What Are Compounded Medications?
Compounding is the process of creating personalized medications for people who need personalized outcomes. These medications are created with a unique recipe that combines, mixes, or alters ingredients in order to meet a particular patient’s needs. There are many reasons why a physician or pharmacist may recommend compounded medications. Compounding may be the only way a person can receive a needed medication, and for others, it may be personal preference.
3 Benefits From Compounded Medications
For some patients, compounded medications can be life-changing, even lifesaving. Here are three of the ways compounded medications can help patients.
1. Compounding offers a different form or method of delivery.
Compounding is a great way to provide a different method of delivery that works for a particular patient. For example, children or elderly adults that have difficulty swallowing pills can have the same medication made in liquid form. Some patients are unable to take oral medications in which case, we can provide the medication as a topical ointment, get, or lotion.
2. Medications can be altered for allergies or intolerances.
Those who have lactose intolerance, gluten sensitivity, corn allergy, and other sensitivities can benefit from compounded medications. Most prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and nutritional supplements contain both active and inactive ingredients. These ingredients are added for a number of reasons such as for color (food dyes), binders, or preservatives. In these cases, the compounding pharmacist can prepare medications without the nonessential ingredient.
3. We can curate custom strengths and dosages.
If a medication is only available in certain strengths or doses, compounding can be recommended to create a unique dose for that patient. Infants and children or those who are premature may need extremely small doses of medications.
Contact Heartland Pharmacy Today
At Heartland Pharmacy, our mission is to serve the patient and offer a full range of services to fit your needs. For patients in need of personalized medications, compounding can be life-changing, even lifesaving. If you’d like to speak with a pharmacist about how compounding can help you, call one of our Heartland locations, today.
