Need Some Medicine? 3 Reasons To Head To The Compounding Pharmacy Instead
If you suffer from an ongoing medical condition, you might feel pre-programmed to head to your local drug store to fill your prescriptions. Although you have to remind your pharmacist time and time again what you need and how to spell your last name, you might feel like those grocery store pharmacies are your only option. Fortunately, compounding pharmacies, also called apothecaries, offer prescription drug services you can't find anywhere else. Here are three reasons you should head to your local compounding pharmacy or a site like http://www.pottershouserx.com next time instead of that place on the corner.
1: Compounding Pharmacists Receive Additional Training
After reading a classic novel, you might wonder what happened to those jolly little shops where pharmacists created drugs from scratch behind the counter. These days, traditional pharmacies order bulk quantities of drugs directly from pharmaceutical companies, and pharmacy techs mostly focus on putting the right number of pills into orange vials.
However, compounding pharmacies add a little old-school touch to filling your medications. In addition to attending traditional pharmacy school, compounding pharmacists also receive special training for how to mix and administer medications. To keep you happy and comfortable, compounding pharmacists also study how different drugs react with hormone replacement therapies and lifestyle choices.
Compounding pharmacies are still regulated by state boards and checked for quality assurance, so that you won't have to worry about your pharmacist going rogue. Instead, compounding pharmacists can offer you deep insights about your medications, so that you can make better healthcare decisions.
2: You Will Receive Friendly, Personalized Care
When you visit traditional pharmacies, you might hear "Next," and "Please stay behind the line" more than a few times. In an effort to hurry people through, many regular pharmacy staff members can sound a little frank and impersonal when they meet with patients. However, if you are looking for a pharmacy with a friendly, personalized touch, you should try your local apothecary.
Unlike many traditional pharmacy staff members, compounding pharmacists think of the big picture when it comes to your healthcare. Instead of simply filling your prescription and sending you on your way, compounding pharmacists will sit down with you, discuss your symptoms, and talk with you about your treatment goals.
If your compounding pharmacist hears about a problem, he or she might take the time to call your doctor and discuss alternative options. For example, if you get headaches when you take those pain pills for your back, your compounding pharmacist might talk with your doctor about recommending physical therapy to alleviate your symptoms instead. By working with your compounding pharmacist, you can develop a multi-faceted approach to your treatment.
3: Compounding Pharmacists Can Customize Your Medication
What will you do if your Crohn's Disease medication gets discontinued? Although your doctor might recommend a similar drug, it isn't always easy to switch treatment regimens. Fortunately, compounding pharmacists can mix and match existing medications to create a formulation customized especially for you. Here are a few ways they can help:
- Flavor: Do you have a rough time wolfing down that medication that only comes in liquid form? Your compounding pharmacist might be able to mix in special flavorings to make the concoction more palatable.
- Dosage: Sometimes, doctors accidentally prescribe dosages that aren't commercially available. Although that 50mg tablet might be commonplace at the hospital, it might not be anywhere in sight at your local pharmacy. Fortunately, compound pharmacists can create customized capsules with the dosage you need.
- Allergies: If you are allergic to certain dyes or binding agents, then you know how devastating it can be to discover that the medicine you need is chock full of ingredients you can't take. However, an apothecary can create custom mixes to alleviate your symptoms, without causing collateral damage.
By taking advantage of the services offered by your local compounding pharmacy, you might be able to enjoy fewer side effects, and make a new friend.