Compounding pharmacies are a hot topic right now, but a question we get asked often is about the cost. It’s a valid concern—after all, we all want to get the best value for our healthcare. So, is custom compounding more expensive? Let’s explore what makes a compounded medication different and why its value might be about more than just the price tag.In this article, we’ll explore:
What is a Compounding Pharmacy?
First, let’s clarify what a compounding pharmacy does. Unlike traditional pharmacies that dispense mass-produced medicines from large drug companies, a compounding pharmacy custom makes medications specifically for you.
This process is more hands-on and requires a team of specialists to create a safe and effective product. This is why it can take a little more time than a standard pharmacy prescription.
The Cost vs. Value of Compounding
While a compounded medication may have a different price point than a mass-produced one, it’s essential to look at the overall value. In some situations, a compounded medicine can actually be a more cost-effective solution in the long run.
Consider this:
- If a vital medicine you rely on is discontinued by a drug company, a compounding pharmacy can often access the raw ingredient and recreate it for you. This allows you to continue a treatment that works, avoiding the need to switch to a new, unfamiliar medicine that may or may not be as effective.
- It can save you the time and stress of finding alternative treatments and prevent interruptions to your health routine.
When is Compounding the Right Choice?
Custom compounding is particularly beneficial when a patient needs a specific dose that isn’t commercially available. Traditional pharmacies are limited to the strengths that drug companies produce, but not every person fits neatly into a standard dosage.
For example, if your doctor recommends a blood pressure medication and the available strengths are 5mg and 10mg, but you need 7.5mg, a compounding pharmacy can create a capsule with that exact dose. This means:
- No more cutting tablets in half.
- No need to take multiple pills to reach the right dose.
- A single, convenient capsule that is precisely what your body needs.
The convenience and effectiveness of a custom dose can often outweigh the slightly different cost, especially when it helps you feel better and stay on track with your health goals.
Customised Doses for Your Body
Compounding gives you control over your health in a way that standard medicine can’t. Think of it like a subscription service: you pay for what you really want and need. When you and your doctor agree on a treatment plan, you want to be able to follow it without compromise.
Compounding pharmacies provide that personalisation. We are here to help your doctor find a custom solution for your individual needs. While the cost may be different from a normal pharmacy, the result is a medicine made just for you that delivers the exact results you’re looking for.
The True Value of Personalised Medicine
The core benefit of compounding is this personalisation. It allows you to continue taking a medicine you know works, gives you access to precise dosages, and provides a treatment plan that fits your unique body and needs.
While the price of a compounded medicine may be different, it’s an investment in a solution that is tailored, effective, and reliable.
If you have questions about whether a compounded medication could be right for you or the costs involved, we invite you to speak with us. The value of your health is immeasurable, and sometimes, the right personalised solution is the most valuable one of all.
Video Transcript
It’s a question that we do get at National Custom Compounding a fair bit. And for those of you that may not be familiar with what a compounding pharmacy does, I’d like to start there. The first thing that compounding pharmacies do is they custom make medicine specifically for you when you order it. What that means is they’re not mass produced, and there are a number of team members involved in getting that product safe and effective and final. And that takes a little bit more time than a traditional pharmacy and drug company might require. What the difference is, though, is even though they’re more expensive, they may actually be more cost effective for you. So in situations where the medicine that you’re getting might be discontinued, where you go to a compounding pharmacy like ourselves, you might actually be able to get that medicine made when in the past a drug company would typically discontinue it, which means your normal pharmacy would no longer be able to supply it. Changing medicines can be tricky, and it can be a little bit worrying sometimes, so we understand. A compounding pharmacy is able to access that raw ingredient and turn it into a capsule or liquid or a dosage form that works for you. Which means that you can keep taking that active ingredient you’ve been taking, getting the good results that your doctor and self are familiar with, but not getting it through your regular pharmacy, getting it through a compounding pharmacy. So even though the cost might be slightly different, it’s more about the fact that that medicine works. And when it works, you feel better within yourself. The other part is when a medicine is specifically made for you, we might be able to adjust the dose slightly to better suit yourself. So again, when you go to your doctor and they choose a regular medicine from a pharmacy, they only have certain strengths that they can choose from. But not every strength works for every body. And that’s where a compounding pharmacy like ours sets up and is most suitable. So in a situation where your blood pressure medicine might be between 5mg and 10mg, but you might actually want 7.5mg, well, come and chat to someone like us and we can make you a formula quite often with that same active ingredient at the 7.5mg. It means you don’t have to break tablets. You don’t have to take two tablets. And while the costs might be slightly more expensive than what you used to. Obviously the convenience of having a single capsule can outweigh that cost. So compounding pharmacies can be the way to go. And the other part is it’s really these days about the benefits of paying for what you really want. We all spend lots of money on subscription services because we want to watch what we want to watch and think of a compounding pharmacy in a similar way. If you really want a product and your doctor really wants you to get the product, why not chat to us? Because we might be able to personally make it. It’s a custom medicine made in one single time, and although the cost will be different to what you’re used to getting through a normal pharmacy, what you’ve ended up with is exactly what you would like. So the personalisation of compounding pharmacies is really what we’re here for. Obviously we’re here to help and the price may be slightly different, but not always that much more expensive. Um, chat to us today if you’ve got any questions.
