Rethinking Pharmaceutical Solutions to Support Inclusive Patient Care

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Why aren’t standard medications suitable for every patient?

Millions suffer from ill-fitting, standard medications every day. Allergies to dyes. Dosage strengths that don’t exist. Drug shortages.

Patients get stuck and standard prescriptions aren’t enough.

Here’s the issue:

Mass-produced medications are designed to meet the needs of the majority…but not every patient. If pharmacies and healthcare providers want to support truly inclusive patient care, they have to start rethinking how compounded medication prescriptions fit into their overall care strategy.

Fortunately, there are ways to meet patients where they are…starting today.

In this article, you’ll discover:

• Why Standard Medications Fall Short
• Why Compounded Medication Prescriptions are Becoming More Popular
• Who Uses Compounded Medications the Most?
• How To Select the Best Pharmacy to Meet Your Patients’ Needs

Why Standard Medications Fall Short

Patients aren’t manufactured in a lab. Every patient has different needs. So why does the healthcare system try to fit them into standardized medications?

Picture this…

A patient needs Medication A. But they’re allergic to an ingredient in the brand-name version. Another patient needs Medication B but it’s only available in 50mg doses and they need 25mg. Another patient needs Medication C… but it’s not available due to a drug shortage.

Stop and think about that last one for a second.

The U.S. had 323 active drug shortages as of early 2024. That’s more shortages than any other time since tracking began in 2001. Cancer drugs, antibiotics, opioid overdose reversal medications…they’ve all been in short supply recently.

When patients can’t access the medications they need, it creates real world problems. Prescriptions go unfilled. Patients skip doses or substitute alternatives. Patients suffer as their health rapidly declines.

This is where compounding can help.

When the medications patients need aren’t available… Pharmacies can step in with customized compounded medication prescriptions to fill the gaps. Through high-quality pharmacy compounding services, technicians can craft medication formulas specifically designed to meet each patient’s needs. Customized dosage strengths, pill shapes, formulas… you name it.

Instead of trying to fit a square peg in a round hole… Make the medication fit the patient.

The Growing Role of Compounded Medication Prescriptions

This isn’t some obscure solution that only a handful of pharmacies can provide.

Across the U.S., the compounded pharmacy market size is expected to reach $6.45 billion by 2025 and will continue growing at a steady rate through the next decade. When an industry sees growth like that, it’s driven by more than just demand. Let’s break down what’s really going on:

Demand for customized pharmaceutical solutions is exploding.

It’s not hard to see why when you stop to consider exactly how pharmaceutical compounding can benefit patients. Compounded medications allow providers to do things that commercial pharmacies can’t. Support patients with chronic diseases, hormone replacement therapy, pain management, and more.

Did you know…?

Approximately 1 in 3 Americans say they’ve skipped prescription doses or avoided filling prescriptions altogether due to high drug prices. That’s where compounded medications can step in as a cheaper alternative to name-brand medications that are either too expensive or just unavailable.

Who Uses Compounded Medications the Most?

No single patient archetype needs compounded medications the most. Any patient that doesn’t fit what’s available off the shelf can benefit from compounded medication prescriptions.

Children. Senior citizens. Patients with medical sensitivities. Patients managing chronic pain.

Anyone.

Children

Children can’t always swallow large pills. Flavoring medicines is a huge part of what pediatric compounding pharmacies do. Turning a sour liquid medication into a liquid bubblegum flavor medicine can make all the difference to a child and their parents.

Senior Citizens

Senior citizens are typically on more medications than any other group. A lot of these medications can be combined into one pill using compounding. Less pills = less chances for a patient to miss a medication.

Patients with Medical Sensitivities

Lots of patients are allergic to something. Lactose, gluten, artificial coloring, preservatives. The ingredients found in standard medications can cause negative reactions in patients. Compounding can remove those ingredients.

Pain Management

Standard dose forms don’t always meet patient needs when it comes to pain management. Creams, gels, and built-to-order medication combinations are all possible with compounding.

But wait…there’s one more group worth mentioning.

Pets

Pharmacy compounding for animals is a huge market. Pet owners need the right drug dosages and flavors to get their animals to take medication. But this extends beyond pets. Horses, livestock, zoo animals… They all benefit from compounded medications too.

How To Choose the Right Compounding Partner

Pharmacy partners aren’t created equal.

When a provider starts working with a compounding pharmacy, they’re trusting them to customize medications for their patients. If the pharmacy messes up the formula, the patient may as well have taken the wrong medication.

Here are a few qualities to look for when choosing a pharmacy partner:

• Accreditation. Every pharmacy should be certified and compliant with state and federal guidelines. Certification from the PCAB means the pharmacy partner has passed strict scrutiny.
• Variety of services. Can they produce everything needed? Tablets, capsules, creams, suppositories… the list goes on.
• Open communication. They should be communicating with providers and patients to understand exactly what’s needed.
• Quality control. Every batch of compounded medication should be tested before shipping.

One more thing to consider: Not all compounding pharmacies operate the same. There are two different categories that pharmacies can fall into.

Pharmacies that operate under Section 503A of the FD&C Act are limited to working with prescriptions on an individual basis. Prescriptions written for specific patients only.

On the other hand, pharmacies that register as Section 503B Outsourcing Facilities can produce larger quantities of compounded medications. These drugs are typically used to supplement a healthcare system’s formulary and dispensed to patients under that system.

Both play a vital role in supporting inclusive patient care. They just go about it in different ways.

Wrapping Up

The world of medicine is evolving to be more patient-centric than ever before. Pharmacy compounded medications are one of the best ways to put that model into practice.

Not every patient needs customized medications. But for the millions that do, standard medications aren’t enough.

By filling that need, compounded medications save providers time and allow patients to access the medicine they need… when they need it.

Remember:

• Mass-produced medications aren’t always enough.
• Drug shortages are a huge problem for patients.
• Pharmacy compounding offers a customizable alternative.
• Find a compounding pharmacy that can be trusted.