Unregulated Status of Drug Compounding Pharmacies

Dangers of Improperly Handled Medications

Compounded drugs are nothing new. Doctors prescribe compounded drugs to treat specific conditions on an individual patient basis. For example, pharmacists compound certain drugs to reduce their potency in order to be administered to children, or change the method of drug delivery from tablet to patch form for patients that have trouble swallowing. However, the unregulated status of drug compounding pharmacies has alerted us to the dangers of improperly handled medications because of the tainted steroid medication that went on to be injected into patients and infect them with aggressive meningitis. It is important to educate ourselves about the ways in which our medications are processed in order to prevent serious infections and even worse.

Do not order drugs from overseas online pharmacies

The high cost of prescription medications has forced many patients to purchase their medicines from unregulated overseas pharmacies. It was reported by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy that fully 97% of 10,000 online pharmacy websites that were investigated do not operate under United States pharmacy laws and regulations . These medications may seem as though they are the same as those that are acquired through hospitals and licensed clinics, but the batches of drugs distributed from these illegal operations might put users at great risk. Investigators found instances of tampering, improper handling and storage, expired drugs that were re-labled with inaccurate expiration dates and counterfeit medications. If an online pharmacy doesn’t require a prescription or medical history, then that pharmacy is operating illegally.

Ask your physician where the prescription medication came from, and if it was compounded

If you are prescribed medication by your doctor, ask him or her if it was compounded, and why. If there are standard FDA approved drugs available in a form that is ready to use, opt for that instead, although it will be very likely more expensive. Very often, physicians will choose the less expensive compounded form of a drug in lieu of the brand name drug. If your medication must be compounded, ask where it must be done; many hospitals compound drugs on site.

Do not allow a pharmacy to compound drugs for you without a specific doctor’s order

Many pharmacies will suggest compounding drugs that are problematic for the patient. Allowing a pharmacist to mix special versions of a medication that was prescribed by a doctor might have an effect unforeseen by the pharmacist that may compromise either the efficacy of the drug or the patient’s health; an effect a physician might catch if alerted to it. If you are having trouble taking medications for any reason, consult your doctor before allowing a pharmacist to make adjustments.