Compounded medicines are a technique that doctors and pharmacists utilize to provide patients with personalized prescriptions tailored to their specific requirements. How so? Heritage IDA, the leading medication management pharmacy in Edmonton, can answer this plus more. Read on!
What Exactly Are Compounded Medications?
Health Canada defines compounding as the following: The combining or mixing of two or more components (at least one of which is a medication or a pharmacologically active ingredient) to produce a final product. It may entail using raw materials or modifying the shape and strength of commercially accessible goods. It may involve reformulation to allow for new medication delivery methods. Compounding does not include mixing, reconstituting, or any other modification conducted in conformity with the directions for use on the labelling material of an authorized medication.
The majority of pharmacies provide compounding services. There are also specialist pharmacies that have the necessary equipment to manufacture a wide range of prescriptions. These compounding pharmacies often employ pharmacists who have received further training in the intricacies of appropriately creating drugs.
What Kinds of Compounded Medications Are There?
Compounding is classified into two types: sterile and non-sterile.
Sterile compounding must be performed in an environment free of potentially hazardous microbes such as bacteria or viruses. Because these drugs are generally delivered directly into the eyes or intravenously (through an IV), it is critical to take extra care and adhere to stringent facility and equipment requirements.
Non-sterile compounding must be performed in a clean environment, but it is not always devoid of germs, viruses, or other pathogens. The most common medicines, such as those administered topically or taken orally, are created via non-sterile compounding.
When Would I Need Compounded Medication?
Doctors prescribe compounded medicines for several reasons, including:
Intolerance and allergy to the commercially accessible medication
The requirement to mix multiple drugs into a single dosage
Local availability of the specific prescription that the patient needs is limited or non-existent.
The inability of the patient to tolerate the usual dose or route of administration.
Young children and the elderly, for example, maybe unable to take a tablet. In this instance, a compounding pharmacy might be contacted to obtain liquid medicine. Preterm newborns, for example, may require tailored dosages of medications used to treat common illnesses such as acid reflux.
Is it safe to use compounded medications?
Compounding has been a component of healthcare since the beginnings of pharmacy and is now widely utilized in many sectors of the business, from hospitals to nuclear medicine. Compounding's comeback has primarily benefited from advancements in technology, quality control, and research technique during the previous decade.
Compounded prescriptions are both ethical and lawful, according to Health Canada, as long as they are prescribed by a qualified practitioner for a specific patient and compounded by a licensed pharmacy. Furthermore, the Ontario College of Pharmacists regulates compounding.
Conclusion
Prescription compounding is becoming an increasingly important part of many physicians' practices. However, in today's environment of aggressive medication marketing, people may be unaware of the magnitude of compounding's return in recent years. Inquire with your doctor about compounding. Then contact a compounding pharmacy dedicated to supplying high-quality compounded drugs in the dose form and strength specified by the physician.
Heritage IDA Pharmacy can help with your compounded medication, reach us today. For more questions about prescription management and other pharmaceutical queries, you may contact us today!