They Can Create Discontinued Medications

Sometimes, there are financial reasons for discontinuing medications. For instance, if a manufacturer finds that very few people use it, they may stop making it. However, there could still be patients, like  yourself, who need it. What do you do then?

A compounding pharmacist is able to mix and recreate the drug, so you can still get the medication you need. There are some restrictions, like if a drug is restricted by the Food and Drug Administration due to dangers to a patient, but most medications can be re-created for your benefit. 

Your Medications Can Be Personalized

One of the major benefits of compounding pharmacies is that they can create a medication to exact specifications. This is particularly helpful for patients who need an abnormal dosage of a medication, a tapered dosage, or specific needs as far as fillers are concerned. 

Take for instance a patient who is going through detoxification. The patient may be taking 20 mg of a drug and need to stop taking it, but the withdrawal symptoms are high. The compounding pharmacy is able to create the drug in increments that are both accurate and easy to take. 

The pharmacy may provide the patient with two weeks of the 20 mg drug, some 15 mg versions, 12 mg versions, and so on until the patient's body no longer needs the medication to function correctly. This process is particularly helpful for patients who have become dependent on opiates or pain medications. 

Compounding Pharmacies Can Change the Additives In Your Medications 

Some patients may not be allergic to the medication they're being given, but they may be intolerant to some of the additives inside. For instance, many allergy medications also contain lactose to help the medication solidify in tablet form. 

For people who are lactose intolerant, taking the medication may be necessary, but it can cause unwanted side effects. By visiting a compounding pharmacy, the pharmacist may be able to remove the lactose from the mixture and replace it with an additive that works similarly without causing the patient pain or side effects. In other cases, the pharmacist may be able to add another additive to prevent side effects. In the case of lactose, lactase, an enzyme used to break down lactose in the body, could be added to reduce the side effects suffered by the patient. 

These are just a few of the reasons compound pharmacists are helpful to those on medications. Talk to one if you have a problem with your medication, because there may be a solution.