One of the biggest problems associated with prescribing standard marketed drugs is that they don’t take account of our individuality. Some patients might need a stronger dose, and others might be intolerant to certain ingredients, which can lead to adverse effects.
The medical industry is constantly looking to come up with an answer to this challenging problem, and one of the ways to decrease the potential for adverse effects can be to look at the benefits offered by compounding pharmacy solutions.
It is unfortunate that a large percentage of the drugs prescribed daily to thousands of patients who need a way to manage pain or treat a disease can present a serious risk to that person if they have an adverse effect.
A serious issue and a huge challenge
The problem’s scale relating to prescription drug side effects is much larger than you might think.
The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention has produced data that estimates there are about 40,000 patients who die each year as a result of suffering side effects from a drug they have been prescribed.
That is a significant number on a scale that closely matches the yearly number of deaths caused by road traffic accidents. It is a worry and a considerable challenge for the medical industry that so many people lose their life taking a medication primarily aimed at improving their health profile rather than worsening it.
Testing doesn’t always reveal the extent of potential side effects.
As you would expect, rigorous tests are carried out before a drug is allowed to be marketed and made available for consumption.
The issue is that testing for potential side effects is a complicated task that is nowhere near perfect. This is because it often requires a broad range of patients to test a drug before any patterns are likely to be revealed regarding adverse effects.
Our unique health profile as individual human beings means that one person can take a drug with absolutely no side effects suffered. In contrast, another person might have an adverse reaction to the same drug and dosage level.
The nature of clinical trials means that they are carried out amongst a small population. The tests are also carried out under strictly controlled conditions.
These potential inconsistencies in the way drugs are tested for efficacy create a scenario where someone could be given a standard marketed drug to treat a problem, only to suffer an adverse reaction.
How can the potential risk of an adverse reaction be reduced?
Compounding medications offer a potential solution.
A key point to consider when looking for a solution to the problem of adverse side effects is to appreciate that every single patient will have very unique and specific healthcare needs.
It stands to reason that every person has an individualistic profile. So many aspects such as ethnicity, height, weight, and complexion are bound to impact the dosage and type of medication required.
Even if you have the same disease as another person, your body composition, metabolic system, and other critical factors will impact how you react to a drug and what dosage level is most suited to your individual profile.
Compounding aims to address the uniqueness of the problem. It is an innovative pharmaceutical industry approach designed to cater to each patient’s specific needs rather than looking for an off-the-shelf solution with a standard marketed drug.
Combining medicines into a single dose
An excellent example of how pharmacy compounding could offer a viable solution is when you can combine certain medicines into one single dosage.
Once the proper dosage has been calculated for pain relief and healthcare needs, a compound can be produced that simultaneously delivers an accurate dosage that reduces the prospect of adverse reactions.
A safer way of managing pain
If you are taking regular drugs for pain relief there is always the risk that you could become addicted, especially if you need higher doses to be able to deal with the pain and discomfort you have to live with daily.
One of the advantages of compounding pain management medication is that you produce a dosage that specifically meets your unique needs. Rather than receive a standard dose, which could heighten the prospect of becoming addicted, you will only be getting the amount you need.
In addition, a pharmacist could also offer an alternative option, such as creating a compound topical cream. This should be a safer but equally effective way to deliver the right level of pain relief.
Reducing the risk of an allergic reaction
You might often find that your body does not tolerate a particular ingredient present in a standard drug. One of the most common side effects is an allergic reaction to one or more of the ingredients contained in a drug.
Compounding offers a potential way around this problem. An allergy test can be performed so that it becomes known which chemical ingredients you are allergic to. Once this information is known, it becomes easier for the pharmacist to produce a compounded solution that delivers the medication you need without the ingredients known to cause an allergic reaction.
Compound medications can offer a viable solution to several common issues that can create severe patient problems if they have an adverse reaction.
Removing the ingredients that could cause you to have an allergic reaction, together with creating a medication that is as unique as the person receiving it, are two compelling reasons why an increasing number of people are seeking compounding pharmacy solutions.
Now that you know a bit more about the advantages and benefits of compounding, could it be the solution you are looking for with your regular pain relief and medication requirements?
