subject: Specialty Pharmacies Help Patients Allergic To Additives In Regular Prescription Medications [print this page] Other than the drug they are meant to administer, most of us probably don't give much thought to what ingredients might be lurking in our medications. Perhaps it is something we should pay more attention to, however, because over-the-counter and prescription medications all too often contain a variety of additives, fillers and colorings that have no therapeutic value, and that can even trigger adverse reactions in some patients. Addressing unique patient needs, compounding pharmacies work together with physicians to create formulations of medicines that are free of these irritants and that provide personalized doses to those who require it.
Some of the additives that have been known to cause problems include lactose, sugar, dyes, and the ever-present gluten. For people who are affected by these allergies or adverse reactions, some of the common chemicals and unnecessary ingredients can have some pretty distressing outcomes. These issues can range from headaches to asthma to severe stomach aches, and even, in children who suffer from ADHD, elevated hyperactivity.
For these people, specialty pharmacies provide welcome relief. In their state of the art and strictly regulated labs, compounding pharmacies can prepare medicines that not only meet the needs of individual patients by leaving out allergens, they can produce the drugs in several delivery forms that make taking them much simpler. For instance, if a patient has difficulty swallowing pills, specialty pharmacies can produce the same drug in the form of a flavored oral syrup.
These compounding pharmacies can also create medications that take the form of gummies, transdermal patches, sublingual strips, anal or vaginal suppositories, ointments, and ear and eye drops. The idea is to give each individual the exact effective dose of the drugs that he or she needs in a form that is easy to administer.
Specialty pharmacies are also beneficial when medicines or their ingredients are in high demand or otherwise difficult to obtain. Specialty pharmacists have the knowledge and training that allows them to personalize a therapeutic equivalent for the patient, and one that fits his or her needs exactly.
Specialty pharmacies can treat virtually all the issues and ailments that a standard pharmacy can, but are especially beneficial pain management, pediatrics, geriatrics, hormone replacement, skin issues, and even veterinary care. They have become a valuable and significant part of health and medicine.
