A compounding pharmacy or pharmaceutical pharmacy is a channel by which a physician orders customized medications or drugs for their patients. Drugs are mixed by a compounding pharmacist to tailor fit to the specific need or requirement of a patient. The medication is then dispensed to the patient together with proper counseling by the pharmacist so that it may be used effectively and safely by the user.

Pharmaceutical Compounding in Ancient Times

The early peoples such as hunter-gatherers were aware of the medicinal properties of wild plants, animals, fruits and vegetables that they used to survive in daily life. Ancient societies and civilizations extracted oils, poisons and antidotes which were used for various purposes like grooming, good health and vitality, treating the sick or even fixing and preparing the dead for preservation or burial. The oils were used to treat cuts and wounds while scented extracts were sold as perfumes. Early drug mixers made various preparations such as dyes, incense, cosmetics, and other preservatives. It was in the city Baghdad in 754 that the first pharmacies were established during the Islamic Golden Age. In the 12th century, the first drugstores opened in Europe.

Modern Age Pharmacy

The rapid development of compounding pharmacy in the 19th century brought about the production of synthetic dyes. In the 1800’s, opium (lachrymal papaveris) was compounded into opium tincture and powder to be used during the American Civil War for the purpose of anesthesia and pain relief. In the 20th century, government regulations were put in place in order to control the practice of medicine and required drug companies to come out in the market with safe products. It was in the early 1950s that compounding pharmacy has declined due to the mass production of drugs by big pharmaceutical companies.

Compounding Pharmacy Today

Pharmacists have formed associations in order to preserve the historical art of compounding and to achieve a positive therapeutic result or outcome for patients. The advent of drug production and manufacturing has greatly affected pharmaceutical compounding, but today’s modern technology has enabled pharmacists to effectively customize medications for the specific needs of patients. Compounding gives the physician flexible options on how to best treat the need of each individual.

Benefits of Compounding Pharmacy

There are many reasons why compounding pharmacy is still greatly relevant in the health system. Physicians encounter patients who require medications that are no longer commercially available, and therefore, compounding is ordered to meet this need. Individuals might be allergic to preservatives, dyes and other ingredients in brand-name drugs. The strength of dosage may be increased or decreased by compounding for a particular individual.

Compounded medications can come in many forms such as in nasal sprays, sterile compounds, nebulized form, gels, lozenges, lollipops, and liquids that could be suited to a patient’s personal taste. Most prescriptions can be compounded for any patient. Applications can include those for sinusitis, chronic pain management, dermatology, ophthalmic, sports medicine, infertility, pediatric, hormone therapy, gastroenterology and wound therapy. Custom compound medication can be used for medicated irrigation too, for respiratory conditions such as asthma and allergy attacks.

Ask your doctor about compounding pharmacy. Aggressive marketing of drug manufacturers is fierce in today’s modern society of quick-fixes and instant relief. Compounding pharmacy assures patients that pure-grade quality chemicals are used to treat them and are equally competitive, if not more effective, than brand-name drugs.