work with your prescriber and insurance company to find the most economical outcome.

Why have medications delivered?

Today,  home delivery is everything.  From fast food to bath soap, about anything can be brought to the door. While some pharmacies deliver, a compounding pharmacy that delivers is making sure the specialty medications are getting to the patient in a timely fashion, while ensuring medication that requires a more sterile environment or temperature control are delivered safely.

About Health Dimensions Clinical Pharmacy

Health Dimensions Clinical Pharmacy has been providing pharmaceutical solutions to doctors 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.

Our mission is to partner with patients and physicians to provide service excellence, accuracy, and rapid response to patients’ personalized prescription needs.

To learn more about building a partnership, call Health Dimensions Clinical Pharmacy at (800) 836-2303.

How to choose a compounding pharmacy

Finding the right compounding pharmacy for a patient or prescriber is the first step to a successful treatment partnership.   The right pharmacy has highly trained staff working in a sterile, technologically advanced facility.  Pharmacy staff should have a process in place for communicating with healthcare professionals, as well as to provide ongoing support to patients. The right compounding pharmacy knows your practice.

What to look for when searching for a compounding pharmacy to add to your treatment team.

About Health Dimensions Clinical Pharmacy

Health Dimensions Clinical Pharmacy has been providing pharmaceutical solutions to doctors and their patients since 2006.   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.

Our mission is to partner with patients and physicians to provide service excellence, accuracy, and rapid response to patient personalized prescription needs.

To learn more about building a partnership, call Health Dimensions Clinical Pharmacy at (800) 836-2303.