Compounding Pharmacy

Before the large-scale manufacturing of medications in the 1950s, every pharmacy would be prepare all the medications by compounding the active ingredients into the dosage form needed, whether it being capsules, suppositories or creams. Now in the 21st century, commercially made medications are the norm and compounding medications is a skill and art within the pharmacy community.

Compounded medications are individualized and personalized, just like you. Neither the medication itself nor its dose is limited to what the manufacturers produce. Also, we can customize medications if there are allergies or dietary preferences.

Customizable dosage forms:

- Creams, ointments and gels to be used on the skin

- Capsules or dissolving tablets

- Suspensions

- Troches/lozenges, gummies or lollipops

- Suppositories

We take the time to provide a quality product and to provide thorough information. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information and to have your compounded medication prepared for you!

Transdermal Pain Management

Pain can be mildly distracting to chronically debilitating. Pain medications can administered topically, orally or injected. Here at Palisades pharmacy, our compounding lab makes customized creams, ointments, gels or foams to deliver the medications right to the site of pain. When applied at the site of pain, the medication is delivered to the painful area. Topical preparations bypass the gastrointestinal system, thus minimizing side effects and gastrointestinal discomfort. The medicinal ingredients and base can be individualized depending on the type of pain and the area of application.

We work with patients, doctors, physiotherapists to determine the best medications to incorporate into these transdermal pain therapies. Pain conditions that we make these therapies include osteoarthritis, joint pain, muscular pain, nerve pain, diabetic neuropathy and shingles pain.

Examples of medications used in our transdermal pain therapies include:

- anti-inflammatories (such as diclofenac, ketoprofen, ibuprofen)

- muscle relaxants (such as cyclobenzaprine)

- anesthetics (such as lidocaine, bupivacaine)

- nerve pain agents (such as gabapentin, ketamine, amitriptyline, clonidine)

Pediatric

Pediatric compounding is an option to help children take the medications. Children need smaller doses than what may be available commercially. They may not be able to swallow a tablet, thus needing the medication to be compounded into a liquid solution, suspension or gummy. Flavour can be a critical factor in whether a child will ingest a medication.

Examples of medications made for children include:

- PPI for stomach acid (such as omeprazole, pantoprazole, lansoprazole, famotidine)

- oral steroid (such as dexamethasone, prednisone)

- mood or ADHD medications (such as clonidine, riboflavin, risperidone)

- antibiotics (such as sulfatrim, metronidazole)

- cardiac medications (such as flecanide, metoprolol, hydrochlorothiazide)

- seizure medications (such as baclofen, clobazam, gabapentin)

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Many men and women experience an imbalance of hormones as they get older. Side effects may include fatigue, insomnia, changes in mood, weight gain, difficulty focusing, low libido, headaches, hot flashes (women), and erectile dysfunction (men). Commercially available hormone therapies may use bioidentical or synthetic hormones. Bioidentical hormones are made from plant-derived sources but have the same chemical structure as the hormones in our bodies. There is limited doses and combination of hormones to take from commercially made products. We make custom made hormone dosage forms (oral, topical and vaginal) catered to the hormones and doses that you need.

Examples of hormone compounded therapy include:

- estradiol

- estriol

- progesterone

- testosterone

- DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone)

- desiccated thyroid

Dental

Our pharmacists work with dentists to ensure that you can find the right medications necessary to treat oral health issues such as gum disease and oral pain and swelling. We can make mouthwashes and gels to deliver the medication. Troches are medicated lozenges that are held in the mouth to help deliver the medication to the oral tissue.

Examples of dental compounds include:

- chlorhexidine mouthwashes or gels (for gum disease)

- dyclonine or lidocaine mouthwashes or gels (for pain)

- Dr. Akabutu's or magic mouthwashes (for pain and infection)

- dexamethasone, prednisone, triamcinolone mouthwashes (for swelling)

- clotrimazole troches (for thrush)

- tranexamic acid mouthwashes (for bleeding control)

Veterinary

Commercial products are made for humans. Some of these human medications can be given to our pets, sometimes hidden in a yummy treat, but sometimes they need their medications made specifically for them. They can be made into liquids, capsules or gummies. We have pet-friendly flavours to ensure that they take the medications.

Examples of veterinary compounds include:

- Vitamin K liquid (for accidental ingestion of rat poison)

- antibiotics (such as doxycycline, metronidazole)

- cardiac medications (such as pimobendan, taurine)

- seizure medications (such as zonisamide, gabapentin, potassium bromide)

- pain medications (such as tramadol)

- diarrhea (such as tylosin)