Past medical knowledge meets future technology

What is compounding?

Compounding is the process of mixing drugs by a pharmacist or physician to fit the unique needs of a patient. This may be done for medically necessary reasons, such as to change the form of the medication from a solid pill to a liquid, to avoid a non-essential ingredient that the patient is allergic to, or to obtain the exact dose needed. It may also be done for voluntary reasons, such as adding favorite flavors to a medication.

Why is compounding important?

Compounding gives physicians the ability to prescribe an individually compounded medication for a patient with an unusual health need. This allows the physician to tailor a prescription to each individual. Compounding preparations are especially prevalent for:

Patients requiring limited dosage strengths, such as a very small dose for infants

Patients requiring a different dosage form, such as turning a pill into a liquid or transdermal gel

Patients requiring an allergen-free medication, such as one without gluten or colored dyes

Patients who need drugs that have been discontinued by pharmaceutical manufacturers

Patients who are taking bioidentical hormone replacement therapy

Children who want flavored additives in liquid drugs, usually so that the medication tastes like candy or fruit

Veterinary medicine, usually for a change in dose