In a world that comprises of so many different people with individual needs and requirements, it is logical that not everyone responds in the same to a given type of medication. Many people suffer from specific conditions that prevent them from taking medicine prepared by traditional methods.

In fact, sometimes the kind of medicine that a particular patient needs is not made by traditional drug companies, or a patient may need to consume the medicine using a different method than the traditionally prescribed one. This is when compounding pharmacies come in to meet the specific needs of the patient.

Compounding pharmacists modify an individual patient’s prescription according to the specific patient needs. There are a number of circumstances that require a discussion with a compounding pharmacist. For example, a patient will need the services of a compound pharmacist if they are not capable to taking ingredients that are included in traditional medicines such as preservatives, alcohol, dyes, sugar, gluten, lactose, and casein.

Patients may also need an alternate way of consuming medicines such as if a patient has trouble swallowing a tablet. Various ways of administering the medicine include: Transdermal such as a skin patch, lozenge, lollipops, creams, nasal spray, liquid form, and inhalation. If a patient is vulnerable to drug side effects or needs reaction free medications, using medication formulated by a compounding pharmacist can considerably reduce the potential side effects and reduce allergic reactions.

If a patient needs a particular dosage that is usually not manufactured by a traditional drug manufacturer, a pharmacist can provide the special dosage to meet the required strength. Patients who are in need of medications that are no longer manufactured by pharmaceutical manufacturers can get the medications from a compounding pharmacist. Also, children who will only take medications that have a pleasant flavour can easily get a specific drug that has a palatable flavour from a compounding pharmacist.

Compounded prescriptions are the best solutions for a patient that needs an alternate route of delivery or a rare dosage. Compounding pharmacists are needed in medical areas such as Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy, Wound Therapy, Sports Medicine, Veterinary practices including both large and small animals, Dental Practices, Hospice, Pediatrics, Infertility, Chronic Pain Management, Ophthalmic, Dermatology, Neurology, Gastroenterology, and many more.

Pharmacy compounding is not just a science of formulating medicines, but is also an art of customizing medications for patients. This type of pharmacy has been around for centuries and is not a new method. However, with increase in the number of patients requiring alternative forms of drugs and with growing innovations in technology and research, there has been an important increase in compounding pharmacies. What’s more, the Food and Drug Administration support the use of compounding and it is regulated by each State’s Board of Pharmacy.

With the approval of a physician, a pharmacist can adapt almost any kind of a medication to make it easier for the patient to consume and have the same effect as traditional manufactured medicine.