How to Choose the Right Compounding Pharmacy
After using a typical pharmacy to pick up your prescriptions for most of your life, you may have now been asked by your doctor to seek a prescription from a compounding pharmacy. You may get the treatment you need there. But what is a compounding pharmacy?
If you’re not sure where to go or why you need a compounding pharmacy, it’s best to get peace of mind before you pick up your medication. Here’s what you can expect from a compounding pharmacy.
Categories of Compounding Pharmacies
In simple terms, a compounding pharmacy it’s a type of pharmacy that makes customizable medications based on your individual needs. In contrast, a commercial pharmacy makes commercial medication that has been mass-produced for the general public.
In the United States, there are two categories of compounding pharmacies: 503A compounding pharmacies and 503B compounding pharmacies. Both types of compounding pharmacies are allowed to make medications based on your doctor’s prescription.
The key difference is that 503B compounding pharmacies can also compound sterile medications. In addition, 503B pharmacies can sell these medications to health care providers such as hospitals.
How to Choose the Right Compounding Pharmacy
Choosing the right pharmacy is already tough. If you’re unfamiliar with what these pharmacies can provide, it can get more complex and confusing. Luckily, there are ways to determine whether you have the right compounding pharmacy for you. Check them out below.
PCAB Accredited
If your pharmacy has accreditation from the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board, it means that it complies with all regulatory requirements.
Compounds such as sterile compounds need to be prepared using established protocols to avoid infections. If the pharmacy is PCAB accredited, you are in the right pharmacy.
Well-Trained Staff
The compounding pharmacy you choose should have well-trained pharmacists with relevant compounding certificates.
Some of the training that they should have gone through include comprehensive sterile compounding training, veterinary compounding essentials training, and fundamental compounding pharmacy law training. These pharmacists can provide you with the right prescriptions and any information you need about your medicine.
Quality Ingredients
Each ingredient must have a certificate of analysis. This is because the chemical composition of one element will vary from another. If the medication does not have the recommended chemical formulation, it can be disastrous.
Time Frame for Medication Production
Another way to know whether the compounding pharmacy is good for you is to consider the time frame it takes for them to make your medicine. A good pharmacy should create your medicine in a timely and reasonable timeframe. The pharmacy should also accommodate urgent orders because some medications tend to be more urgent than others.
Easy-to-Use Communication Channels
The right pharmacy for you should have good channels of communication. This means that your doctor can quickly call the compounding pharmacy and that the pharmacy can call the doctor to clarify your prescription.
Get in Touch With a Compounding Pharmacy
If you’re looking for a compounding pharmacy that will not compromise quality and your health, visit The Healthy Choice. Our pharmacists are here to help you, starting with a free consultation about your medication. You can get in touch with us by calling 914-238-1700 or completing the online contact form below.