If your doctor prescribed medication requiring compounding and you've never heard of a compounding pharmacy, then you are not alone.
Many people take mass-produced drugs and never have a need for a compounded medication. But, when your doctor prescribes a non-traditional medication requiring custom compounding, then a compounding pharmacy is necessary.
Compounding Pharmacy Basics
Compounding pharmacies specialize in custom formulations of medication. While they do not make medications that are already available from drug manufacturers, they do have the capability to mix special formulations of all different types of drugs.
Some ways compounding pharmacists will customize prescription medications to better meet your needs are:
In addition, compounding pharmacists can change a medication's form. For example, if you cannot swallow pills, then the medication can be changed into a liquid or suppository form.
The Forms of Compounded Drugs
There are many different forms of compounded medication, including the following:
In addition, your medication may also be put into caplets or made into tablets.
Saving Money on Compounded Medications
If you are concerned about the price of compounded medications, then you will be pleased to learn there are some simple ways to save.
One of the best cost savings comes from buying your medications in bulk.
For example, assume for a moment you need to take a compounded medication for the next three months. If you can purchase all three months' doses at one time rather than one-third each month, then the price will likely be lower.
When the pharmacist compounds your medication, it is faster if they do it all at once versus making smaller quantities in separate batches. Since compounding in larger quantities saves money on labor costs, some of that cost is passed on to you as the consumer.
For additional savings, if you have health insurance, always check with your plan administrator to find out which compounding pharmacies are in your approved network.
If your policy covers compounded drugs, then the difference in price between in- versus out-of-network compounding pharmacies can be drastically different.
Compounded Medications and Beyond-Use Dates
Lastly, you may be wondering how long compounded medications are safe. The good news is every prescription bottle will have a safety date on it referred to as the "beyond-use date".
Medications mass-produced by pharmaceutical companies have expiration dates stamped on their containers as mandated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Since compounded medications are made-to-order, this isn't possible.
Instead of expiration dates, compounded medications are labeled with a beyond-use date (BUD). The standard BUD for compounded drugs is typically a few months.
To learn more about compounded medications, contact a compounding pharmacy in your area.
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