Customized Pharmaceutical Care

A growing number of people have unique health needs that off-the-shelf prescription medicines may not be able to meet. For them, customized, compounded medications prescribed by licensed physicians or veterinarians, then mixed safely by trained, licensed compounding pharmacists, might be the only way to better health. Compounding can be done for medically necessary reasons including changing the form of the medication from a solid pill to a liquid, to avoid a non-essential ingredient that the patient is allergic to, or to obtain the exact dose needed. Compounding may also be done for voluntary reasons, such as adding favorite flavors or decreasing dosages for children, or to make formulas that are tolerable for animals.

Sorrento Valley-based Southern California Compounding Pharmacy is dedicated to helping patients understand and reach their prescribed treatment goals. Together with patient input, SCCP assists the treating physician in focusing on the initial prescription therapy and duration of treatment, while monitoring effectiveness and potential side effects.

In addition to offering alternate dosage forms, SCCP’s medications can be compounded without certain possible allergic ingredients such as dyes, coloring agents, medication placebo buffers, or other active ingredients. Formulas can be prepared as creams, lozenges, nasal sprays, oral liquid solutions or dissolving strips, infusion solutions, gels, capsules, tablets — you name it. Delivery service is free; most private third party insurance plans are accepted, as are Medi-Cal, Medicare, and Medicare Part D programs. (858/622-1278, www.socalpharm.com)    JANE SHIOMI