Human Medications, Human Drugs, Animal Medications, Animal Drugs, Pharmacy law, Pharmaceutical law, Compounding law, Sterile and Non Sterile Compounding 797 Compliance, Veterinary law, Veterinary
Compounding Law; Health Care; Awareness of all Types of Compounding Issues;
Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), Outsourcing Facilities
Food and Drug Administration and Compliance Issues
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
OMG...comments from a MD who understands.what is going on....in the veterinary world!!
Kenneth Woliner, MD said...
Oh my God!
1. Itraconazole (Sporanox) cannot be absorbed
without a special patented technology (the metabolite mentioned in the
post). Any veterinarian / physician who prescribes itraconazole should
know this, and NEVER prescribe compounded Itraconazole. Every pharmacist
should know this, and never fill a prescription for oral forms of
compounded Itraconazole.
2. Fluconazole (Diflucan) is available
generically in 100 mg, 150 mg, and 200 mg sizes. Why is Pet Health
Pharmacy (and perhaps Roadrunner Pharmacy) filling it at 148 mg or 152
mg sized capsules? ONE REASON: It is illegal to compound a commercially
available prescription for price reasons alone. The 2 mg difference
either way is not clinically significant. The only reason to make such
an "odd number" sized capsule, is to use as a legal defense when a
patient (human or animal) has a complication and the Board of Pharmacy
brings charges against you for compounding a drug for PROFIT REASONS
alone, when a commercially available product was available.
Pharmacies that play these games - are ones that I avoid.
1. Itraconazole (Sporanox) cannot be absorbed without a special patented technology (the metabolite mentioned in the post). Any veterinarian / physician who prescribes itraconazole should know this, and NEVER prescribe compounded Itraconazole. Every pharmacist should know this, and never fill a prescription for oral forms of compounded Itraconazole.
2. Fluconazole (Diflucan) is available generically in 100 mg, 150 mg, and 200 mg sizes. Why is Pet Health Pharmacy (and perhaps Roadrunner Pharmacy) filling it at 148 mg or 152 mg sized capsules? ONE REASON: It is illegal to compound a commercially available prescription for price reasons alone. The 2 mg difference either way is not clinically significant. The only reason to make such an "odd number" sized capsule, is to use as a legal defense when a patient (human or animal) has a complication and the Board of Pharmacy brings charges against you for compounding a drug for PROFIT REASONS alone, when a commercially available product was available.
Pharmacies that play these games - are ones that I avoid.
Kenneth Woliner, MD