Customized Medication
Why Customize Medications?
When deciding on a treatment protocol, practitioners do not need to be constrained by the limited selection of strengths and dosage forms that are commercially available. Numerous factors, such as stability and shelf life, can limit the practicality of manufactured drugs that require special storage. It would be virtually impossible for a pharmaceutical company to manufacture medications in the precise dose and dosage form that would be best for every patient. That’s why compounding is so important. At MedLife Pharmacy & Compounding, we are committed to satisfying all of our patients’ specific needs by collaborating with other healthcare professionals and by customizing medication to an individual’s exact specifications.
Our compounding pharmacy solves patient medication problems by using the finest ingredients to formulate medications in the optimal strength and dosage form for each patient. Our compounding laboratory contains equipment that is not found in most pharmacies, enabling us to compound each medication to the prescriber’s exact specifications. We consider the physical and chemical properties of active and inactive ingredients in order to prepare customized medications with the proper consistency, stability, texture, color, and taste, thereby optimizing the therapeutic benefit of each preparation.
When a patient has a resistant or unique problem and commercially manufactured dosage forms do not precisely meet his or her specific needs, or if a drug is unpalatable or side effects of commercially available medications are unacceptable, contact our compounding professional. We can change the dosage form or route of administration, or decrease side effects – all of which can enhance compliance to medication protocols and improve therapeutic outcomes.
DOSAGE FORMS THAT MAY BE COMPOUNDED
Examples:
Transdermal or topical formulations
These may offer significant advantages over traditional dosage forms. When a patient has difficulty swallowing, we can often formulate the needed drug as a transdermal gel or cream that will facilitate drug absorption through the skin. Transdermal administration is a very helpful option that can avoid the cost and inconvenience of intravenous therapy or injections, and is often used for patients who are nauseated or have chronic illness. Transdermal medications can be administered by massaging the medication into the back or wrist or application to another appropriate area, eliminating the need to disturb a resting patient.
Transdermal medications are often preferred by pets and their owners as well.
Troches
This dosage form is a type of lozenge that are placed between the cheek and gums to dissolve, allowing the medication in the troche to be absorbed by the oral mucosa (lining of the cheek) versus orally through the gastrointestinal tract. This can provide more rapid drug absorption into the systemic circulation, as the medication is not broken down by digestive enzymes or metabolized prior to absorption.
Troches, lozenges, freezer pops, chewable “gummy treats”, and lollipops
These can be flavored and compounded to contain numerous compatible medications, and can be dispensed in child-resistant containers, like all of our medication. These are ideal dosage forms for children or patients who have difficulty swallowing, or when a medication (such as an anti-fungal drug) needs to be held in contact with the oral mucosa.
Creams and Ointments, lip balms, metered nasal or sublingual sprays, and non-aerosol topical sprays
Any of these forms can be used to apply medication directly to the affected site. Insufflators are ideal for applying medications in powder form to hard-to-reach areas such as the ear canal. Topical administration can reduce the amount of drug that a patient absorbs systematically, and therefore may reduce the risk of side effects. We can compound cosmetically appealing creams, ointments, and gels containing the specific medications needed to treat each patient’s unique problem.
Capsules
Capsules can be compounded to contain multiple compatible active ingredients or in numerous colors or sizes to simplify dosing schedules.
Suppositories
Remain a popular dosage form. Unique designs such as the “rectal rocket” facilitate simultaneous internal and external administration of medications to treat hemorrhoids and other conditions.
These are just a few ideas of how compounded medications can be used to solve medication problems.
