People would go to their local pharmacies to get their medications as prescribed by their attending physicians. While most people think that all pharmacies are the same, this is not actually true.

There are different types of pharmacies with different specializations. For instance, many are familiar with community pharmacies (retail) and hospital pharmacies, but there are also industrial pharmacies that focus on research and production, ambulatory care pharmacies that provide healthcare services in rural areas, and regulatory pharmacies that work with creating rules and regulations for using or administering medicine. Moreover, there are compounding pharmacies where a compounding pharmacist customizes medications to fit the unique needs of a patient, adding another layer of personalized care to the pharmacy profession.

Distinguishing a Compounding Pharmacy

Less known are compounding pharmacies. According to customcompounding.com.au, these are the ones that produce and prepare medication in new forms, taking into account the needs of the patients. Their work may include reformulating tablets to turn into solutions. Because patients have different and unique needs, customizing medications are integral in their work.

Upon deciding the needs of patients, practicing physicians and specialists may call for compounded medication, especially if these medications are not available commercially, not particularly stable, or if they need to be altered from the commercial version (such as a different dosage, or allergic reactions to certain ingredients).

Compounding pharmacies can do both sterile and non-sterile compounding.

– Sterile compounding – done in a sterile environment that is free from microorganisms, usually for medications that will be administered into the eye or intravenously (IV).

– Non-sterile compounding – done in a safe and clean, but not necessarily sterile environment, usually for oral medication such as pills and tablets, or for topical solutions like ointments.

Compounding Facilities and Equipment

Accredited compounding pharmacies are required to have a designated space to place their equipment, facilities, and materials for compounding activities. The pharmacist is responsible for this area, including the maintenance, cleanliness, and use of the equipment involved.

Different drugs can be compounded, which is why there is a wide range of equipment and materials necessary for this process. Some of them include the following:

– Compounding hood – a piece of equipment that prevents particles from entering or leaving a work area, similar to a vent fan for the cooking stove. This is used mainly for sterile compounding.

– Balance scales – used to weigh materials and to ensure proper amounts of ingredients.

– Measuring materials – flasks, beakers, and graduated cylinders are used to measure liquid materials.

Pharmacist and Staffing

Licensed and proficient pharmacists are responsible for inspecting and approving all components of the compounding activity. More than reformulating medication, they are also responsible for sterile preparation of the drugs and keeping records to ensure no error occurred in the process, Other responsibilities include the following:

– Providing drug searches on specific chemicals and alternative dosage forms
– Providing follow-up information upon the practitioner’s request, and
– Consulting with the practitioner regarding dosages and other healthcare concerns.

As for the pharmacy’s staffing, only authorized personnel is allowed within the immediate vicinity of the compounding operation. Individuals with illnesses or open lesions should not be allowed in the area as they could jeopardize the preparation

Ingredient Standards

Pharmacists use chemicals and materials for compounding prescriptions. While these chemicals were obtained from natural preparations and raw materials in the past, these days they use chemicals from different sources. Pharmacies must source their ingredients with acceptable strength, quality, and purity as approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia’s version of the DFA).

This said, the ingredients used for compounding should be from high-quality ingredients and should meet at least a USP/NF chemical grade (minimum purity standard) and other high-quality chemical grades and primary standards.

To avoid contamination of these ingredients, pharmacists are also required to use personal protective equipment, including gloves, goggles, and masks. This not only ensures the purity of the product but also helps protect the pharmacist from potentially dangerous drug materials as well.

Product Quality Standard and Improvement

Before a pharmacist could dispense a prescription, he or she should make sure that the medication is accurate and complete by reviewing each step of the preparation. In the review, the pharmacist should look out for the following:

– Appropriate ingredients, adjuvants, and equipment for certain preparations,
– Accurate measurements of each chemical with the correct calculations for dosages, using functioning equipment, and
– The Correct formulation for the drug’s intended use to ensure effectiveness and stability of the preparation.
– Review the compounding steps to ensure that they faithfully followed the documented formulation and uniformity of the content.

There are a lot of qualities and a fair number of regulations to comply with when putting up a compounding pharmacy, which is why you need to ensure safety by obtaining your custom prescriptions from licensed and accredited pharmacies in Australia.