Compounding allows doctors and pharmacists to meet the special needs of patients. The most important benefit compounding offers is for those patients who may have difficulty taking or responding to commercially available medications. Some people are allergic or sensitive to preservatives and dyes, or are non-compliant to standard drug strengths. Others may have a hard time swallowing a pill, or react adversely to a medicine’s taste. Working with the patient’s physician, pharmacists can prepare medications in one of several unique delivery systems that are not generally available from pharmaceutical companies. 
The result?
A way to take medicine that helps increase patient compliance.
Does your Pharmacist know how to use one of these?
Do your patients need customized medication delivery for their unique needs?
We can help solve your medication problems, if you give us a call:
Phone: 972-519-8475
Fax: 972-519-8477
What is Compounding & Benefits
An increasing number of patients’ are beginning to have unique health needs that manufactured prescription medications cannot effectively meet. For them, compounded and customized medications prescribed by their physician or veterinarian and created by their highly trained and licensed compounding pharmacist is the only way to improve their health.
Because every patient is unique and dynamic in their reaction to medical treatment, compounded and customized medications are a vital part of quality medical care. The basis of all quality healthcare is the “triad” of patient-physician-pharmacist relationship. The patient’s healthcare needs are diagnosed by the patient’s physician who chooses the appropriate treatment that may include a compounded medication.
A compounded medication may be appropriate when:
- Oral Medications are too bitter to dispense without flavor additives to make them more palatable.
- Commercially available medications cannot be ingested or absorbed by the patient.
- Several medications may need to be combined to facilitate a more efficient dosing to increase patient compliance.
- An oral medication cannot be absorbed and must be made into a topical transdermal absorbed through the skin.
- A tablet must be changed to a liquid or other form that the patient can easily take.
- The appropriate medication has been discontinued by the manufacturer or generally unavailable.
- A patient is allergic to specific dyes, additives or preservatives.
Benefits
The art and science of preparing customized medications
Compounding permits physicians and pharmacists to address the unique needs of their patients. It offers patients the opportunity for better absorption or simplified dosing of medications in those who have difficulty swallowing or react adversely to manufactured medications. It allows many unique delivery systems to be available to all patients.
The result?
A way to take medicine that helps increase patient compliance.
How to Write a Compounding Prescription
RX ____________________________
Compounded medication*
Generic name of active ingredient(s)/ Strength or dose
Dosage form ( Suppository, Transdermal, Gel, Troche…)
Quantity
Directions for Use
* prescription should begin with the phrase Compounded Medication
Podiatry
Podiatrists and other health care professionals encounter numerous problems that may be helped with compounded medications.
We commonly prepare unique formulations that prescribers develop to meet specific needs of their patient population, or “tried and true” formulas acquired during professional training. Penetrant enhancers can be added to improve the extent of absorption of topically applied medications. Numerous compatible medications can be combined into a single dosage form for ease of administration. Also, a synergistic effect can be achieved when certain medications are used concomitantly.
Wound Care
Per a prescription order, a formulation can be compounded to contain the proper combination of active ingredients, in the most appropriate base, to treat a specific type of wound. We customize medications to meet each individual’s specific needs.
For example, the choice of cream, ointment, or gel can be clinically significant. Each time a wound needs to be cleaned, there is the potential for disruption of new tissue growth. Gels, which are more water soluble than creams or ointments, may be preferable for wound use because a gel can be rinsed from the wound by irrigation. Ointments may contain polyethylene glycol (PEG), which can be absorbed from open wounds and damaged skin. If the wound is quite large and too much PEG is absorbed, it can lead to renal toxicity.
Another useful dosage form is the “polyox bandage” – which can be puffed onto a wound and will adhere even if exudate is present. A polyox bandage can be compounded to contain the active ingredient(s) of your choice.
Dentistry
We work together with dentists and their patients to solve problems using customized medications.
Upon a prescription order, we can compound:
- lip balms for viral lesions
- topical muscle relaxants/analgesics
- topical anesthetics
- non-staining antibacterial rinses
- oral sedation in lollipops and freezer pops
- lollipops for oral thrush
- mouth rinses for aphthous ulcers or chemotherapy-induced stomatitis
- mouth rinse to stop oral bleeding during dental procedures for patients who take anticoagulants
- dry socket preparations
- “mucosal bandages” to cover ulcerated, infected, or tender mucosa
- lozenges that help to prevent gagging
- and many more unique preparations and novel delivery systems
Medications are manufactured in a limited number of strengths and dosage forms that will satisfy the needs of most patients due to stability concerns, and the cost of stocking and distributing numerous formulations of each drug. Using pharmaceutical grade chemicals and specialized equipment not found in most pharmacies, we can compound medications in doses and dosage forms that are not commercially available. We want to optimize the care of every patient.
Just let us know what you need!
Veterinary
Our veterinarians in the area are some of the finest in the metroplex and we feel fortunate to be able to work with them. Compounding allows our veterinarians to expand their prescribing abilities and to offer dosage forms that are specific in strength and formulation for each of their patients.
TexasStar Pharmacy solves medication dosage and delivery problems for animals of all types. To help improve compliance, we work with the veterinarians and the animal owners to determine what dosage form or flavorings that are the best for the animal.
In addition to changing the dosage amount, delivery form and flavor, we can also provide:
- Sugar free medication for diabetic pets
- Transdermal medications that can be applied to the ear and absorbed
- Good tasting and flavored oral suspensions
- Treatment for pet behavior problems
- Custom strength medications
- Capsules with specific strength medications
- Flavored oral chemotherapy
- Anti-fungals
- Transdermal anti-inflammatory
- Concentrated solutions for smaller dosing