What is Compounding?

Pharmacy compounding is the art and science of preparing customized medications for patients. Its practice dates back to the origins of pharmacy. Ancient pharmacy records date back to Babylonian times 2000B.C. Ancient China also has documentation dating back to about 2000 B.C. when Emperor Shen Nung investigated and recorded 365 native herbal drugs. Ancient Egyptian priests best known for the ebers papyrus 1900-1100 B.C. documents many dosage forms still used today. In the 1930’s- 40’s approximately 60% of all medications known were compounded by local pharmacists. With the advent of drug manufacturing in the 1950’s and 60’s compounding rapidly declined and almost disappeared. The pharmacist role as a preparer of medications quickly changed to that of a dispenser of manufactured dosage forms. Within the last two decades compounding has experienced a resurgence as modern technology and research have allowed more pharmacists to customize medications to meet very specific needs not met by major manufacturers. Today, an estimated one percent of all prescriptions are compounded daily by pharmacists working closely with physicians and their patients.

Many patients today have special needs that are not handled by the limited doses and delivery forms offered by commercial drug manufacturing. Patients may be allergic to preservatives or dyes, or are sensitive to standard drug strengths. With a physicians order, compounding pharmacists can change the strength of a medication, alter its form to make it easier to ingest or add flavor to make it more palatable. Pharmacists can also prepare the medication using several unique delivery systems, such as sublingual, rapid dissolve tablets or transdermal creams.

What Kind of Prescriptions can be Compounded?

Almost any kind of prescription can be compounded so long as it is not under patent by a pharmaceutical company. For many patients requiring unique dosages and/or delivery devices which can take the form of solutions, suppositories, sprays, rinses or lollipops these alternatives often save lives. Compounded applications include: hormone replacement, veterinary, hospice, pediatric, ophthalmic, dental and dermatology, chronic pain management, sports medicine, infertility, wound therapy and so much more.

Insurance

Because compounded medications are exempt by law from requiring National Drug Code ID numbers (NDC) many insurance companies will not reimburse without that number. However almost every insurance plan allows for the patient to be reimbursed by sending in claims forms. While you may be paying a pharmacy directly for a compounded prescription, most insurance plans should cover the final cost.

Is Compounding Expensive?

Compounding may or may not cost more than conventional medications. Frequently, prescription co-pays cost more than paying cash for a prescription medication. Often a 3 month supply of a compounded product is only slightly higher or the same as a single product monthly co-pay. Check with your insurance company and compare with our cash pricing, you might be surprised at what you’ll find.

Is Compounding Legal?

Compounding has been part of healthcare since the origins of pharmacy and is used widely today in all areas of the industry from hospitals to nuclear medicine. Over the last decade, compounding resurgence has largely benefited from advances in technology, quality control and research methodology. The Food and Drug Administration has stated that compounded prescriptions are both ethical and legal as long as they are prescribed by a licensed practitioner for a specific patient and compounded by a licensed pharmacy. In addition, compounding is regulated by the state boards of pharmacy.