Facts about Compounding Pharmacies and Accreditation

What are Compounded Medications?

Compounded medications are prescriptions that are written by a physician, veterinarian or other legally authorized prescriber and prepared for an individual patient. They are not commercially available; rather, they are prepared by a pharmacist to meet an individual’s unique needs as determined by the prescriber.

Compounded medications are necessary for a variety of reasons. Examples include:

• When a child needs a dose smaller than the manufactured dose.
• When a patient cannot tolerate an inactive ingredient in a manufactured medicine.
• When a doctor believes a medicine is needed for his or her patient, but a manufacturer has discontinued the medicine for economic reasons.

Compounded medications are safe and effective treatment options for patients. Prescribers customize prescriptions for patients when they believe compounded medications are that patient’s best treatment option.