As you might already know, retail pharmacies aren’t the only option to get the needed medication. It is possible to get customized medication, created specifically to suit your health condition. Unlike traditional pharmacies that follow the same formula worldwide, compounding pharmacies alter formulations based on the directions provided by certified physicians. These pharmacies follow a patient-centric approach to tailor medications for improving treatment outcomes. It involves altering and mixing ingredients to ensure that there would be no side effects. A licensed pharmacist adds active substances to provide the best medication to the specific patient.

The compounding process enables customizing a variety of drugs. Whether you need to remove any allergy-causing ingredient or change the dosage form, compounded pharmacies can prepare a medication to suit your specific needs. Compound medications can include anything from hormone treatment or topical dermatological ointments to pain medications. To get custom medication, the patient needs compounded prescriptions from a licensed medical professional.

Finding a Compounding Pharmacy

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that the compounding process must be supervised and conducted by licensed pharmacists or physicians. It takes specialized knowledge and skills to accurately mix and combine medications. When looking for a compound pharmacy, you need to do some research. It is important to ensure that the professional you choose possesses knowledge of medications, the human body, and medical conditions. It means that finding a compound pharmacy isn’t as easy as going to the nearest retail pharmacy. All retail pharmacies sell the same commercial drugs which mean it doesn’t matter whether you buy medication from the hospital or a local store. However, many factors need to be considered when looking for a compounding pharmacy. So, let’s check out some tips to help you choose the right compounding pharmacy.

1.      Accreditation

When looking for a pharmacy, you need to first check if the compounded pharmacy is accredited. You need to look for pharmacies that are accredited by the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board (PCAB). PCAB establishes stringent standards and grants accreditation only to compound pharmacies. If a pharmacy is accredited, it means that it complies with all regulatory requirements. Find out which organization is responsible for regulating pharmacies in your state. Choosing an accredited pharmacy gives you peace of mind knowing that drugs are prepared using established protocols.

2.      Trained Staff

It’s a good idea to learn about the qualification and training of the pharmacists and staff. The effectiveness and safety of medications largely depend on the knowledge and experience of pharmacists. The compounding pharmacist should be well-trained and have relevant compounding certificates. If you don’t find this information online, call or visit the pharmacy. Find out if they have received comprehensive sterile compounding training and have the experience to provide you with the appropriate prescriptions. This will ensure that compounding formulas are created by experts.

3.      Safe & Quality Ingredients

The best compound pharmacy obtains high-quality medical chemicals that are safe and have consistent potency. They work with suppliers who are known for providing high-quality active ingredients. Ideally, you should look for a Certificate of Analysis (CofA) for each substance used in compound medications. A reliable pharmacy can provide a certificate of analysis for each ingredient and vouch for the quality and provenance of the chemicals used.

4.      Manufacturing Facility

Besides using quality ingredients, the pharmacy should also have a state-of-art production facility. They should have access to advanced machinery and cleanroom to meet the most stringent sterile compound preparation conditions. The pharmacy should have a controlled environment (temperature, humidity, and pressure) with the lowest possible pollutants. In addition to this, they should perform batch testing of their compounded prescriptions.