Compounding without Compromise. There are several reasons why pharmacists compound
prescription medications; yet, the most important
one is patient non-compliance. Many patients are allergic
to preservatives or dyes, or are sensitive to standard
drug strengths. With a physician's consent, a compounding
pharmacist can change the strength of a medication,
alter its form to make it easier for the patient to
ingest, and add flavor to it to make it more palatable.
The pharmacist also can prepare the medication using
several unique delivery systems, such as a sublingual
troche or lozenge, a lollipop, or a transdermal gel.
Or, for those patients who are having a difficult
time swallowing a capsule, a compounding pharmacist
can make a suspension instead.
Often parents have a tough time getting their children
to take their medicine because of the taste. A compounding
pharmacist can work directly with the physician and
the patient to select a flavoring agent, such as vanilla
butternut or tutti-frutti, that provides both an appropriate
match for the medication's properties and the patient's
taste preferences. Compounding pharmacists also have
helped patients who are experiencing chronic pain.
For example, arthritic patients who cannot take certain
medications due to gastro intestinal side effects.
Working with their physician, a compounding pharmacist
can provide them with a topical preparation with the
anti-inflammatory or analgesic their doctor prescribed
for them.
Meeting Patient & Practitioner Needs
Compounders focus on meeting special needs. This may
involve compounding height/weight-appropriate pediatric
medications, injections for impotency, medications
for veterinarians in a variety of dosage forms and
flavors, alternatives in hormone replacement therapy,
or dosage options, such as transdermal gels, when
treating hospice patients. The ultimate goal in preparing
any of these customized medications is to help the
physician and patient achieve a more positive therapeutic
outcome.
Don’t take shortcuts on your medication...
For nearly three decades, Martin Avenue Pharmacy has
been customizing medication, with a strict adherence
to a "no shortcuts" philosophy, and a "no
compromise" attitude toward quality. Continually
utilizing the latest in both technological innovations
and compounding procedures, Martin Avenue Pharmacy
has become recognized by many as the "compounder
of choice" from the East coast to the West.
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