Can Compounding Make Taking Medicine Easier For Kids?

Taking medicine is a part of life, even if not an everyday habit. For most people, taking medication as prescribed in the original manufacturer’s formula is a standard experience. What happens when a person can’t take a script in the traditional format? This is a common question for pediatric prescriptions. Typically, medications designed for children are available in liquid form. Especially for very young kids, taking a pill is going to be difficult if not impossible. However, when a specialty medication is prescribed that isn’t already available in a child-friendly format, a compounding pharmacist can be a smart choice. Here are a few times when compounding may be the better option.

Difficulty taking medicine

Liquid dosages tend to be the preferred option for children especially at younger ages. Babies, toddlers or even children with swallowing issues may struggle to take a pill format. Another factor to consider is when medicine has an unpleasant taste. Sometimes the necessary ingredients in a script can be so offensive that a child refuses to take the medication. Compounding can be an easy fix to mask weird aftertastes with regulator-approved flavoring agents..

To remove allergies

Just like adults, children can also have allergies to a wide range of commonly found ingredients, including in medications. Typically, filler ingredients are the biggest culprit, as these additives are used to maintain medication potency or stability. However, additions such as lactose, gluten, and even dye can create adverse reactions which makes taking the medication in the manufacturer’s original formula unsafe. Compounding pharmacists can create safe alternatives by developing custom reformulations that remove the allergen ingredients.

Filling multiple prescriptions

Just like adults, some children may need to take multiple medications simultaneously. Similar to fighting over what’s for dinner, young kids might get annoyed consuming multiple doses one after another. This scenario is another example of how compounding can help. Depending on the medications and formulas, specialists can combine multiple prescriptions into customized dosage. As a result, children are now taking just one dosage, and parents are facing fewer fights. Still, caregivers need to remember that not all prescriptions can be safely combined. A pediatrician or compounding pharmacist can properly advise which medications can be safely.

When medication is discontinued

Sometimes pharmaceutical firms stop making certain medications. In other cases, a product may no longer be covered by insurance. Typically, an alternative might be offered at a traditional pharmacy. Unfortunately, for some individuals, simply switching to a competitor or generic version of a prescription isn’t an option. When a very specific formula must be taken, a compounding pharmacy may be able to help by developing the discontinued medication through access to raw ingredients and the original manufacturer’s approved formulation instructions.

When to request compounding

Not every pharmaceutical situation requires compounding; however, the solution can be ideal in specific cases. Sometimes a child has difficulty taking pills, may be allergic to specific ingredients, or needs to have multiple scripts combined into a single dose to ensure medication adherence. A healthcare provider and a compounding provider can discuss the benefits and any concerns a caregiver may have about compounding pediatric prescriptions.