There’s no question that interruptions in the supply chain are problematic for a lot of patients who depend on certain medications. Is it wise to turn to alternatives through compounding pharmacies?
Maybe not. Compounding pharmacies do have their place, particularly when patients have unique sensitivities to certain common components of ordinary drugs or they need a special formula. But they also have significant dangers. Let’s look at a few.
Lack of FDA approval
Compounded medications are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). That means they haven’t been tested for safety and effectiveness in the same way that other medications have been.
Contamination risks
A lot of compounding pharmacies are small operations with fewer resources than large pharmaceutical firms – and that can lead to issues with cleanliness. The risk of contamination can be huge if the conditions in the pharmacy are not sterile.
Inconsistent potency
Every drug is manually mixed in a compounding pharmacy, and human beings are error-prone. The quality of any given drug depends heavily on the individual pharmacist involved. Even a small mistake in measuring active ingredients in a drug can lead to danger for a patient.
Misleading
Some compounding pharmacies promote their products as “safer” or more “natural” than FDA-approved drugs, but these claims are largely unsubstantiated because of the lack of FDA oversight and clinical trials. Patients can be misled into believing that a drug is somehow free of risk or superior to what they get in a regular pharmacy.
If you need a compounded medication, be very cautious when choosing your pharmacy. Ask a lot of questions and get your doctor’s recommendation. If you do suffer harm from a compounding pharmacy’s error, however, make sure that you receive the appropriate legal guidance.
