Compounding is where a drug, a pharmaceutical preparation, is made by a licensed pharmacist to meet the unique needs of a patient (either human or animal) when a commercially available drug does not meet those needs. 

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A pharmacist may compound a drug if it is not commercially available. Examples of how we may customize medications include:

• Customize strength.

• Combine multiple medications into one.

• Flavor a medication.

  • Flavoring may be done for humans and pets.

• Make a medicine to remove an inactive ingredient.

  • Such as lactose, gluten, or a dye if patient is allergic.

• Change the form of the medication.

  • Example: from a tablet to a liquid. ​

 

Compounding does not include making copies of commercially available drug products, as this is not allowed by law. 

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The U.S. Pharmacopeia Convention (USP) formally defines compounding as “the preparation, mixing, assembling, altering, packaging, and labeling of a drug, drug-delivery device, or device in accordance with a licensed practitioner's prescription, medication order, or initiative based on the practitioner/patient/ pharmacist/compounder relationship in the course of professional practice.” 

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