How to Write a Compounded Prescription

• Prescriptions for compounded medications must include all of the same information a non-compounded prescription would include:

● Patient name

● Provider name/signature

● Drug name

● Drug strength (for each active ingredient)

● Drug quantity/Days supply

● Date written

● Directions

● Refills (if applicable)

● Maximum daily dose (if applicable)

In addition, prescriptions for compounded medications must include:

● Dosage form

● Specification that the medication is to be compounded

• Prescriptions can be sent electronically through e-prescribing software. Many software packages will include items noted as “[active ingredient] bulk powder” or “[active ingredient] compounding powder”. These items can be written for in the prescribed drug field and the information about the dosage form, strength, etc. can be written in the sig field followed by the patient directions.

• If your e prescribing software does not include these items, then a prescription can be written for a commercial dosage form of the same active ingredient. The instructions to compound and the necessary information can then be included in the sig field followed by the directions for the patient.
• Prescriptions for non controlled medication can be called in over the phone if there is confusion or limitations in prescribing software.
• Prescriptions for controlled substances that are unable to be sent electronically must be written on an official New York State prescription blank and either brought to the pharmacy by the patient or sent through the postal system.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How do I write a compounded prescription?
• A: Please see the tab “How to Write a Compounded Prescription”.
• Q: Can compounded prescriptions be refilled?
• A: Compounded prescriptions follow the same refill laws for controlled and non-
• controlled substances that non-compounded prescriptions follow.
• Q: What kinds of prescriptions can you compound at The Medicine Shoppe?
• A: The Medicine Shoppe can compound non sterile and non-hazardous dosage forms, including: capsules, solutions, suspensions, troches/lozenges, suppositories, ointments and creams.

• Sterile dosage forms, such as injections, eye drops and IV fluids, are not able to be compounded at The Medicine Shoppe.
• The Medicine Shoppe is also unable to compound prescriptions made of hazardous drugs. Common hazardous drugs include:

● Tretinoin

● Testosterone

● Estrogen

● Zonisamide

● Spironolactone

● Methimazole

● Cyclosporine

● Etc.

• A drug is classified as hazardous if it appears on NIOSH’s list of Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs
• Additionally, The Medicine Shoppe is not registered to compound DEA Class II controlled substances. Class III-V controlled substances can be compounded if required for the patient.
• Q: I think my patient would benefit from a compounded medication, how can I be sure The Medicine Shoppe is able to make it?
• A: On the other tabs in this section we have included tables of some of our most
• common prescribed compounds for providers to use as a reference. If you do not see the medication or dosage form you are looking for in these tables, do not hesitate to call the pharmacy and talk to the compounding pharmacist to double check whether the desired prescription is able to be made.

Allergies and Intolerances

• If your patient requires a specific medication but is unable to take the commercially available product due to an allergy or intolerance to one of the ingredients, then The Medicine Shoppe team may be able to compound the medication to exclude those ingredients. For example, patients with corn allergies can have capsules compounded with a different filler or patients who are sensitive to colors and dyes can have medications compounded using only the drug and other dye free ingredients. Additionally, vegetable capsules are available for patients who have dietary restrictions to gelatin.

Veterinary

• We at The Medicine Shoppe recognize that your patients come in all shapes and sizes and that compounding may be necessary to increase the ease of medication administration for the pet and its owner. Below you will find some of our most ordered veterinary medications and doses. All suspensions are made with xylitol free ingredients and can be flavored to fit the animal’s taste preferences. If you don’t see a strength or drug that your client requires do not hesitate to reach out to the pharmacy and inquire.

Pediatrics

• We at The Medicine Shoppe realize that there are limitations in the medications
• currently available for the pediatric population, especially when patients are too young to swallow tablets or capsules. Additionally, commercially available liquid medications often come in few concentration options which can potentially cause young patients to be required to be prescribed volumes too large for easy administration. The Medicine Shoppe team can work with you to create patient specific liquid dosage forms of medications and ensure that they are appropriately flavored to make them more palatable and increase ease of administration. If you are not sure what available liquid medications are or are not on the market, do not hesitate to reach out to the pharmacy and inquire.

OB/GYN

• Below you will find some of our most commonly prescribed compounded medications for obstetrics/gynecology patients. If you don’t see a strength or drug that your patient requires do not hesitate to reach out to the pharmacy and inquire.

Gastroenterology

• Below you will find some of our most commonly prescribed compounded medications for gastroenterology patients. If you don’t see a strength or drug that your patient requires do not hesitate to reach out to the pharmacy and inquire.

Chronic Pain Management

• We at The Medicine Shoppe recognize that the population of patients suffering from chronic pain and pain management related conditions is on the rise. Each patient presents a unique case and will, likely and unfortunately, require several different treatments over the course of their life to effectively manage their pain condition(s). Our compounding team is able to create a variety of medications in different dosage forms that offer patients new and different treatment opportunities from products currently available on the market. Below you will find a table with our most commonly prescribed compounds related to pain management. If you do not see a drug, strength or drug combination listed that you believe your patient may benefit from, do not hesitate to reach out to the pharmacy and inquire.

Dermatology

• We at The Medicine Shoppe recognize that dermatology patients often require more customization of their treatments than commercially available dosage forms are able to offer. Below you will find a table with our most commonly prescribed compounds related to dermatology. If you do not see a drug, strength or drug combination listed that you believe your patient may benefit from, do not hesitate to reach out to the pharmacy and inquire.