It’s Medication Your Way
With the rising demand for medicine, large-scale pharmaceutical companies have adopted a one-size-fits-all approach. Now, most prescription medicines come in a standard dose and form. This strategy has several advantages, including speed of production, quality control, and cost reduction. Commercially produced medications are effective and are the norm. However, there are benefits to having a custom solution. Everyone’s needs are different, and a generic prescription drug for the wrong patient causes more harm than good. Patients can customize and control treatment through compounded medications, improving long-term health outcomes.
What's the hype around compounding?
Compounding has been around for many decades. Before the rise of larger pharmaceutical firms, local pharmacists were tasked with creating unique solutions for patients. Compounding is creating a custom drug or therapy to meet a patient's specific needs. A compounding pharmacy may take raw ingredients and create or replicate a drug for a patient. Others may combine multiple medications into a single-use form. Thanks to compounding, both patients and pharmacists can control or customize prescription medication. While compounding has been largely replaced by standard or brand-name drugs, there is a new groundswell of patients preferring the many advantages of this option.
Flexibility in dosing
Some patients need prescriptions in specific dosages relative to size and age. However, a particular drug may not come in the required dose. For instance, some children may need lower doses, and adults may need a higher dose for a severe chronic disease. Halving or doubling the drug may not guarantee the patient gets the required dosage, leading to poor outcomes. Compounding can eliminate this issue by creating the same drug at the exact dose needed for the patient. Control over the dosage may mean improved outcomes and reduced side effects for the patient.
A form you can trust
Most standard medicines come in pill or liquid form. These forms are the standard and most effective way to take medication but may pose a challenge in special cases. Some patients may have trouble swallowing pills due to conditions like dysphagia. Others may prefer not to take oral medication for health and personal reasons. With compounding, there's a way to get treatment without the stress of an unpleasant form. The pharmacist can convert a prescription from pill to liquid form. Other forms include lollipops, topical drugs, lozenges, and troches. These forms allow the patient to get the required treatment while maintaining medication adherence. Customization is excellent for kids or elderly persons who have significant challenges with taking medicine.
Addressing allergies and sensitivities
With medication comes the possibility of side effects. Some of these are mild and expected with the given drug. In some cases, however, the side effects are too severe, leading to poor medicine adherence and a lack of treatment. Other patients may simply have allergies or sensitivities to preservatives or other ingredients in standard medicines. Pharmacists can produce compounded medications without the allergen. Removing the inactive ingredients improves the long-term outcome for patients.
Risks and considerations
Compounding is an effective solution for the challenges of taking standard prescriptions. Patients who choose this option, however, must consider the potential drawbacks. For instance, compounding should be done by a skilled team to ensure the drug's efficacy. The wrong combination can limit the patient's treatment. Additionally, compounding can be more costly in the short term than a standard drug. In the long term, increased adherence means better medical outcomes and lower overall medical costs. Choose a reputable compounding pharmacist who understands the patient's needs and can collaborate with the medical team.
Get complete control of your medication
Medication can be a vital component of long-term treatment for pain or recovering from chronic conditions. Standard medicines, however, may lack the unique characteristics some individuals may need for success. By customizing the drug, the patient gains control over dosage and form while reducing side effects. A compounding pharmacist can work closely with the patient and doctor to meet the requirements necessary for treatment.
