What is Compounding Medication?
A compounding medication can be described as a medicinal drug mainly formulated for individuals who require personalized medication. The compounding pharmacist combines various active ingredients in small quantities to make a compounding remedy.
Here are 5 medical situations that call for the usage of compounded medications:
1. Newborn Infants or Children:
Newborn infants and young children’s bodies are extremely sensitive, they need special care when administering medicines. In the case of neonatal and preemie care, they need customized medication, as infants’ livers and kidneys are not developed enough to process medicines effectively. Compounding medication allows the pediatrician to prescribe tailored made medicinal combinations for each child’s medicinal needs. Compounding also allows them to increase or decrease the dosage of the medication, add flavors in them and change the form of medication.
2. Patients Over 70:
Like babies and children, elderly patients have special medical needs. They are usually more sensitive to side effects and complications, especially to commercially available drugs. This is simply because the aging body must first work harder to get rid of drugs. People with dementia and cognitive impairment may also benefit from changing the dosage form, especially if they cannot or do not want to swallow. Compounding helps medicines to be tailored made for each individual patient’s need and prepared in the form of creams, injections, liquid, capsules, patches, etc.
3. Allergies or Sensitivities
One of the most common complex diseases requiring medical treatment is allergies and hypersensitivity reactions. Although most commercially available drugs have been tested to cause a reaction in as few people as possible, the possibility of allergic reactions and hypersensitivity reactions still exists. The reaction can be as simple as mild itching or a complex allergic reaction. In either case, treatment can become dangerous and undesirable.
Through compounding, the pharmacist can remove unpleasant aids or additives and break down the medicine making it safer, reliable, and less likely to trigger an allergic response. In some cases, allergy sufferers can also benefit from the combination of certain drugs and anti-allergens. Dermatological compounding medications are becoming increasingly popular among and doctors and patients due to their advantages over other commercially available medicines.
4. Breastfeeding Mothers:
Treating breastfeeding mothers for health-related problems is not always easy. Doctors often try to find a treatment that prevents or restricts the drug from entering the bloodstream and thus into breast milk. Compounding helps doctors to change the dosage format rather than the medicine. For example, customized medication in the form of topical cream or patches can be beneficial without affecting the systemic circulation.
5. Hospice and End-of-Life Care
Patients who need both hospice and end-of-life care require a treatment method that is different from daily patient care. Although the fear of addiction or sedatives may be real for patients who will survive their illness, it is not a problem for patients who are dying. Therefore, the dose is usually increased to a level that makes the patient feel comfortable without causing additional illness. Compounded medications for end-of-life care addresses issues by providing whatever dosage the patient needs in whatever format he or she requires.