With an increasing trend of product personalization, consumers have started preferring tailor-made products compared to cookie-cutter solutions. If you have used some customized products or services, you must have realized how impactful they are compared to generic products. Customization allows consumers to choose features such as color, functionality, design, and other components of a product. Customization results in creating unique items that are different from mass-produced ones. From Louis Vuitton to Ray-Ban, many companies offer customization. So, you might have used some products that can be personalized to suit their customers’ styles and preferences. But have you ever used customized medications?

For many people, customizing medication is something they have never heard about. However, this is nothing new! Customizing medications, known as compounding medication, was used since the early 1900s for creating tailored formulas to meet an individual’s specific needs. However, with the advent of modern pharmacies, compounding pharmacies took a backseat. At present, we think mass-produced drugs available at retail pharmacies are the only option we have. But what if you’re allergic to some of the ingredients found in commercially available medications? Compounding pharmacies create customized medications by adding or eliminating some ingredients to deliver safe and more effective solutions. To help you understand this better, let’s take a look at the meaning and importance of compounding medications.

Understanding Compounding Medications

Compounding medication is custom-created by a licensed compounding pharmacist based on a prescription from your doctor. It is usually a variation of a commercially available drug.  The purpose of compounding is to create medication that fits your needs- either by altering the dosage, changing ingredients, or making the medication easier to consume. The commercially available medications are produced by large pharmaceutical companies to suit the majority of people. They use formulas that work for the masses. However, every individual is unique and has different health needs. A formula that works for the majority of people may not suit you, your kid, or other family members. So, if drugs available at the retail pharmacy don’t suit you or your family member, consider compounding.

Need & Importance of Compounding Pharmacy

A compounded pharmacist combines active ingredients in the exact strengths and dosage required by the patient. Compounding pharmacies are for those patients whose clinical needs cannot be met by commercially available drugs. The medicines available at retail pharmacies are approved by the Food and Drug Administration. However, this commercially available medicine is of little or no use if a patient fails to swallow the pill or has an allergy to some ingredient found in the medicine. This type of customized medication can be used for many different purposes such as reducing side-effects of commercial drugs, increasing efficiency, altering the dosage, or changing form. Typically, patients consider compounding medications when:

•        To add, remove, or adjust inactive ingredients such as gluten, dyes, or lactose due to side effects or allergies.

•        A required medication is discontinued or not available commercially.

•        Added flavoring to bitter medications for kids or pets to make it easier for them to consume the medication.

•        Changing the form of medication to a different medium such as from tablet to syrup to make consumption easier to take or reduces side effects.