Struggling To Take Your Meds?

Taking medication, prescription or otherwise, is not always a walk in the park. Some people detest taking medications, while others have difficulty taking certain medicines. There are multiple factors that can prevent consistent medication use. One thing is certain, failure to consistently take medication leads to poor medication adherence, worsening symptoms, higher costs, and a poor quality of life. Patients who want to stay healthy while getting easier-to-use medication often turn to a compounding pharmacy. These facilities are ideal for patients who struggle to take standard medicines. Not only can compounding pharmacies make medication that is easier to take, but is also formulated for that patient, leading to better long-term outcomes.

Why is medication adherence so difficult?

Sometimes simply taking a medication as directed is not so straightforward. Commercially produced medicines are not designed to cater for every challenge patients experience. Some patients have difficulty swallowing pills, with some having a medical condition called dysphagia. Kids and young teens also struggle with swallowing pills, making adherence difficult. For kids, taste also matters. Standard drugs are not made to taste good and even those that have flavors can be unappealing. Even patients who have no issues consuming medication face unique challenges. Some patients have to manage multiple medications. This can make consistency difficult. Commercial prescription medications contain ingredients that cause allergic reactions . Preservatives, on the other hand, can raise specific sensitivities. As a result, patients avoid taking these medications consistently due to the anticipated discomfort.

Have you heard about compounding?

A compounding pharmacy is a facility that focuses on creating custom medication to meet the unique needs of patients. Before medication was produced by the millions, patients depended on pharmacies to mix medication. Compounding is the process of combining high-quality active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) into a solution specific to the patient. This process can also involve combining multiple medications into a single-use solution. Compounding pharmacies are not widely used today but remain popular in areas such as fertility, pain management, and dermatology. Larger pharmaceutical corporations create medication to meet significant demand. Statistics show that at least 50% of Americans use prescription medication. While this is true, patients have unique needs that a mass-produced option cannot meet. Compounding steps in here, taking a focused approach to medication and coming up with an option that makes medication ultimately easier to take.

How can compounding help?

Based on the patient’s challenges, compounding can make medication easier to take, improve adherence, and ultimately create healthier patients. Let’s say the patient cannot swallow a large capsule or tablet. A compounding pharmacy can change the medication into a liquid, spray, topical solution, or lozenge. Compounding allows the pharmacy the autonomy to change the form while keeping the required dose. If taste is an issue, especially for children, the pharmacy can add a specific flavor to encourage consistent use. Sometimes, the dose is too high or too low, causing unwanted symptoms. Compounding can create a dose that is not readily available. When the patient sees results, ease of use increases. If additives, preservatives, or specific ingredients cause allergic reactions, they can be removed or replaced. The side effects are reduced without compromising the medication’s benefits. Any barriers that make medication difficult to take can be removed through compounding.

Long-term benefits

Over time, compounding as a practice makes medication easier to take. Once the patient takes the medication as intended, symptoms improve. As patients feel better, the motivation to take the medication improves, creating a flywheel that boosts medication adherence. With compounding, patients are also involved in the process. Changing the form and doses, and adjusting ingredients, requires patient input, and that collaborative process encourages greater use. Long-term, the medication dose can be calibrated based on symptom improvement, helping patients get better faster. Adjustments can be made based on the patient’s reaction, building patient confidence in the medicine’s ability to produce results.

Making medication a breeze

Many patients understandably struggle to take medicine consistently. There are many factors that commercial medications fail to consider. Those that do consider patients’ needs cannot mass-produce for unique sensitivities or needs. Compounding can step in to create a custom option that tastes better, is easier to consume, and has the correct dose. The compounding pharmacy can add, remove, or change parts of the medication. The result is not a one-size-fits-all approach but a truly customized option. This is what ultimately makes the medication easier to take. Work with a compounding pharmacist to get the right choice every time.