Useful Information Regarding Compounding Pharmacy In Ocala FL

By Douglas Murray


Drug compounding refers to the process of creating pharmaceutical preparation such as a drug by a licensed pharmacist. The drug is made in order to satisfy the unique needs of individual patients when the needs cannot be met by a commercially available drug. The patient may be a human being or an animal. The process involves mixing, packaging, altering, assembling, preparing, and labeling among other processes. Here are facts regarding Compounding pharmacy in Ocala FL.

These pharmaceutical processes are done or monitored by licensed pharmacist following a prescription from a doctor. The pharmacist ought to be licensed by a state board. However, manufacturing of other drugs can be done only after the FDA gives approval. Normally, a drug is thoroughly investigated and tested by FDA to ascertain the safety and the effectiveness of its use.

As such, manufacturing requires FDA approval, while compounding requires only state board approval. Manufacturing is also done on a larger scale because the drugs are meant for commercial use. After manufacturing, the drugs are sold to health care practitioner, hospitals, and pharmacies among others for retailing to end consumers. The entities to whom manufactured drugs are sold must be authorized by federal and state laws to engage in such business.

Compounded drugs cannot be sold to other entities in order to be distributed to end consumers. In fact, the drugs are not supposed to be commercialized. They are supposed to be produced for a specific patient or patients in exact dosage. The surplus that remains cannot be sold to other patients or commercialized because it is illegal.

Numerous pharmacies are involved in some kind of compounding activity. Nevertheless, in order to achieve effectiveness at developing compounded drugs, pharmacies need to invest in the required equipment and training. Workers are supposed to be effectively trained. Normally, the training is provided in the school of medicine. Students may opt to major in compounding while in college for them to pursue the drug compounding career path.

Among the apparatus needed for the procedure include mortar and pestle that are used for pounding ingredients and graduated cylinders used in measuring liquids. The ingredients are mixed using spatulas and scales are used to weigh the ingredients for proper ratios. The process is completed on ointment slabs. These drugs are made in various forms such as liquids that are injected into the blood stream and capsules that are swallowed. Creams and ointments are also available for applying on the skin.

The United States stands out with the highest number of compounding pharmacies in the world. Approximations put this number at 56, 000 pharmacies. About 7, 500 of all these pharmacies have a specialty in producing compounded drugs. That means that producing these drugs makes the highest proportion of their activities. Thus, accessing their services is easy.

It is required that before a patient can purchase compounded drugs, they must first get a prescription from a licensed medical practitioner. Such requirements are supposed to curb abuse in the industry and also protect consumers. Pharmacists are not allowed to issue compounded medicine without proper verification of the legitimacy of the prescription a patient provides.




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