Compounded medications are an interesting topic and one that many people may not fully understand, or even be aware of. Your doctor may not have ever mentioned it as an option for you, or even have much experience in dealing with such things. Don’t hold him or her responsible though; compounded medications are nowhere near as common today as they were fifty or sixty years ago. So, if you’d like to learn more about them, here are some ways you can get started.
You can certainly try asking your health care provider, though as mentioned above, they may not have a full understanding of the topic, as they are primarily there to provide medical attention and write any prescriptions necessary, which they likely assume you will fill in the form of a mass-produced commercial medication. But never fear, there are plenty of other resources.
One likely source is the internet, but there are caveats to doing so. Much information on the internet is biased, either positively or negatively, and some of it is just flat out incorrect. You’ll need to choose your sources wisely, such as medical information sites and other fact based locations. Beware discussion forums or sites dedicated solely to natural remedies, as these may discount compounded medication completely. And while these sorts have a right to express their opinions, they may taint them with factually incorrect information.
An obvious choice for learning more about compounded medications is to seek out the nearest pharmacy that offers such services. Many do not, so you may need to look carefully, starting either by doing an internet search for those in your area, or opening up the nearest phone book. Consider calling the pharmacy prior to going in to make sure the pharmacist will have a reasonable amount of time to speak with you. Most pharmacists who continue to work in this practice will be happy to take some time to explain it to you. Many are passionate about it, as it’s often seen as a dying form of treatment despite being so common and popular in years past.
Additional sources of information could be family members, particularly older ones who may remember when compounding medications was common in drug stores. You can also speak to friends that may have used this sort of service or have knowledge of various medical practices, if that is a field they are involved in. You can also hit up your local library and do research amongst the medical texts and journals, though some of these may contain very technical terms, or be a bit dry to read. Regardless, they will likely contain the information you are seeking regarding compounded medications and their history of usage.
In the end, have a fun time learning about this interesting alternative to mass-produced commercial medications and think about whether it might be something that could be of use to you!
