May 2026
For many people, filling a prescription is as simple as having their doctor call it in and the pharmacist dispensing it from readily available medications. But if you’re one of a growing number of people with health needs that require unique medications, you may need more specialized help.
Maybe you need a different-strength medication than what manufacturers typically provide. Perhaps you are allergic to a non-active ingredient in a drug (like a food dye or gluten). Or maybe you or your loved one can’t swallow a pill and needs your medication in liquid form.
When off-the-shelf prescriptions aren’t available or aren’t appropriate, customized medications can be prepared through a process known as compounding.
What is compounding?
Compounding is the process of preparing customized medications tailored to meet a patient’s specific needs. This practice is used when commercially available medications — whether over-the-counter or prescription — do not meet a patient’s needs. Compounding can be used to adjust the strength, form, or inactive ingredients of a single medication. It can also be used to combine two or more drugs in ratios other than what are currently available.
What are the benefits of compounding?
Compounding offers several unique advantages that can improve your health and quality of life:
- Customize strength. The strength of a medication may need to be adjusted based on your weight, age, or size. If you need a strength that is not commercially available, compounding can help ensure you receive the most appropriate medication for you, without the hassle or potential inaccuracies of cutting or splitting tablets or opening capsules yourself.
- Combine medications. Multiple medications can also be combined into a single dose, making it simpler to adhere to your doctor’s orders. Combining medications can sometimes reduce your prescription cost if the compounded medication is made from less expensive bulk ingredients.
- Access to discontinued medications. Pharmacies can recreate discontinued medications through compounding, providing access to much-needed care.
- Remove allergens. Fillers, dyes, binders, and other additives used in medications can trigger adverse reactions. These ingredients can be removed through compounding. Preservative-free, dye-free, or gluten-free medications can be a lifesaver for people with allergies.
- Provide medication in an easier-to-take form. Have you ever had trouble swallowing a pill? A compounding pharmacy can create an easily digestible, liquid version of the medication for you. Other common forms include lollipops, lozenges, and suppositories. These compounded medications are a great option for children or elderly adults who have difficulty swallowing capsules or tablets. Topical formulations such as creams, gels, lotions, or ointments may be prepared and applied directly to the skin to provide faster, more targeted relief.
Where can I have compounded prescriptions made?
Based on your medical needs, your doctor will determine if compounded medication is a good fit for you. Any doctor can prescribe a compounded medication. Compounded medications are prepared by many licensed pharmacies that operate under a state board of pharmacy and are subject to regulatory oversight by the FDA. Compounding is available at many Good Neighbor Pharmacy locations. Ask your pharmacist or visit your local Good Neighbor Pharmacy for more information.
