Compounded medications provide customized solutions for specific patient needs, such as a liquid dosage form instead of a pill, and are gaining greater acceptance for the benefits and flexibility they offer.

Therapeutic needs of certain patients sometimes cannot be met with commercially available products. Customized drugs created by compounding pharmacies offer valuable treatment options for physicians and their patients, says Dr. Jon Pritchett, Pharm.D., RPh., BCSCP, ACHC Pharmacy Program Director.

Safety in mind

How can pharmacies, prescribing physicians, and patients ensure compounded drugs are safe and viable to use?

Quality is key, Pritchett says. Central to ensuring quality is compounding pharmacy accreditation, which confirms a pharmacy’s commitment to excellence in preparing compounded medications.

Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board (PCAB) Accreditation is long-recognized as the most respected and valued accreditation status in the industry.

ACHC PCAB Accreditation bridges the gap between conventional and customized medications by reviewing compounding processes and validating that best practices are used consistently to minimize risk for patients. Standards align with trusted USP guidelines for safe, high-quality medicines.

Accreditation matters

Pharmacies that achieve additional PCAB recognition have met rigorous national requirements for preparing nonsterile and sterile compounded drugs.

By recommending that patients choose pharmacies with PCAB Accreditation, physicians can be confident that compounded drug prescriptions will be prepared with utmost care.

And patients who choose PCAB-accredited pharmacies get extra assurance that their compounded medications are backed by a proven commitment to delivering the safest, most reliable products.