Compounding pharmacy

Compounding Pharmacy is a specialized type of pharmacy that makes drugs prescribed by doctors for specific patients with needs that can't be met by commercially available drugs.

A pharmacist in a compounding pharmacy may mix a small amount of a drug into a child's liquid medication to make it easier for the child to swallow, or create a drug without a certain dye for a patient who is allergic to the dye.

History[edit | edit source]

The practice of compounding dates back to the origins of pharmacy itself. For centuries, it was the individual pharmacist who compounded each formulation.

Modern Day Compounding[edit | edit source]

In the modern day, compounding pharmacies have advanced the science of pharmaceutical compounding. With the advent of mass drug manufacturing in the 1950s and ‘60s, compounding rapidly declined. The pharmacist's role as a preparer of medications quickly changed to that of a dispenser of manufactured dosage forms.

Regulation[edit | edit source]

Compounding pharmacies are regulated by state boards of pharmacy. Compounding pharmacies are also subject to the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) and must register with the FDA.

Benefits[edit | edit source]

Compounding pharmacies can create personalized medication, in unique strengths. They can also make medications that are free of certain allergens and additives.

Risks[edit | edit source]

There are risks associated with the use of compounded drugs, which do not have FDA approval. These risks include the possibility of a lack of efficacy or overuse of pharmaceuticals.

See Also[edit | edit source]

Compounding pharmacy Resources
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