Compounding pharmacies provide specialty medications and medications that are formulated with different ingredients than their commercially available counterparts. Compounding pharmacies are also in charge of preparing specific dosage forms such as creams, suppositories, or injections that are not commercially available; therefore, they must be custom-made at a compounding pharmacy to meet the patient’s needs. To ensure your safety when choosing a compounding pharmacy, check out these tips on how to make sure you’re choosing the right compounding pharmacy.
As it turns out, compounding pharmacies are an important part of health care. Not only can they help reduce prescription drug costs, but their products can be vital in treating specific health conditions that don’t respond well to traditional treatments. In fact, more than half of all prescriptions for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are compounded by compounding pharmacies. This is just one example of how pharmacists and physicians work together to provide effective treatment options for patients. Because there is so much value in these pharmacies, here are a few tips on how you can find a good one.
What does your physician have to say? When you talk with your doctor about needing new prescriptions or supplements, ask him/her what pharmacy he/she recommends. If your physician doesn’t have a recommendation or if his/her recommendation isn’t a good fit for you personally, then do some research on your own. Are they licensed? Any reputable compounding pharmacy will be licensed by state officials. Check with your state’s licensing board to see if any of them have complaints against them or disciplinary actions taken against them.
Do they specialize in compounding medications? Some pharmacies also provide general services like filling prescriptions and refilling medications, but most will focus on customizing medications for individual patients based on their needs. How long has it been around? Established companies often have better business practices than newer ones that haven’t had time to figure things out yet. Look into how long each company has been operating as well as its reputation within your community. Is it a member of local organizations like CPhA? Membership in national associations such as CPhA shows that a pharmacy understands best practices and supports other businesses that follow them.
Have they ever made mistakes? A mistake may not seem like something worth worrying about at first glance, but it could be an indication of bigger problems down the line. For example, if a compounding pharmacy mixes up your medication with someone else’s accidentally or miscalculates dosage amounts, those kinds of mistakes should raise flags for you. Does it offer personalized service? A great compounding pharmacy won’t treat every customer exactly alike?instead, it will take into account each person’s unique situation when working with them to create customized solutions. Can I get samples before buying large quantities?
To find a compounding pharmacy, ask your doctor for a recommendation. If there’s not one nearby, search online and look for accredited American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) members, or check with your state board of pharmacy.