Prescription Compounding

“Expanding Your Treatment Options”

WilliamsonHughes Pharmacy has offered compounding for over 18 years, and is one of only a few speciality compounders in the Shenandoah Valley.   Our pharmacist is trained in general compounding and veterinary compounding.

Why Compound?

Not all commercially available dosage forms are suitable for every patient.  Many are allergic to preservatives or dyes, or are sensitive to standard drug strengths.  Other reasons include:

• The need for variation in dosage form or flavor
• Strength needed is not commercially available
• Medication of choice has been discontinued
• Patient is not responding to conventional treatment
• Difficulty or inability to swallow
• Patient desires bio-identical vs synthetic hormones
• Need to incorporate more than one drug in dosage form 

What can compounding offer?

Some of the examples are:

• Medications can be added to a lip balm, a lollipop, a lozenge, a gel for the skin, or a suppository.
• Nausea can be treated with promethazine gel, thus ensuring absorption, avoiding some drowsiness, and the often simultaneous problem with diarrhea and rectal administration.
• Medication that has been discontinued by a pharmaceutical company due to decreased usage can often be compounded
• An alternative hormone replacement therapy
• Flavors may be added to aid swallowing

Patients experiencing chronic pain, hospice patients, children, arthritic patients, and those with peri menopause symptoms, are just some of the examples of those who could benefit from compounded medications.

Compounders focus on meeting special needs.  WilliamsonHughes’ ultimate goal in preparing any of these customized medications is to help the physician and patient achieve the desired outcome for the medication.

WilliamsonHughes Pharmacy offers education and consultation with the pharmacist and a registered nurse.  There is delivery available in the Harrisonburg area, and we are open on Saturday.