Have you ever looked for a dress or suit that fit you perfectly and found nothing off the rack that worked quite right? The skills of a good tailor can solve that problem for you. The job of a compounding pharmacist is like that of the tailor. When commercially available or "off the rack" medications just don't work for you, a compounder can often make a medication that "fits" you perfectly.
A compounded prescription is essentially a medication that has been prepared by a specially trained pharmacist to meet the specific needs of a patient. Traditional pharmacies dispense commercially manufactured products, but when those products are no longer available, cause adverse side effects, or just don't work for you; a compounding pharmacist works with you and your doctor to solve your medication problems.
Modified Dosage Strength. If your doctor decides the best dose of medicine for you is different than what’s commercially available, he or she may order a specially prepared compounded prescription - no more tablet-splitting or guessing on the correct amount.
Flavoring. Have you ever tried to "persuade" your child or pet to take a bad tasting medicine, or swallow a big capsule? A good pediatric compounding pharmacist can eliminate this problem by flavoring a compounded prescription so that it tastes good or by changing the form to something more appealing like a gummi or a flavored suspension. Veterinary compounding pharmacists can prepare your pet's medicine in more appetizing flavors or forms, such a meat-flavored paste or a medicated biscuit that Fido will take without a fight!
Modified Administration Method. The pharmacists at the Central Compounding Center in Durham, North Carolina can prepare medications for different routes of administration. For example, if an oral medication causes you intolerable stomach upset, the compounder might take the active ingredients and prepare a transdermal gel that you can rub into your skin. For hospice patients and others who have difficulty swallowing, medications can also be compounded as suppositories or lozenges. Veterinary compounders can prepare medications as transdermal gels that can be rubbed on the inside of a cat or dog's ear (sounds easier than getting kitty to take that pill!).
Specific treatment programs. If your doctor has prescribed customized hormone replacement therapy, our compounding pharmacists will work closely with your physician to optimize your treatment, and may also recommend nutritional supplements that can support your health.