What are compounded medications?

Compounded medications are created by mixing individual ingredients in the exact strength and dosage as prescribed by a physician to form a personalized medication. Preparation is essential to creating compounded medications, as a pharmacist must ensure that all of the ingredients used will be chemically stable together and function properly according to the dosage form prescribed.

Why would I need a compounded medication?

There are many reasons why a compounded medication may be the best treatment of choice:

• A patient may need a medication that is no longer manufactured or temporarily unavailable.
• A commercial product may not be available in a particular dosage form that is needed. For instance, a child may not be able to swallow a tablet, but the antibiotic the child needs is not available as a liquid.
• A patient needs a dose that is not commercially available.
• A commercial product may have ingredients that a patient is allergic to or cannot tolerate.
• A pet needs a medication flavored or in a new dosage form so they will take their medicine.
• Occasionally, patients have unique needs that commercial products simply do not meet. We can work closely with your physician to create a completely custom medication that combines just the right ingredients at the right strength to meet your unique needs.

Are compounded medications safe?

Compounded medications are regulated by both the Alabama State Board of Pharmacy and the FDA. The Alabama State Board of Pharmacy and FDA have specific rules that pharmacies must follow regarding who can compound, the procedures they must follow, the quality of equipment and chemicals used, the records that must be kept, and the construction of the compounding room. Pharmacies are regularly inspected to ensure they are upholding these guidelines and regulations.

Double Oak Mountain Pharmacy places the safety of our patients and the quality of our compounds as a top priority that cannot be compromised. We only use chemicals that have been certified by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and keep certificates of analysis for all chemicals on-hand. We also follow strict USP 795 and USP 800 guidelines which provide rules for good compounding practices.