What To Know About Compounding Pharmacy In Ocala FL

By Susan Jackson


Pharmaceutical compounding refers to the preparation of drugs in a pharmacy by a licensed pharmacist. This is often done so as to ensure that the prepared drug meets personal needs of a patient. This is usually done for individuals and not the public. The need for compounding arises when an individual cannot use a commercially-available version of a drug because of their own specific needs. As such, compounding addresses the needs of individual people or a small group of people with similar needs. Here are some facts worth knowing about compounding pharmacy in Ocala FL.

Compounding pharmacies compound drugs for use by patients. Pharmacists that compound drugs must be licensed by the state and federal authorities. Compounded drugs are often customized in various ways. First, having the dosage of the compounded drug varied is a form of customization. The dosage may be varied by being increased or reduced.

Another form of customization comes in the form of changing flavor of the drug. This is a procedure done for pets and children in most cases. When the flavor is changed, the drug becomes more palatable to pets and children, making it easier for them to take it. Thirdly, customization can be achieved through exclusion of certain ingredients. Such ingredients are usually unwanted and nonessential. They may include lactose, dyes, and gluten.

Unwanted components are usually excluded because they cause allergic reaction to patients. As such, by excluding them, the patient can use the drug without risking adverse allergic reaction. Lastly, drugs are compounded to change their form. For instance, a drug may be compounded so that its form is changed from solid tablets to liquid. This may be necessary in cases where a patient has problems swallowing tablets but is more comfortable with taking liquids.

Physical characteristics of compounded drugs can be changed completely. For instance, it is possible to change tablets into flavored liquids, topical creams, suppositories, and transdermal gels. When compounding, the pharmacist must ensure that they are not making replicas of the drug that is available commercially. This is often illegal and culprits are subject to criminal charges.

Compounding is a crucial part of training for pharmacists. They are trained to compound drugs using simple tools like ointment slabs, mortars and pestles, weighing scales, graduated cylinder, and spatulas among others. A specific purpose is served by each of these tools. Drugs are only compounded under a prescription of a doctor. As such, patients cannot be given compounded preparations without a prescription.

This field is under the regulation of state board of pharmacy in the US. Practitioners are supervised by state and federal authorities. Strict laws and standards govern the entire process and work activities. Similar laws also apply to the type of preparations that pharmacies are allowed to produce.

Components such as food ingredients and dietary supplements as well as the purity, strength, and quality of the preparations are subject to standards and laws. The purpose of the standards and laws is to ensure that consumers have access to quality drugs. Revocation of license and possible jail time or heavy fines are some of the punishments that pharmacists who do not follow set laws are subjected to.




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