What Is the Difference Between a Compounding Pharmacy and a Regular Pharmacy?
Compounding Lab
When you’re given a prescription to treat an illness or a certain medical condition, you would usually need to go to a pharmacy to pick up your medication. However, whether you would need to go to a regular pharmacy or a compounding pharmacy to pick up your medication will depend on what you have been prescribed and on how readily you can obtain that particular prescribed medication.
So, what distinguishes compounding pharmacies from conventional pharmacies?
Let’s discuss this a bit further…
While we may all be aware of what a regular pharmacy may do and the types of services you would obtain from there, many people are not familiar about the role a compounding pharmacy may play in the provision of medication within the health care system.
In simple terms, a compounding pharmacy is a particular kind of pharmacy that creates customised medications depending on your unique and individual needs. A commercial pharmacy, on the other hand, dispenses ready-made commercially available drugs that are mass-produced for the broader public.
What is compounding?
Compounding medication is the process of combining, modifying, or customising a medication's components to match a patient's individual needs.
Compounding pharmacies provide a service that conventional pharmacies are unable to provide by fulfilling the specific requirements of the patient. Compounding pharmacies can usually meet these precise therapeutic needs. Conventional pharmacies and their non-compounded drugs are unable to meet these therapeutic needs as they are restricted to pre-made mass produced formulations.
What makes compounding pharmacies different?
A compounding service is only provided by a select few pharmacies since it needs specialised training, a dedicated lab and particular equipment. Some patients, such those who need specialised dosages of a medication or specific delivery methods or are allergic or intolerant to certain ingredients, may find pharmaceutical compounding to be a very important part of their health care.
Combining multiple medications and making dose and administration changes that are not possible elsewhere are all made possible through compounding. For instance, a compounding pharmacy could make the drug into a liquid cream or gel if you have trouble swallowing. A compounding pharmacy might also be able to change the flavour of a prescription or provide allergen and preservative free medications for people with particular intolerances. All of the above may significantly assist a patient in following their pharmaceutical regime for the betterment of their health.
How can the compounding of bespoke medications help you?
Now that you are more aware of the differences between compounding pharmacies and conventional pharmacies, it may be worthwhile discussing with your doctor how a compounding pharmacy can be of assistance if your pharmaceutical regimen is complicated by allergies, intolerances, or unique requirements such as a different dose to what may be commercially available. This may lead to you using a medication that is most appropriate for your particular needs.
If you think this could be of value to you, get in touch with us at TerryWhite Chemmart Cockburn Medical to ask more information. We are always happy to take inquiries, answer questions and provide guidance based on the information you can provide to us. By speaking to our compounding pharmacist, Jared, you may learn how we can modify your medication to better suit you and your daily routine. We can then work with you, and in conjunction with your doctor, to create what’s best for you.
We look forward to helping you achieve optimal health outcomes by creating bespoke formulations that are best suited to you and the way your body functions.
PS… By the way, not forgetting our furry friends, we also compound veterinary medications for the specific needs of animals too.