Collin County Living Well Magazine May/June 2016

What is a Compounding Pharmacist? By Dr. Donna S. Barsky, R.Ph., D.Ph I s this a pharmacist who acts like a mad scientist? Are they just science geeks or someone that only works on research? Are they going to sell me snake oil? Actually, pharmacy compounding is the art and science of preparing customized medication. Compounding allows doctors and pharmacists to meet the special needs of patients. The most important benefit compounding offers is for these patients who may have difficulty taking or responding to commercially available medications. Some patients are allergic to sensitive to preservatives and dyes, or are non-compliant to standard drug strengths. Others may have a hard time swallowing a pill, or react adversely to medication’s taste, or their medication has been discontinued by the manufacturer. Working with the patient’s physician, compounding pharmacists can prepare medications in one of several unique delivery systems that are not generally available from pharmaceutical companies. This might include an oral suspen- sion for a product that is unstable in liquid for longer than 1 month, or an injectable medication in the prescribed dose, or a topical gel or cream that will allow the medication to be absorbed through the skin for patients who cannot or will not swallow, or even suppositories for rectal or vaginal use where the medication is best absorbed due to oral absorption difficulty. They physician may want several products in one ointment to get better results without the patient buying give different products. A compounding pharmacist can even make mouth troches to dissolves in the mouth, or lollipops and freezer pops for children. They will flavor medications to taste great, even for our smallest (or largest) patients like birds, kittens, rabbits, dogs, horses or any breed. We even make eye drops for animals. What is the result? A way to take medication that helps increase patient compliance and, ultimately, the health related outcome. The compounding pharmacist is there to customize your medication to meet your needs. Dr. Donna Barsky and her husband own Texas Star Pharmacy on Parker Road in Plano. www.texasstarpharmacy.com. LUXURY RESIDENCES F O R A N E N T I R E LY N E W NOW OPEN A C T I V E A D U LT L I F E Reserve Your Apartment Home Today! 844.818.0427 55 + Overture Plano Ad 20160202 OverturePlano .com 500 Coit Road, Plano, TX 75075 COLLIN COUNTY Living Well Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2016 47

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