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Myth: Pharmacy compounding is the same as manufactured pharmaceuticals.
Fact: Pharmacy compounding involves creating customized medications for individual patients based on a healthcare provider’s prescription. Unlike mass production by pharmaceutical companies, compounding tailors medications to specific needs, such as altering dosage forms, ingredients, or combining medications that are not commercially available.
Myth: Compounded medications are only for rare conditions.
Fact: While compounded medications are often used for rare or unique conditions, they are also used in more common situations. Examples include making medications easier to swallow for children or elderly patients, creating allergen-free formulations, or providing specific dosages not commercially available.
Myth: Compounded medications are more expensive than commercially available drugs.
Fact: The cost of compounded medications can vary. In some cases, they may be more expensive due to the labor and specific ingredients required. However, they can also be less expensive, particularly when they are used to create a more affordable version of a discontinued or out-of-patent medication.
Myth: Compounded medications are the same as generic drugs.
Fact: Compounded medications are customized to meet the unique needs of a patient and are prepared based on a prescription from a healthcare provider. Generic drugs, on the other hand, are mass-produced versions of brand-name drugs that have the same active ingredients and are approved by the FDA.