The Resurgence of Custom Compounding
Feb 29, 2024 09:31AM ● By Dr. Gary Kracoff
Custom compounding refers to the practice of preparing medication tailored to an individual’s specific needs, as prescribed by their healthcare provider. These medications are compounded in pharmacies specifically licensed by the Board of Pharmacy.
Rather than dispense mass-produced drugs, the compounding pharmacy compounds medications for the patient in the exact dosages that the doctor prescribes.
The art and science of compounding dates back centuries, to a time when pharmacists were responsible for preparing all medications from scratch. In the early days of pharmacy, medications were often compounded on-site in pharmacies. Pharmacists would mix raw ingredients to create various dosage forms tailored to individual patient needs.
When pharmaceutical mass manufacturing in the 20th century became popular, the practice of custom compounding declined as more medication became commercially available. However, custom compounding never entirely disappeared and has experienced a resurgence in recent years.
There are many reasons that a person might require custom compounding. Some people need to avoid many substances that are included in many mass-produced medications. Ingredients such as sugar, lactose, dyes, alcohol, gluten, or preservatives can cause negative reactions in susceptible people.
In addition to eliminating these problem ingredients, custom compounding allows for dosage adjustments not commercially available. Also, they can be compounded in alternative dosage forms. Certain kinds of patients such as children or the elderly may have difficulty swallowing pills, and forms like liquids, creams or suppositories can be compounded to improve compliance and comfort in usage.
Recently, there have been medications that have been discontinued or unavailable. Compounding pharmacies can often recreate these medications so patients can continue their therapies.
A special class of compounding pharmacies offer Sterile Ophthalmic preparations including dry eye drops, antibiotic eye drops, atropine eye drops, preservative-free eye drops, allergy eye drops and much more.
Autologous Serum Eye Drops are even available at specific Sterile Compounding Pharmacies. These eye drops are made from a patient’s own blood. The blood is separated into its serum which contains many nutrients and regenerative factors that are used by the cells to keep them healthy. Under sterile conditions, the serum is diluted with sterile saline and bottles to provide sterile autologous serum eye drops. These sterile eye drops have been successfully used in the management of ocular surface disorders such as dry eye disease, persistent epithelial defects, and neurotrophic keratopathy.
The resurgence of custom compounding has helped people get the individualized custom medication that can help with hormone balancing for men and women, infant and children, eye care, migraine headache therapy, digestive issues, neuropathy and pain management.
The compounding pharmacist collaborates with the patient and doctor to help formulate the proper medication for each person, unlike mass produced medications where one must find the closest dose commercially available.
Many compounding pharmacies collaborate with doctors and individuals to help formulate the medication to meet specific needs. Pharmacists regularly attend PCCA International seminars and educational events to keep abreast of the latest advances in compounding and pharmaceutical delivery systems, too.
Dr. Gary Kracoff is a registered pharmacist with a doctorate in naturopathic medicine at the Johnson Compounding and Wellness Center, at 577 Main St., Waltham, MA. Contact one of their compounding pharmacists about how custom compounding can help attain the specific medication, dosage and dosage form that the patient needs. For more information, call 781-893-3870 ext. 2 or visit NaturalCompounder.com.
Rather than dispense mass-produced drugs, the compounding pharmacy compounds medications for the patient in the exact dosages that the doctor prescribes.
The art and science of compounding dates back centuries, to a time when pharmacists were responsible for preparing all medications from scratch. In the early days of pharmacy, medications were often compounded on-site in pharmacies. Pharmacists would mix raw ingredients to create various dosage forms tailored to individual patient needs.
When pharmaceutical mass manufacturing in the 20th century became popular, the practice of custom compounding declined as more medication became commercially available. However, custom compounding never entirely disappeared and has experienced a resurgence in recent years.
There are many reasons that a person might require custom compounding. Some people need to avoid many substances that are included in many mass-produced medications. Ingredients such as sugar, lactose, dyes, alcohol, gluten, or preservatives can cause negative reactions in susceptible people.
In addition to eliminating these problem ingredients, custom compounding allows for dosage adjustments not commercially available. Also, they can be compounded in alternative dosage forms. Certain kinds of patients such as children or the elderly may have difficulty swallowing pills, and forms like liquids, creams or suppositories can be compounded to improve compliance and comfort in usage.
Recently, there have been medications that have been discontinued or unavailable. Compounding pharmacies can often recreate these medications so patients can continue their therapies.
A special class of compounding pharmacies offer Sterile Ophthalmic preparations including dry eye drops, antibiotic eye drops, atropine eye drops, preservative-free eye drops, allergy eye drops and much more.
Autologous Serum Eye Drops are even available at specific Sterile Compounding Pharmacies. These eye drops are made from a patient’s own blood. The blood is separated into its serum which contains many nutrients and regenerative factors that are used by the cells to keep them healthy. Under sterile conditions, the serum is diluted with sterile saline and bottles to provide sterile autologous serum eye drops. These sterile eye drops have been successfully used in the management of ocular surface disorders such as dry eye disease, persistent epithelial defects, and neurotrophic keratopathy.
The resurgence of custom compounding has helped people get the individualized custom medication that can help with hormone balancing for men and women, infant and children, eye care, migraine headache therapy, digestive issues, neuropathy and pain management.
The compounding pharmacist collaborates with the patient and doctor to help formulate the proper medication for each person, unlike mass produced medications where one must find the closest dose commercially available.
Many compounding pharmacies collaborate with doctors and individuals to help formulate the medication to meet specific needs. Pharmacists regularly attend PCCA International seminars and educational events to keep abreast of the latest advances in compounding and pharmaceutical delivery systems, too.
Dr. Gary Kracoff is a registered pharmacist with a doctorate in naturopathic medicine at the Johnson Compounding and Wellness Center, at 577 Main St., Waltham, MA. Contact one of their compounding pharmacists about how custom compounding can help attain the specific medication, dosage and dosage form that the patient needs. For more information, call 781-893-3870 ext. 2 or visit NaturalCompounder.com.
