It’s Time To Try Custom Medication

Dealing with chronic pain or an underlying disease is not for the faint of heart. A doctor or medical team will create a treatment plan, which usually involves taking prescribed medication. Taking these medicines, while effective, can come with drawbacks, like side effects. Sometimes, the side effects and other characteristics of medicine can be so unpleasant that medicine loses the intended effects. The disadvantages can leave patients between a rock and a hard place. At this point, turning to customized medication solutions through a process called compounding can be a game changer for patients. Custom medication aims to meet the patient’s needs, and a compounding pharmacy strives to make this happen.

The role of compounding

Most prescription medication is mass-produced by large pharmaceutical companies from around the world. These companies have set formulas and ingredients for each medication. The drugs come in specific forms and doses. While helpful for most users, specific individuals can struggle with unpleasant side effects. Compounding is creating a custom solution based on the patient’s needs. A compounding pharmacy has the expertise to recreate a drug using raw ingredients or combining several medicines into an easy-to-use solution. All patients do not need compounded solutions, as standard prescriptions are still effective. For those unique cases, however, there is finally an option to get treatment in a safe and healthy way.

It’s the dose you need

Mass-produced prescriptions come in standard doses, increasing in potency. The doses may not be suitable for some patients, like small children or the elderly. Compounding can recreate the drug with a dose that’s suitable for the intended patient. As a result, the patient will not be subject to severe side effects, leading to poor adherence or hospitalization. The specific dose not on the market can be just right for patients who can benefit from controlled medication.

All about form

Some medicines, while effective, may not come in easy-to-use forms. For instance, children and some adults have trouble swallowing pills due to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or dysphagia. The pharmaceutical company may only produce the medicine in pill form. With compounding, the pharmacist can create a new form, such as liquid, topical, or lozenge. When medicine is easier to take, the success rate increases. Patients also save money on medicine that’s difficult to consume, instead acquiring friendly options.

Overcoming allergies and sensitivities

Commercially produced drugs tend to contain dyes, preservatives, and inactive ingredients. While harmless to some, these compounds are the source of allergic reactions and gut sensitivities. About 5-10% of drug complications are due to allergic reactions, with some leading to hospitalization. Some patients are even unaware that disturbing allergies exist. Compounding the solution allows the pharmacist to remove dyes and other ingredients that may be the cause of the complication.

Discontinued medicine? No problem

Treatment for a chronic condition may require a long-term medicine regimen using specific drugs. Due to a lack of demand or supply chain factors, the medicine required may no longer be in circulation. Finding these drugs can cost patients thousands of dollars a year in additional medical costs. A medicine discontinued by the manufacturer can spell disaster for the patient without compounding. The pharmacy may not be able to replicate the drug for patent reasons but can create a similar solution with the necessary active ingredients. The patient can then get the best possible treatment at a competitive price.

Heal with custom medication

A custom medication solution is not for vanity purposes. Through compounding, pharmacists can create life-saving medicine that solves a multitude of medication adherence problems. Compounding helps avoid allergies, customizes doses, and can also change the medicine’s form. These benefits ensure patients get consistent treatment even when pharmaceutical manufacturers fail to produce medication that caters to these specific needs.