A recent episode of "Oprah" featured Judith Reichman, M.D., a gynecologist who teaches and practices at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Reichman wrote and co-hosted the PBS series "Straight Talk on Menopause," has served as keynote speaker for the American Heart Association, and is the author of "I’m Too Young to Get Old - Health Care for Women After Forty." She discussed the use of transdermal testosterone ointment in treating women with libido problems, and stated that this medication must be compounded by a "formulating pharmacy."

This show has prompted many calls and questions to our pharmacy and my colleagues across the country who are specially trained in the art of extemporaneous compounding and are knowledgeable about natural hormone replacement therapy. Natural HRT involves the use of bio-identical plant derived hormones and means that the chemical makeup of the replacement is exactly the same as what a woman’s body naturally produces. These natural hormones are almost entirely without the side effects of the synthetic or semisynthetic HRT drugs, which do not serve as a suitable precursor to produce the full range of other hormones which are need for the body to function at full potential. Various dosage forms and doses can be compounded to meet the specific needs of each woman.

Not all pharmacists "count, pour, lick and stick." There are some, approximately 2,500 in the U.S., who customize dosage forms for individual patient needs. These pharmacists alter existing dosage forms or prepare medications from scratch. Testosterone ointment is one medication prepared from scratch because it is not commercially available. The market is too small to provide economic incentive to a pharmaceutical manufacturer to seek FDA approval for this medication. Compounding pharmacists also alter commercially available medications for many reasons. For instance in the hospice setting, medications are prepared in topical creams instead of capsules for those patients who cannot swallow.

IF YOU’RE ENVISIONING MORTARS WITH PESTLES SPINNING IN THEM,
YOU’VE GOT THE PICTURE!

Our pharmacy is here to fill the void of information about natural hormone replacement therapy. Your questions are welcome and feel free to pick up one of our newsletters or brochures on Hormone Replacement Therapy when you are in Martin Avenue Pharmacy Inc.