Compounding Pharmacies can Benefit Both Human and Animal Patients
Unlike traditional pharmacies which dispense only medications as provided in the form sold by manufacturers’, compounding pharmacies specialize in creating medications that are customized to the patients’ needs. Until the mid-twentieth century, compounding was quite common. Pharmacists mixed medications according to a doctor’s instructions that best met the needs of the patient. As the pharmaceutical industry boomed, and more and more disease specific drugs were created, compounding fell to the wayside.
As patients become more involved in their treatments, compounding began making a comeback. Doctors are beginning to recognize the benefits of customizing medication for their patients. While the chain pharmacies can do compounding, most do not. Independent pharmacies, especially those that specialize in compounding, are able to create these customized medications tailored to the patient’s unique needs.
Compounding is not limited to just humans. Veterinarians have been recommending compounded prescriptions for their patients for years. Vets have long known the benefits of compounding since their human medications do not work the same in their animal patients.
Human Medication Compounding Benefits
Aside from customization, medicaton compounding provides more administration routes for medication, such as lozenges, capsules and creams. It also expands treatment options in areas such as palliative care, pain management and dermatology.
Compounding is particularly beneficial for those patients undergoing Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT). BHRT uses hormones that have the same chemical composition as those naturally produced in the human body. Unlike synthetic hormones, which can cause unwanted side effects, bio-identical hormones act exactly like naturally produced hormones. BHRT is used for women to battle the effects of menopause and men with low testosterone. Because everyone’s body is different, BHRT is not a one-size-fits-all medication. The hormones must be compounded to each patient’s individual needs.
Medication compounding is also great for kids - especially those who refuse to take their medicine. Compounding allows pharmacists to make flavored suspensions and gummies to get kids to want to take their medication. The kids get their medicine, and mom and dad lose the headache.
Animal Medication Compounding Benefits
One of the toughest things pet owners face is getting their pets to take medication. Compounding pet medications can deliver the medication in the form a dog, cat, reptile, bird, ferret, rabbit or livestock will take without fuss.
When a pet develops thyroid, allergies, diabetes or arthritis, vets will often start with standard veterinary medications. If those don’t work or lose their effectiveness, vets turn to compounding using various medications to create the right formula to meet the pet’s needs.
Compounding benefits the entire family by tailoring medications to meet every member’s specific needs, even if they walk on four legs.