What is compounding and what do you do?

What is Compounding?

A compounded medication is prepared by a pharmacist from scratch using raw materials to customize a medication per a physician's written prescription.  The resulting medication is referred to as a "compound".  Due to the individualized nature of this medication, we can eliminate the "one size fits all" pitfall for patients who have not responded to commercially available medication.  Making the ideal compound requires a close relationship between the patient, doctor and pharmacist.  Quality control is crucial when compounding medications.  Professional Village Pharmacy (PVP) meets or exceeds standards for providing accurate compounded medications.
What are the benefits of compounding?

• Custom  Formulations
  The patient and the health care provider can create their own treatment protocol using any delivery system they choose.  As medication needs change or side effects occur, practitioners can fine-tune the dosage of compounded medications for optimal treatment.
  
• Dosage Variation ( Strength and / or Form)
  Often times, a customary dosage form (tablet or capsule) is not compatible with the patient ( i.e. child or animal unable to swallow a pill ).  For those patients, we can convert medication to other dosage forms such as liquids, creams, gels, and suppositories.
  
• Preservative Free and Allergy Free Formulations
  Compound medications can be created without the excipients and preservatives found in most commercial preparations.  Suitable replacements free of preservatives, sugar, starch, yeast and color are used in formulating your individual compound.
  
• Discontinued Medications
  Medications are voluntarily pulled from the marketplace each and every year due to lack of profitability.  A compounded medication may be possible.

Is a Prescription required?

Yes, a prescription is required.  The individual ingredients may or may not be restricted prescriptions items, however, anything compounded must be prescribed.
Will my insurance cover compounded medications?

With the added benefit of individualized medications comes the added challenge of working with an insurance company who often times base their "rules" on the masses.  At PVP, we will do our best to help you determine if coverage is available to you.
How long will it take to make my compounded medication?

We ask that you please allow up to 7 days for us to formulate your individualized medications.  This allows us the flexibility to compound high need, same day medications ahead of a standard refill where a patient is capable of calling in advance.