Why Compounded Medications Take Longer | Pacifica Compounding Pharmacy

Compounding pharmacies are quickly gaining popularity across the country. When it comes to their prescriptions, people are discovering the many benefits of using a compounding pharmacy. Since the process of compounding prescriptions is much more involved than the filling of a typical prescription, it often takes longer for your prescriptions to be filled. While it may take a bit longer to fill a compounded prescription, the benefits far exceed the wait.

Check out the list below to learn more about why compounded medications take longer than regular prescriptions.

#1: Compounded Medications Are Custom-Made

Each compounded prescription is custom-made for the patient. This customization is one of primary benefits of using a compounding pharmacy. By customizing a prescription to the patient’s individual needs, pharmacists are able to alleviate many of the issues that can arise when taking medications. Due to this individual customization, the time it takes to fill a compounded prescription may be longer than when filling a regular prescription.

A compounding pharmacist often creates prescriptions from scratch, which involves combining multiple ingredients to form the compounded prescription. This process takes longer than the typical process of filling a regular prescription, which often only requires the pharmacist bottle the prescribed dosage of pre-made pills. Due to the extended process of creating a compounded prescription, the time it takes to fill it may be extended.

#2: Additional Communication May Be Necessary to Properly Fill a Compounded Prescription

Since compounded prescriptions are custom-made to fit the patient’s individual needs, each situation is different. It may be necessary for the compounding pharmacist to contact the patient, doctor, or pharmaceutical manufacturer to inquire about the specifics of a compounded prescription. Communication is essential to ensuring that the compounded prescription is created properly and fills all the needs of the patient.

This additional communication takes time, and can potentially increase the amount of time it takes to fill the prescription. While it may take a little bit longer to fill a compounded prescription, you can rest easy knowing that your prescription was made especially for your and all your specific wants and needs.

#3: Creating Your Specific Dosage Takes Time

Since compounded medications are custom-made for each individual patient, the length of time it takes to make them will vary from case to case. Often times compounded prescriptions come in capsule form. Pharmacists mix powdered ingredients to create a personalized combination designed to address a patient’s specific needs.

Once the pharmacist has mixed the proper combination of ingredients, the powdered substance then must be put into a capsules. This can be a time-consuming process and can lengthen the amount of time it takes to fill a compounded prescription. Since most regular prescriptions are already in their final form, it typically takes less time to fill a regular prescription than a compounded prescription.

Additionally, many people use a compounding pharmacy in order to change the form in which their medication is administered. A compounding pharmacist can convert a medication that is typically in pill form to a liquid, or similarly change the form in which a medication is delivered. Changing the form of a prescription takes time and can increase the length of time it takes to have your prescription filled.

#4: The Availability of Certain Ingredients

Compounded prescriptions are created by mixing together a combination of individual ingredients. While some ingredients may be readily available and in-stock at your compounding pharmacy, others may not be as common or kept in-stock by your pharmacist. Compounded prescriptions may take longer to fill than a regular prescription due to the fact that the pharmacist may have to wait on ingredients.

Things To Remember

While it may take a bit longer to fill a compounded prescription than a regular prescription, it is well worth the wait. Your compounded prescription will be created specifically for you, in adherence to all your individual wants and needs. To help expedite the process, make sure to drop off or send in your prescriptions as soon as possible. The sooner your pharmacist has your prescription; the sooner he can get to work on filling it.

When refilling compounded prescriptions, do not wait until you are completely out to call in your refill. Allow your compounding pharmacist as much as time as possible to fill your prescription before you run out. Remember to take time to fully discuss your needs with your pharmacist, in order for him to be as informed as possible about your prescription needs.

Remember that faster does not always mean better. Compounded prescriptions take time to create but the end result is a truly individualized and customized medication, made especially for you.

Learn More About Compounding Pharmacies

Want to learn more about compounding pharmacies? Reach out to our knowledgeable and experienced team at Pacifica Pharmacy. Contact us to learn more about the benefits of compounded medications and the personalized approach to healthcare that compound pharmacies can offer. Stop by Pacifica Pharmacy or give us a call to learn more about what compounding can do for you.