What Is the Difference Between a Pharmacy and a Compounding Pharmacy?
If you have a prescription that needs to be filled, chances are, you headed to your nearest pharmacy to obtain your prescription. But when you need a customized prescription to meet your individual needs, a traditional pharmacy may not be able to provide you with the medication you need.
That’s where a compounding pharmacy can be a great option. You can learn more about how traditional pharmacies work and the differences between traditional pharmacies and compounding pharmacies by reading on.
How Pharmacies Work
These days, most traditional pharmacies are found at retail stores or healthcare facilities. After a physician prescribes a specific medication, the patient brings their prescription to the pharmacy and the pharmacist is then responsible for dispensing the medication, warning the patient of any risks, answering any questions the patient might have, and advising them accordingly.
Most prescriptions at your local pharmacy won’t take long to fill because the pharmacy already carries some of the most frequently prescribed medications in specific dosages.
For example, one prescription that is quite common is Zoloft, which is used to treat depression. The standard dosage for Zoloft (also known as sertraline) is 50 mg per day. This would be one pill taken once daily by the patient.
But let’s say that a child was prescribed Zoloft. It may not be safe for the child to consume 50 mg per day. But because that is the standard dose, the pharmacy may not be able to fill the prescription. Fortunately, that is precisely what compounding pharmacies are for.
Responsibilities of Compounding Pharmacies
Compounding pharmacies are different from traditional pharmacies in that they specialize in combining and formulating drugs already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to customize it to a patient’s individual needs.
For example, maybe a patient needs a lower dose of a specific medication, but that drug is available only in certain dosages. Compounding pharmacies can work with the drug to adjust the dosage so the patient can still benefit from its use.
Compounding pharmacies can also provide options to patients in terms of how they take the prescription medication. Some patients are unable to take drugs in capsule form, and may see greater benefits from taking it as a cream, gel, injectable, tablet, lollipop, liquid, or sublingual drop.
What sets compounding pharmacies apart from traditional pharmacies is the dedication to serving patients as individuals rather than treating them en masse, which may not be as effective.
Contact a Compounding Pharmacy in New York
If you believe that a compounding pharmacy is the best way to fill your unique prescription, reach out to New York compounding pharmacy, The Healthy Choice. We can be reached through the convenient contact form included at the bottom of this page or by phone at 914-238-1700 to discuss your questions or concerns regarding your prescription medication needs.