Compounding Pharmacists

Most of us are used to picking up prescriptions from the local Walgreen's or CVS.  But you won't find a compounding pharmacist working there.  In fact, they can be pretty hard to find, but well worth the effort.  The International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists’ website may be helpful in finding one in your local area.

Why Do I Need a Compounding Pharmacist?
You may not.  If you’re not allergic to any foods, binders, fillers, or preservatives your local pharmacy will be just fine.  But whether we know it or not, many of us have unique health care needs and allergies that can not be covered by the off-the-shelf (pre-manufactured) prescription medications available at our local pharmacy.  In some cases these pre-manufactured medications can cause more harm than good.


That’s when a compounding pharmacist is essential.  They are trained, licensed pharmacists who specialize in personalized medication solutions.  Prescriptions are mixed based on the specific requirement of the patient.  For example, a person who is allergic to certain binders or fillers common in pre-manufactured medications can have their medications prepared without these by the skillful hands of a compounding pharmacist.

Many prescription insurance plans offer medications prepared by "their" compounding pharmacist, but you have to ask about it.  They seem to have a “don’t ask don’t tell” policy – you don’t ask, so they don’t tell!   These insurance-controlled compounding pharmacists have some limitations as to what they can and can't do to conform to the insurance company's financial guidelines.  An out-of-network compounding pharmacist fills the prescription based on what is best, not what is available, and they submit your paperwork for your reimbursement.   You may pay a little extra for the out-of-network compounding pharmacist, but it may be worth it in the long run.