How does Compounding benefit me?
Compounded medication can benefit almost anyone. There are several reasons as to why a prescriber and pharmacist may choose a compounded medication or product for your treatment. It may be because you are unable to tolerate the commercially made medication, or it may be that the current excipients in commercially made drugs are not suited to you. It could also be that the current strength is not available, so a tailored dose is more desirable or the drug in no longer made in Australia so therefore a compounding pharmacy would have to make it up. So there are lots of reasons why a doctor or pharmacist would suggest a compounded medication.
Do I need a Prescription from my doctor for my compounded medication?
For all Scheduled (S4) medication you will need a prescription. If you are unsure about this, contact us and we will advise you on what to do.
Is Compounding Legal and Safe?
The Australian Pharmacy Board and Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has stated that compounded prescriptions are both ethical and legal. This is as long as they are prescribed by a licensed practitioner for a specific patient and made as a single dose unit for immediate use. They must be made in a Compounding Laboratory which is registered and accredited through the Professional Compounding Chemists of Australia.
How do I know I am getting a quality product?
At Dukasa Compounding Pharmacy we pride ourselves on our professionalism and expertise in the compounding field. We supply our patients with the best product at the highest quality of materials available with the most extensive expertise on hand. We are fully compliant with the compounding practice standards. All preparations must meet Quality Assurance for Safety and we follow a comprehensive audit and inspection yearly which gives peace of mind to prescribers, patients and pharmacists.
Is Compounding Expensive?
Compounding can differ from commercially made products and their price is not comparable. It depends on the drugs used and time it takes to make the compounded drug. With a compounded medication you are getting a tailored made product just for you and most of the time we supply 3 months supply.
Will my insurance cover my compounded medication?
Some health insurance funds will cover you for part of the cost of compounded medicines. However, you should contact them directly to discuss this.
Can my child or my elderly parent take a compounded medication?
Yes. Children and the elderly can benefit the most from compounded medication. Parents often have trouble getting their child to take a medication because of the taste, allergies or sensitivities to commercially made medication. It may also be that the child may not tolerate the current dosage form of the commercially made drug, so a compounding pharmacist may need to formulate a different drug form for the child to take easily. For e.g. If a commercially made drug only comes in the form of a capsule, the compounding pharmacist can re-formulate the drug into a palatable suspension.
The Compounding Pharmacist can also help patients who suffer from chronic pain due to arthritis or nerve pain. Sometimes the types of drugs used to treat this pain can cause gastrointestinal upset often leading to stomach ulcers in the elderly. With a doctor’s prescription a compounded topical preparation with anti-inflammatories and or analgesics can alleviate these problems and often work much better than the oral form as you are applying the topical preparation to the area directly.
Where does my medication get made and who makes it?
Your compounded medication is made on site in our Dukasa Compounding Pharmacy compounding laboratory. We have two full time compounding technicians who have completed comprehensive compounding training courses.
How long does it take to make up my compounded medication?
We have a lead time of 24 hours to make your compounded prescription. Your medication is made especially for you, which makes your medication so unique. The compounding technicians make your product from the raw ingredients; this process involves a lot of steps and is very time consuming. The process begins with the pharmacist formulating the drug, the ingredients are chosen and scanned ensuring we have picked the correct items then ingredients are weighed and triple checked. Once all this is done we can start mixing the ingredients together in the mortar and pestle and preparing your medication in its final form. We like to ensure that your product is freshly prepared to give your product a long expiry.
How to get my Compounded Prescription Filled?
There are 3 easy way of ordering your compounded Prescription.
- Bring your prescription into the pharmacy.
- Email prescription to dukasacompounding@gmail.com
- Phone us on 03 98223668.
We need to the original prescription before we can release the compounded medication from the pharmacy. You can post it to:
Dukasa Compounding Pharmacy – 1117 High Street, Armadale, Victoria, Australia, 3143