If you require prescription medications, you may be wondering if there is any difference between those that are mass-produced compared to those that are compounded directly at a pharmacy. You may be wondering if a compound is a better way to go if you’ve had troubles with filler ingredients, dyes, or other non-medicinal chemicals that can be present in standard medications. Or perhaps you require a medication that is difficult to obtain commercially. Regardless of your reasons, you should weigh the pros and cons of selecting one type of medication over the other.
There are definite differences between a commercially produced medication and a compounded medication. Commercial products typically contain various filler materials and dyes that you may discover you are allergic to. In a case such as this, using a compounding pharmacy can eliminate those non-essential ingredients and replace them with substances that will not have adverse affects. In fact, there was a period of time when compounded medicines were common, in days pre-dating commercial drug manufacturers. And just like today, you were able to discuss with the pharmacist exactly what sort of preparation would be correct for you.
Commercial medications have their own benefits. They are generally easy to obtain in a pharmacy the same day a prescription is issued. They are held to higher standards of quality than compounded medications are. They are often less expensive than medicines from a compounding pharmacy and are usually, with some exceptions, covered under most insurance plans, whereas compounds tend to require you pay out of pocket and then submit a claim form to the insurance company for reimbursement. Commercial medications are also highly regulated to ensure that the proper amount of medication is present. Compounded medications may not always contain the correct dosages, depending on the pharmacy making the preparation.
Reasons to consider compounded medications can also involve things such as making something that would normally come in pill form in to a liquid form for those that have trouble swallowing pills. They can also add more pleasant flavors to medications, particularly those for children, to make administration easier. Pharmacists can also create medications that are no longer commercially available, such as when a manufacturer chooses to discontinue a product due to lack of profit. Custom made hormone replacement therapy drugs can also be obtained for those who have difficulties using commercially produced products.
With this information, and perhaps some addition research, you can begin to determine which sort of medication is more correct for your needs. Perhaps a compounded formula will be a better fit, perhaps a commercial one, perhaps a mixture of both. Be sure to discuss all of your options with your health care provider before making any final decisions to be sure you won’t encounter any troubles.
