Wedgewood Pharmacy: U.S. Court of Appeals Vacates ...(nt is different and has different needs ...),Health

The basis of the profession of pharmacy has always been the "triad," the patient-physician-pharmacist relationship. Compounding is extremely important to the veterinary community, which often requires more flavors, dosages and strengths than commercially available medications supply. Through this relationship, patient needs are determined by a doctor, who chooses a treatment regimen that may include a compounded medication. Physicians and veterinarians often prescribe compounded medications for reasons that include (but are not limited to) the following situations:

-- When needed medications are discontinued by or generally unavailable

from pharmaceutical companies, often because the medications are no

longer profitable to manufacture;

-- When the patient is allergic to certain preservatives, dyes or binders

in available off-the shelf medications;

-- When treatment requires tailored dosage strengths for patients with

unique needs (for example, an infant);

-- When a pharmacist can combine several medications the patient is taking

to increase compliance;

-- When the patient cannot ingest the medication in its commercially

available form and a pharmacist can prepare the medication in cream,

liquid or other form that the patient can easily take; and

-- When medications require flavor additives to make them more palatable

for some patients, most often children and pets.

For additional information, visit the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists' Web site at http://www.iacprx.org and http://www.compoundingfacts.org.

Marcy Kelly David Kirk, APR, Fellow PRSA

Vice
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