Island Drug is the only compounding pharmacy on Whidbey Island, specializing in the art and science of preparing personalized medications for over 25 years. Free of the “one size fits all” approach of corporate pharmaceuticals, this method allows us to customize a medication to meet the patient’s specific needs. Being a member of PCCA, we have the backing of an international organization that provides high-quality products, education, and support to help pharmacists and prescribers create personalized medicine.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Custom Prescription Compounding
What is compounding?
Compounding is the process of creating customized medications for patients who cannot take commercially available forms for a variety of reasons. We have the ability to customize the flavor, form, and strength of your medication, to craft the best treatment option you and your doctor have agreed upon. We can also compound natural hormone and thyroid replacement products, which are not commercially available. With an entire room dedicated to compounding with all of the latest equipment, we ensure that the products made for you are of the highest quality.
How does compounding benefit me?
Many patients are allergic to preservatives or dyes, or sensitive to standard drug strengths. With a physician’s consent, our compounding pharmacists can change the strength of a medication, alter its form to make it easier for the patient to ingest or apply, or add flavor to make it more palatable. The low cost of onsite compound preparation makes compounded prescriptions very competitive with commercially manufactured products, and with our Rx Advantage discount prescription drug program, we offer much needed relief from the rising cost of healthcare for the uninsured.
Will my insurance cover compounded medications?
Because compounded medications are exempt by law from having the National Drug Code ID numbers that commercial products have, some insurance companies will not directly reimburse the compounding pharmacy. However, almost every insurance plan allows for the patient to be reimbursed by sending in claim forms. While you may be paying the pharmacy initially for a compounded prescription, most insurance plans should cover the final cost.
Is compounding legal?
The practice of compounding dates back to the origins of pharmacy, and is widely used today in all areas of the industry to this day. Over the last few decades, compounding’s resurgence has benefited largely from advances in technology, quality control and research methodology. Today, the FDA states that compounded prescriptions are both ethical and legal, as long as they are prescribed by a licensed practitioner, for a specific patient, and compounded by a licensed pharmacy. Compounding is regulated by the State Board of Pharmacy.
Does my doctor know about compounding?
Prescription compounding is a rapidly growing part of many physicians’ practices. In today’s world of aggressive marketing by drug manufacturers, some may not realize the important value of compounded prescriptions. Ask your physician about compounding. Then call Island Drug, a pharmacy committed to providing high quality compounded medications.
Here is a sampling of the compounding solutions we offer:
- Alternate Dosage Forms
- Capsules
- Creams, Ointments, & Lotions
- Dermatological Specialties
- Flavor Specialization
- Gels – Topical, Oral
- Pain/Nausea Formulations
- Physical Therapy Consultation
- Podiatric Formulations
- Rectal Suppositories
- Sublingual Troches
- Sugar, Dye, Preservative Free Formulations
- Suspensions
- Topical Sprays and Powders
- Transdermal Paste
- Vaginal Creams and Applicators
- Vaginal Suppositories
- Veterinary Formulations
Island Drug is a Proud PCCA member. Please watch the video below to see how that benefits our level of patient care:
