Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is compounding?
   The preparation, mixing, assembling, packaging, or labeling a drug or device as the result of a prescription or in anticipation of a prescription (based on routine, regularly observed prescribing patterns) in response to the patient, practitioner and pharmacist relationship in the course of professional practice.
    
2. Why is compounded medication needed?
   • allergies to preservatives, dyes or fillers
   • difficulty swallowing capsules or tablets (i.e. geriatric or pediatric patients)
   • sensitivity to standard drug strengths (i.e. renal patients)
   • dosage forms not commercially available
   • difficult to dose patients (i.e. children and pets)
      
3. Do all pharmacies compound?
   Because compounding requires expensive specialized equipment and extensive training in modern compounding techniques, most pharmacies do not compound.
    
4. What is the difference between commercially available medication and compounded medication?
   With commercially available medications, the drug is produced with no specific patient in mind. It limits the prescriber to matching the available product to the patient. Whereas, with compounded medications, the formula matches the patient’s needs. The drug can be prepared in the most effective dosage and strength.
    
5. Do I need to have a prescription from my doctor for a compound?
   Compounded medications do require a prescription from the doctor or veterinarian. Compounding pharmacists have the unique opportunity to develop a special relationship with the patients they serve, working with the doctor to solve problems that manufactured dosage forms do not address.
    
6. Do you take insurance or other discount prescription cards?
   Since our scope of practice is different from other retail pharmacies, we do not participate in any insurance or third party plans. We will be happy to provide a universal claim form for compounded medications for you to submit to your insurance company. All insurance plans are different, so please contact your insurance company for questions regarding your coverage with compounded prescriptions.