Today, the vast majority of medications are mass-produced by pharmaceutical drug companies. They are designed to treat specific medical conditions for a large segment of people.
But, what happens when a patient has a medical condition that can't be treated by one of these mass-produced pills?
For example, someone might be allergic to a dye in a commercial tablet, or a child may not be able to take a medication if the capsule is too large, or the dose is too high.
These are the situations where pharmacists and pharmacies that perform compounding can play a vital role in helping healthcare practitioners find appropriate treatments for their patients.
A recent meningitis outbreak from contaminated compounded drugs raises questions about what compounding pharmacies do and how they are regulated?
Many people, even nurses and other healthcare professionals, may not realize the important role compounded medications play in their everyday lives. In fact, any time a nurse mixes two medicines to give to a patient on the floor, that's a compound.
Even the act of splitting tablets or reconstituting antibiotic liquid for a child is considered compounding. This article seeks to clear up some of the confusion.
1 comment:
Under 503A, the following are not considered "compounded drugs," requiring conditions be met for exemption to provisions of the FFDCA, if they are prepared/mixed according to a manufacturer's label:
"In fact, any time a nurse mixes two medicines to give to a patient on the floor, that's a compound [maybe, maybe not].
Even the act of splitting tablets [definitely not] or reconstituting antibiotic liquid for a child is considered compounding" [if an approved dosage form, definitely not].
And if "This article seeks to clear up some of the confusion," it should make these clarifications. But if the article is for the sole purpose of marketing the industry, game on!
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