When Are Compounded Medications Used?

Compounded medications are not intended to replace commercially available products when those products are appropriate. They are used in specific clinical situations where a standard medication does not meet a particular patient's needs, as determined by a licensed prescriber.

Common reasons a prescriber may consider compounding

There are several clinical situations in which a prescriber may direct a compounded medication:

**Dosage strength not commercially available** A patient may require a specific strength that is not manufactured commercially. In this case, a compounding pharmacy can prepare the required strength based on the prescriber's direction.

**Alternative dosage form needed** A patient may have difficulty swallowing tablets and require a liquid formulation, or a prescriber may determine that a topical form is more appropriate than an oral one. Compounding allows for preparation in the required form.

**Specific combination not commercially available** Sometimes a prescriber may determine that a specific combination of ingredients is clinically appropriate for a patient, but that combination is not manufactured commercially.

**Discontinued commercial product** Occasionally a medication that was commercially available is discontinued. In some cases, compounding can provide a continued source based on a prescriber's direction and a clinical assessment of appropriateness.

The role of the prescriber

The decision to use a compounded medication is always made by a licensed prescriber. Your doctor, specialist, or other qualified healthcare provider will assess whether compounding is appropriate for your specific situation. ACP Pharmacy prepares compounded medications based on valid prescriptions and does not recommend compounding without prescriber direction.

Questions to ask your healthcare provider

If you are curious about whether a compounded medication might be appropriate for you, consider asking your prescriber:

• Is there a commercially available medication that meets my needs?
• Is compounding appropriate for my specific situation?
• What are the reasons for choosing a compounded formulation?
• What are the alternatives?

ACP Pharmacy can also answer questions about the compounding process itself. Contact our team for more information.