What is compounding?

Compounding is the preparation of a customized medication for an individual patient when a commercially available product does not meet that patient’s needs. A compounded prescription may use a different strength, dosage form, flavor, base, or combination of ingredients based on the prescriber’s order and the patient’s specific situation.

Why might a medication need to be compounded?

Compounding may be appropriate when a patient needs a strength or dosage form that is not commercially available, has difficulty swallowing tablets or capsules, requires a different route of administration, needs certain inactive ingredients avoided, or needs a medication that is temporarily unavailable or no longer manufactured.

What can be compounded?

  • Custom strengths, combination of active ingredients, selection of inert ingredients, non-gelatin capsule options, non-commercially available active ingredients

  • Customized concentrations, flavors, and vehicles. Non-commercially available products.

  • Patient-specific topical preparations and bases.

  • Medicated lozenges designed to dissolve in the mouth.

  • Rectal or vaginal dosage forms when a non-oral route is preferred or when targeting therapy to that area of the body.

  • Customized nasal sprays or solutions when prescribed.

  • Compounded sterile eye drops prepared for patient-specific prescriptions.

  • Patient-specific sterile compounded preparations when prescribed.

  • Customized strengths, flavors, and dosage forms for animal patients.

How does compounding work?

A compounded medication starts with a prescription from a licensed prescriber. The pharmacy reviews the prescription, selects an appropriate formulation and ingredients, prepares the medication, performs the required quality checks, and dispenses it with patient-specific labeling and counseling.

  • Your prescriber sends us a prescription for a customized medication

  • The pharmacist reviews the prescribed strength, dosage form, ingredients, and intended use.

  • The medication is compounded according to the prescription and pharmacy procedures, then checked before dispensing.

  • You receive the medication with instructions for use, storage, and any other important information.