Phil Altman, R.Ph., Compounding Pharmacist, explains: What is Compounding?

• What  is it?
• Compounding is the original way the practice of pharmacy started. The physician told the pharmacist what they wanted and the pharmacist prepared it for that patient. Then around the 1940s when penicillin and sulfa preparations became commercially available, Big Pharma was created. Those preparations were manufactured on a very large scale. Big Pharma patented these products so only they could produce them. As the pharmaceutical industry grew compounding started to become a seldom used part of the health care system. Unless you were allergic to something in the medication such as the dye, gluten, or needed a special dose, there was no need to compound.
• Who does it?
• As the technology has increased and the ability to use chemicals became more available in a form that you could use in a compound, the practice has grown. Now there are schools that just teach compounding, proper technique, and the ability to purchase the equipment needed to make consistent high quality products. Having the knowledge and the ability to troubleshoot are the compounder’s best friend. Everyone here at The Healthy Choice Compounding Pharmacy are members of IACP and PCCA and are graduates of  The National Association of Compounding Pharmacists. We also send our products out for additional testing to be sure our customers are receiving the same high level quality product every time. We only buy our chemicals from the best companies. Quality and consistency are our hallmarks.
• How does it affect me?
• We have the ability to customize your medications. Your child can have his or her medication made into gummy bear form, creating a much more enjoyable experience. We have the ability to customize doseage forms. We can make a 1 milligram dose of a medication that commercially only comes in 10mg.
• Compounding affords the patient to have a customized prescription for their individual needs.

“We make the medication fit the patient,
Not the patient fit the medication”

Phil Altman, R.Ph.,
Compounding Pharmacist

Find out more about: The Healthy Choice Compounding Pharmacy

Related articles:

BlueCross BlueShield Association; “Compounding Drug Information”

Scott Robison’s Rx, Inc. “Why Compound”