If every person is unique, why should everyone take the same medications? The point is that not every medication has the same effect in every person. Some people may require a smaller dose, or even an alternative dosage form, in order to achieve the desired effect. A compounding pharmacist can solve that patient problem! Think of us as "pharmaceutical problem solvers", because that is what we do! Pursuant to your doctor’s order, our compounding pharmacist can tailor your medication to fit YOUR unique needs, so that you get the greatest benefit from your drug therapy.

Compounding works through a patient, physician, and pharmacist triad to insure that you get the best possible care available. It has been said that two heads are better than one, and in the case of your health care, wouldn’t you like to have two medical professionals closely looking out for your well-being? Our compounding pharmacist, Dr. Lance Campbell, is on the cutting edge of pharmacy and is able to offer your physician unique and innovative ways to treat your specific health care needs. Whether it be simply preparing a medication that is preservative or dye free, or changing a medication that is only available orally to a transdermal cream, our compounding pharmacist is up to the task.

Compounders focus on meeting special needs. This may involve compounding alternatives in hormone replacement therapy, height/weight-appropriate pediatric medications, medications for veterinarians in a variety of dosage forms and flavors, or dosage forms such as transdermal gels, when treating hospice patients. The ultimate goal in preparing any of these customized medications is to help the physician and patient achieve a more positive therapeutic outcome.

Although there are many reasons that pharmacists compound medications the biggest one is patient non-compliance. If a patient does not take the medication that is prescribed by their physician because they can’t swallow large pills, are allergic to dyes in the tablet, or simply can’t stand the taste, then their therapy is not going to be successful. By compounding the medication to fix those problems we can effectively treat that patient and thereby increase not only compliance, but also achieve a successful outcome.

Compounding pharmacists also have helped patients who are experiencing chronic pain. For example, arthritic patients who cannot take certain medications due to gastro intestinal side effects. Working with their physician, a compounding pharmacist can provide them with a topical anti-inflammatory or analgesic. Also, addiction to pain medication is a serious concern of many of our chronic pain patients. By working closely with their physician, we can offer them other alternatives to managing their pain. Through successful work with transdermal dosing, we have been able to effectively treat chronic pain and minimize side-effects such as sedation and constipation!

Some other common situations that compounding can help are as follows:

• When a medication is not available in the strength needed.
• When a patient is allergic to a commercially available form of a medication, due to preservatives, dyes, fillers (lactose), etc.
• When the taste of a medication is not acceptable.
• When the lack of demand for a medication prohibits a drug manufacturer from bringing that drug to market in sufficient quantity (orphan drugs).
• When a drug manufacturer discontinues a medication that your physician was comfortable prescribing.
• When a medication is needed in an alternate dosage form (capsule, cream, suppository, suspension, injection, nasal spray, lollipop, etc.)

Campbell's Compounding believes that since every patient is unique, their medication should be tailored to meet those unique needs!