What Type Of Medications in Hamilton Can Be Compounded?

So, you or someone you know is sick. You obviously want the best for yourself or them. You go to the physician, and that adds to your stress. You have payments to make, medications to buy, and a long list of do’s and don’ts. Anyone could feel overwhelmed after a visit to the doctor. Most doctors nowadays have their own pharmacies where you can easily get the medications that they prescribed you. But some problems do not go away with commercially-produced medicines. The treatment that you need has to be tailored to your situation, condition, or severity of your problem.

That’s where a licensed compounding pharmacy in Hamilton comes in. Compounding is a unique process that enables patients to take their medications in a customized form based on their specific needs. Based on their physician’s prescriptions and suggestions, patients can get a different dosage, form, or strength so they can get better. They can mix ingredients to make the specific dose you need, change the medication’s flavour, remove the dyes that are causing allergies, and more.

Here, we will discuss some of the many types of medications that a compounding pharmacist in Hamilton can develop for you.

1. Rapid Dissolve Tablets

Rapid Dissolve Tablets (RDTs) are also called Orally Disintegrating Tablets (ODTs). They quickly dissolve when you place them under or over your tongue. They don’t need to be digested in order for your body to use them. They are immediately absorbed into the oral mucosa (lining of your mouth) and do their job. A lot of patients have a hard time swallowing tablets, pills, or capsules. Then some patients have various liver-related or gastrointestinal conditions. Also, some patients cannot chew or swallow on their own. RDTs dissolve in a few seconds and make it easy for the patient to take the medications.

2. Oral Liquid Vehicles

As soon as we said Oral Liquid Vehicles (OLVs), you thought of a car, didn’t you? Well, these have nothing to do with cars, but they are related to transport. OLVs are liquid formulas that act as vehicles for specific drugs. These include:

• Liquid suspensions
• Elixirs
• Solutions
• Tinctures
• Syrups

These are not active medicines themselves. The liquid is necessary to dilute the actual medicine so that we can get the proper dosage. They can also enhance the flavour of the medication if that’s what the patient requires. Most people have used these liquids at least once in their lifetimes. For example, they may have used them to treat coughs or an allergy. They are perfect for children as well as pets. They can get their favourite flavour included in the medicine, and that highly increases compliance. As a parent, you have no idea how beneficial compounding medications can be for children. But they are not specific to children. People who have trouble taking pills and capsules can also benefit from them.

3. Topical Creams

Some of the most common compounding medications that a compounding pharmacy in Hamilton specializes in creating are topical creams, gels, and ointments. These are exceptional when it comes to matters of the skin. Whether you have a skin condition, a wound, or a scar, a topical compounded medicine can work better than any pill or capsule. Oral medication has to be digested to work. Also, they flow throughout the body and might not provide the required amount of the drug to the affected area. Topical compounded creams and gels are applied directly to the target area and can deliver the drug safely and effectively.

A compounding pharmacist can develop a cream in almost any combination that the patients want. For example, a wound cream can also contain Vitamin E that is beneficial for scarring and heals the body. Steroids become necessary if there is severe inflammation or infections can be prevented or reduced with antibiotic salves. You can also deliver numbing agents to a painful area. Numbing agents like lidocaine or benzocaine act on the nerves of the target area and turn them off so that the feeling of pain subsides.

4. Oral Chews and Lozenges

Oral chews and lozenges can also help patients take their medications and increase treatment compliance. These compounding formulas are available in a variety of forms like:

• Gummies
• Caramels
• Soft chews
• Hard candy
• Chewable tablets

Oral chews and lozenges are also available in the market. They are mainly used for cough drops, nausea drugs, or vitamins. Most people have already had these varieties, but compounding pharmacists can make these for other drugs too. Oral chews are very popular among people who have sick pets. Pets often prefer treats over pills and capsules, and oral chews enhance medication compliance.

There are a few things that a compounding pharmacist will consider before preparing an oral chew or lozenge for you. First of all, it shouldn’t be bitter. Secondly, it cannot be a very high dose of the drug. Also, they should be safe to mix with other ingredients (medical and non-medical). If these conditions are being met, a compounding pharmacist can easily prepare an oral chew for you.

5. Hormone Supplements

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) means providing the proper hormones to the body to keep the balance. Hormone supplements help with that. Physicians mainly prescribe hormone supplements for conditions like hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, menopause, and more. They are also effective for reproductive conditions like Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Other conditions where hormone supplements are needed are pituitary tumors, autoimmune conditions, and more.

There are two types of hormones:

• Synthetic
• Natural

Most of the hormonal products are available in the market, and you can get them from any pharmacy. But sometimes, the dosage doesn’t match the patients’ needs. As hormones are vital for the human body, it is critical to deliver only the required amount and not more or less. Even an adjustment of a few micrograms can turn the treatment in another direction. Hormone therapy is not only for women but also for men. Hormone Therapy for men is needed for conditions like andropause and more. Andropause is the same as menopause but for men.

Compounding pharmacists can adjust the dosage of the hormone required and change the form of delivery to ensure that the hormone has the most effective results. They can formulate the drug into various formats like:

• Topical creams (often best for estrogen replacement)
• Pills
• Sublingual pills
• Vaginal suppositories

6. Capsules

A capsule is a dose-specific form of medicine encapsulated in a soluble, digestible shell, hence the name capsule. They are usually gelatin-based, but other types of capsules are also available. They are available in various sizes and dissolving speeds. Gelatin-based capsules dissolve faster, while vegetarian capsules take more time. A compounding pharmacist can easily create the correct dosage of the right drug for you in the right type of capsule. For example, suppose you have a hard time swallowing a larger capsule. In that case, a compounding pharmacist can easily break it down into smaller doses and vice versa. If you can take larger capsules, you don’t need to take multiple capsules simultaneously. You can lower your medication intake and make your life easier.

Summing It Up

Compounding medications that a compounding pharmacy in Hamilton specializes in creating deliver more in less amount of time. They are available in various formats, and patients can take them according to their doctor’s instructions. They are available in capsules, RDTs, OLVs, topical creams, gels, ointments, and oral chews. Want to know more about these or other varieties? Call us or email us, and our expert consultants will be glad to answer any and all of your questions.