Compounding Pharmacy

A compounding pharmacy is a licensed pharmacy that specializes in the preparation of customized medications by combining, mixing, or altering ingredients to create formulations tailored to individual patient needs. While all pharmacists receive compounding training, compounding pharmacies invest in specialized equipment, raw pharmaceutical ingredients, and quality control processes that enable them to produce a wide variety of custom formulations that are not available as standard manufactured products.

Compounding pharmacies serve patients across a broad range of clinical needs. They prepare medications for patients with allergies to dyes, preservatives, or other inactive ingredients found in commercial products. They create pediatric-friendly formulations in liquid form with palatable flavors. They prepare dermatological compounds with specific active ingredient concentrations, hormone replacement therapy preparations with individualized dosing, and veterinary medications.

Regulatory oversight of compounding pharmacies operates at both federal and state levels. Section 503A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act governs traditional pharmacy compounding performed pursuant to individual prescriptions, while Section 503B establishes requirements for outsourcing facilities that compound larger quantities. State boards of pharmacy regulate compounding practices, facility requirements, and pharmacist qualifications within their jurisdictions.

Digital prescription systems that support compounding pharmacies must handle extended prescription data including detailed formulation instructions, ingredient specifications, and preparation notes. Integration between prescribers and compounding pharmacies enables efficient communication of complex formulation requirements and status tracking of custom preparations from order through completion.