WESTMONT PHARMACY IS A COMPOUNDING PHARMACY!

I.              What Can We Compound?

A.    Creams and Ointments

B.    Capsules

C.   Suppositories

D.   Syrups and Liquids

E.    Powders

F.    Shampoos

G.   Transdermal Gels

H.   Sterile Injectables

I.     Plus many other miscellaneous medication forms.

Contact us at (630) 969-2043 with any and all of your COMPOUNDING questions!

QUESTIONS ABOUT COMPOUNDING

Q: What is compounding and how does it benefit me?

A: Pharmacy compounding is the art and science of preparing customized medications for patients.  Its practice dates back to the origins of pharmacy; yet, compounding’s presence in the pharmacy profession has changed over the years.  In the 1930s and 1940s, approximately 60 percent of all medications were compounded.  With the advent of drug manufacturing in the 1950s and 1960s, compounding rapidly declined.  The pharmacist’s role as a preparer of medications quickly changed to that of a dispenser of manufactured dosage forms.

However, within the last two decades, compounding has experienced resurgence as modern technology and innovative techniques and research have allowed more pharmacists to customize medications to meet specific patient needs.

There are several reasons why pharmacists compound prescription medications.  The most important one is what the medical community calls “patient non-compliance.”  Many patients are allergic to preservatives or dyes, or are sensitive to standard drug strengths.  With a physician’s consent, a compounding pharmacist can change the strength of a medication, alter its form to make it easier for the patient to ingest, or add flavor to make it more palatable.  The pharmacist can also prepare the medication using several unique delivery systems: sublingual troche or lozenge or a transdermal gel or cream that can be absorbed through the skin.  For those patients who are having a hard time swallowing a capsule, a compounding pharmacist can make a liquid suspension instead.

Q: Can my child or elderly parent take compounded medication?

A: Yes.  Children and the elderly are often types of patients who benefit most from compounding.  Often, parents have a tough time getting their children to take medicine because of the taste.  A compounding pharmacist can work directly with the physician and the patient to select a flavoring agent such as bubble gum or cherry which provides both an appropriate match for the medication’s properties and the patient’s taste preferences.

Compounding pharmacists have also helped patients who are experiencing chronic pain.  For example, some arthritic patients cannot take certain medications due to gastrointestinal side effects.  Working with their physician’s prescription, a compounding pharmacist can provide them with a topical preparation with the anti-inflammatory or analgesic their doctor has prescribed for them.  Compound prescriptions often are used for pain management in hospice care.

Q: What kinds of prescriptions can be compounded?

A: Almost any kind.  Compounded prescriptions are ideal for any patient requiring unique dosages and/or delivery devices, which can take the form of oral rinses, suppositories, solutions, or sprays.  Compounding applications can include: Hospice, Opthalmic, Otic, Medication flavoring, Veterinary, Pediatric, Chronic Pain Management, Dermatology, Sports Medicine, Neuropathies, Wound Therapy, Infertility, Podiatry and Gastroenterology.

Q:  Is compounding expensive?

A:  Compounding may or may not cost more than conventional medication.  Its cost depends on the type of dosage form and equipment required, plus the time spent researching and preparing the medication.  Fortunately, compounding pharmacists have access to pure-grade quality chemicals which dramatically lower overall costs and allow them to be very competitive with commercially manufactured products.

Q:  Is compounding legal?  Is it safe?

A: Compounding has been part of healthcare since the origins of pharmacy, and is widely used today in all areas of the industry, from hospitals to nuclear medicine.  Over the last decade, compounding’s resurgence has largely benefited from advances in technology, quality control and research methodology.  The Food and Drug Administration has stated that compounded prescriptions are both ethical and legal as long as they are prescribed by a licensed practitioner for a specific patient and compounded by a licensed pharmacy. In addition, compounding is regulated by state boards of pharmacy.

Q:  Does my doctor know about compounding?

A:  Prescription compounding is a rapidly growing component of many physicians’ practices.  But in today’s world of aggressive marketing by drug manufacturers, some may not realize the extent of compounding’s resurgence in recent years.  Ask your physician about compounding and then contact Westmont Pharmacy with any further questions.