Alternative Dosage Forms

Customized care that caters to your specific needs

Each person is unique and has his or her own set of distinctive needs and preferences. The art of compounding enables prescribers and pharmacists to meet the individual needs of each patient. One of the key benefits of compounding is its ability to effectively treat patients who have allergies or difficulties with taking commercial medications. With the prescriber’s consent, The Compounding Facility can custom-prepare medications in a variety of innovative dosage forms, including:

 

  • Capsules
  • Eye and ear drops
  • Lollipops or troches
  • Nasal sprays
  • Oral liquids
  • Sterile injections
  • Suppositories
  • Topical preparations
Custom medications offer alternative ways of administering medicine, resulting in increased patient compliance.
 

Custom Flavoring

Taste preferences certainly differ from patient to patient and one of the reasons for non-compliance—especially in infants, toddlers and children—is taste or flavor. The good news is that custom flavoring is offered for most oral medication forms. Many medications can be administered to children through a flavored lollipop, which pleases their palates. Infants often benefit from alternate delivery forms, which include pacifier medications or baby bottles with medicine in them. These medications, which are provided in child-proof packaging, enable parents or care givers to dispense prescription medicine easily and, of course, accurately.

 
Read More About Flavor Compounding

 

Capsules

Medications may be compounded into customized capsules, especially in cases where an alternate strength is required. Capsule forms can also omit potential allergens or irritants, such as dyes, preservatives or gluten. To decrease the number of doses needed, multiple medications often can be combined into a single dosage or made into sustained-release capsules. Exclusively for patients who are opposed to gelatin capsules, vegetarian capsules made from cellulose are also offered.
 

Oral Liquids

Exclusively for patients with difficulty swallowing tablets and capsules, a host of medications can be conveniently compounded into oral liquid form. Since some patients have difficulty with the taste of commercially available liquid medications, compounding pharmacists can customize a specially flavored oral solution or suspension, which can be administered easily and accurately. Some medications are even available as effervescent powders, which are mixed with water to create a fizzy drink.

 

Troches/Lollipops

Troches and lollipops are used when a specific medicine must remain in the mouth area. Troches can be placed underneath the tongue, so that once dissolved, the medication can quickly and easily enter the bloodstream. Some troches may be chewed or swallowed by patients who cannot or are opposed to swallowing capsules or tablets. These dosage forms can be enhanced with natural sweeteners and tasty flavour solutions, making them ideal for both pediatric and geriatric patients.

 

Topical Preparations

Topical delivery methods are widely used since they easily allow the absorption of medicine directly through the skin, and may assist in avoiding potential side effects such as stomach upset or drowsiness. Often prescribed for pain management, inflammation and nausea/vomiting, topical medications are easy to use and are highly effective in delivering medications as needed. Topical medication forms include:
  • Creams and lotions
  • Foams
  • Gels
  • Sprays
  • Stick applicators, such as lip balms

Suppositories

Patients who can’t take medications orally are ideal candidates for compounded suppositories. Available in a variety of shapes depending on the route of administration, suppositories can be administered rectally, vaginally or via the urethra. By melting or dissolving into the body cavity, these suppository medications quickly and effectively enter the bloodstream. These types of medicines are often used for bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), to fight nausea or to treat local conditions such as hemorrhoids, infections or inflammation.

The Compounding Facility works closely with you and your physician to prepare medication in a specialized dosage form that has been customized to your specific needs.

Read More About Specialty Compounding