Sounds intimidating, right? Relax, we’ll break it down in a way that’s easy to understand. Pharmaceutical compounding is when a licensed pharmacist or chemist makes changes to a medication’s delivery formulation or dosage to better meet a patient’s needs. There are many reasons why a commercially available drug would need to be prepared differently. Major pharmaceutical companies mass-produce medications using a “one size fit’s all” approach. Well, one size doesn’t fit everybody!
A patient may need a specific dosage of a drug that is only commercially available in a higher dosage. Maybe a patient is experiencing adverse side effects from a drug that can be curbed if it is prepared differently. Maybe a child has needs such as sensory issues that make taking a medication particularly difficult. A compounding pharmacy can help with that too, by putting it into a format that tastes or feels better to help the medicine go down.
Sometimes tailor-made solutions are needed to meet the unique needs of the individual. That’s where a compounding pharmacy steps in. When it comes to a patient’s health, no alteration is too small for a compounding pharmacy to handle. The human body is a fragile ecosystem and making a minor change to a medication can make a world of difference.
Compounding Services
It’s not only about altering the chemical make-up of a medication. Compounding pharmacies offer many services related to handling a patient’s medication, including the following:
- Altering the dosage or strength of a medication.
- Changing the format of oral medication (liquids, powders, lollipops, gummies).
- Compounding medicated topical creams, gels, suppositories and beyond.
- Reformulating drugs to discard non-essential ingredients, like lactose or gluten, that a patient may be allergic to.
- Communicating with a patient’s primary care doctor to refill prescriptions.
- Blister packing to make a patient’s daily medication routine easy and error-free
Who Needs A Compounding Pharmacy?
Many people benefit from compounded medications – families with children, people with special needs, people who are sensitive to flavours or colours or who have allergies to fillers such as gluten, individuals with dosage needs that are not available commercially, people who require a custom dosage of hormones either orally or via a cream or suppository, the list goes on. With custom compounding, a licensed pharmacist can put together the exact medication needed to meet a patient’s specific requirements. This even includes pet medications.
Compounding for Individuals Who Have Difficulty Swallowing Pills
Some patients suffer from a condition known as sensory processing disorder (SPD) or experience anxiety about taking medications orally. SDP is a condition in which the brain has trouble decoding sensory information. This is especially common in patients with ADHD or autism. Patients with SDP may find it impossible to take medication orally – the brain simply cannot perform the function of swallowing a pill. Many children and seniors have difficulty taking oral medications as well. Some patients experience a fear of choking related to past trauma that makes it nearly impossible for them to take medications in pill form. A compounding pharmacy can alter these medications so they can be taken a different way that does not trigger these difficulties. That way everyone can stay up to date with all of their medications.
Food Allergies And Dietary Restrictions
Many mass-produced medications contain ingredients that some patients are unable to consume due to allergies or dietary restrictions. Very often, patients have no idea what is in their medication until it’s too late and they’re already experiencing adverse reactions. For example, many medications contain artificial colours, gluten or lactose hidden in the ingredients.
For those with celiac disease, consuming gluten can be very harmful. The same goes for those who are lactose intolerant. Even the most vigilant patient might never know their medication contains these ingredients because they are hidden in atypical names. For example, the following ingredients commonly found in medications contain gluten:
- Dextrans
- Dextrins
- Pregelatinized starch
- Sodium starch glycolate
Now unless the patient also happens to be a chemist they would never know these ingredients contain gluten. A compounding pharmacy can remove non-essential ingredients, discarding the junk and leaving a patient with only the active ingredients they need.
Leave It To The Specialists
Many pharmacies offer some level of compounding services, but they can’t do it all. A compounding pharmacy such as ours is qualified and equipped to handle any compounding need under the sun, safely and efficiently. We have made the investment in equipment and training to tailor drugs specifically to the unique needs of the individual patient.
Need Hormones? No problem!
At People’s Choice Compounding Pharmacy we specialize in oral and topical products with bioidentical hormones, such as estrogen cream on prescription from your MD, Naturopath, Functional Medicine Doctor, or Integrative Doctor. You can earn more about our Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) products here.
Compounded Eye Drops
Serum Tears for Dry Eye Disease
Patients suffering from severe dry eyes can get autologous serum tears made from their own plasma by a compounding pharmacy. This is a very unique product with wonderfully positive results for the patient. You can learn more about serum tears here.
Atropine Eye Drops for Myopia
Most cases of short-sightedness are diagnosed in school-age children, and vision typically progressively worsens throughout the teenage years. Beyond glasses, there was previously not much that could be done to help, however recent research indicates that Atropine eye drops can significantly slow the worsening of progressive myopia. So a kid who would have ended up with severe myopia requiring specialist lenses could stay at a medium level that’s easy to correct. Atropine eyedrops for your child are customized based on a prescription from your eye doctor. Learn more here.
Highly Respected Compounding Pharmacy In Ontario
There’s a reason why People’s Choice Pharmacy is highly respected by MD’s, Naturopathic and Integrative Doctors in Ontario. Located in Richmond Hill, People’s Choice serves the local areas of Toronto, Markham, and Newmarket, as well as shipping across Canada. The dedicated and passionate pharmacists at PCP prepare medications in a state-of-the-art facility using only the highest quality ingredients. Contact us for a review consultation medication assessment and get on the train to a happier, healthier life.
About People’s Choice Compounding Pharmacy
Serving Richmond Hill, Toronto, Markham & Vaughan
Free Ontario-Wide Shipping on all Bioidentical HRT
Located on Yonge Street, People’s Choice Pharmacy is a state-of-the-art, innovative, full-service compounding pharmacy serving Toronto, Richmond Hill, Markham and Vaughan, and shipping across Ontario. Our certified technicians with 45 years of experience will custom compound your medications using top quality, lab-tested ingredients. Call to speak to a friendly, knowledgeable Pharmacist today!
