Compounding offers personalized solutions to important medical problems.
MedLife explains that compounding pharmacies such as themselves are able to produce small amounts of a drug for patients who otherwise wouldn’t have access to that medicine.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) November 19, 2015
According to an article published October 22nd by the L.A. Daily News, a compound pharmacy announced that it would soon begin making a $1 per pill alternative to Daraprim, a malaria drug whose price was raised to $750 per pill in a controversial decision by its maker, Turing Pharmaceuticals. Pyrimethamine, the active drug behind Daraprim, is not subject to any patents that would prevent companies other than Turing from making the drug. Yet, because the drug has a relatively small market in the United States, no other manufacturer thought to make a generic version. According to Los Angeles area compounding pharmacy MedLife Pharmacy & Compounding, this story is an excellent example of how compounding pharmacies can fill unmet patient needs. They explain that some of the most common patient requests are for drugs that are lower in price than the name brand versions, and drugs in a special form to meet certain patient restrictions and medical needs, which include:
- Small Batch, Low Cost Drugs – As was the case described in the article, MedLife explains that compounding pharmacies such as themselves are able to produce small amounts of a drug for patients who otherwise wouldn’t have access to that medicine. In the case of the article, this lack of access was due to cost concerns, but MedLife explains that there are also certainly situations where a sufficient supply of the drug is not available, and compounding pharmacies need to cover the gap in availability to ensure that all patients get the medicine they need to stay well.
- Crafting Innovative Solutions – Even when a drug is readily available, MedLife explains that many patients may have some special restriction or medical need that makes it difficult or dangerous for them to take the drug in its commercially available form. MedLife explains that they can make drugs in special dosage forms including creams, lip balms, sprays, and even lollipops. They can also make drugs that are free of alcohols or dyes that are included in the commercial version of the drug, to help patients who may have allergies or sensitivities. MedLife notes that this service is often critical for parents of children that show possible early signs of autism, and want to do everything they can to ensure that their child grows and develops properly. They note that many of the most common commercially available drugs contain ingredients that do not fit the strict dietary guidelines recommended for certain children with autism.
MedLife concludes that pharmaceutical compounding is all about crafting customized solutions that put the patient first. They explain that pharmacists can play a very active part in fulfilling a patient’s healthcare needs, and can even offer solutions that most doctors cannot. To learn more about MedLife Pharmacy & Compounding, or about the practice of pharmaceutical compounding in general, call the Irvine pharmacy today at 949-502-7272 or visit them online at MedLifeRX.com.