Nurse Notes

The Compounding Pharmacy

Submitted by Linda Schoene, Parish Nurse

Prior to the 1950s pharmacists made, or “compounded,” the majority of medications that they dispensed. With the advent of drug manufacturing, the role of the pharmacist changed. Instead of making medications from scratch, the pharmacist dispensed manufactured dosage forms. However, today, there are still occasions when compounding pharmacists are needed for their extensive knowledge of chemical compounds in order to provide customized medications.

The triad relationship of patient-physician-pharmacist has always been vital to the profession of pharmacy. The physician prescribes a medication and the compounding pharmacist, after consultation with the patient, makes a medication to meet specific patient needs. For example, a patient might have an allergy to a particular dye or preservative used in a manufactured product. The compounding pharmacist can make a dye-free or preservative-free dosage form. In addition, hospice patients benefit from the compounder’s ability to provide medications in a variety of forms such as suppositories.

Other patient-specific dosage forms include:

1. Pediatric medications in the form of a lollipop

2. Lozenges or suspensions for patients who have difficulty swallowing tablets

3. Suppositories for patients who can’t take anything by mouth

4. Creams and other topical applications are suitable for patients who need to be careful of the effects some medications have on the stomach and liver

5. Hormone replacement therapy in the form of a cream or in a dosage level that is not commercially available

In addition, veterinarians utilize compounding pharmacies to provide medicated creams for their animals.

All of the above serve to enhance patient compliance and, in turn, result in better outcomes and patient satisfaction.

Last updated: 2004-06-02