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Prescription Compounding in Flinders

Prescription compounding is when a pharmacist prepares a medicine for one person from its individual ingredients, following a prescription from your doctor or another prescriber. It can help when a commercially made medicine doesn’t suit you, for example when you are allergic to an ingredient, need a different strength or can’t swallow tablets. In Australia, pharmacists who compound follow the Pharmacy Board of Australia’s compounding guidelines. Not every medicine can or should be compounded, so please call us before you visit to check whether we can prepare your prescription.

Call (02) 4296 5548
Pharmacist in a white coat weighing powder on a balance beside a mortar and pestle

What Is Prescription Compounding?

Most medicines are made by manufacturers in set strengths and forms. A compounded medicine is prepared in the pharmacy for one particular person, using the ingredients, strength and form written on the prescription. That might mean a liquid instead of a tablet, a cream instead of a capsule, or a strength that isn’t made commercially.

When Compounded Prescriptions May Help

Your doctor may consider a compounded medicine when a commercially made product isn’t suitable for you. Common reasons include:

  • You are allergic or sensitive to a dye, preservative or other ingredient in the commercial product.
  • You, or your child, can’t swallow tablets or capsules and need a liquid or another form.
  • You need a strength that isn’t available commercially.
  • A medicine you rely on has been discontinued or is hard to get.

Your doctor and pharmacist can talk you through whether a compounded medicine is the right option, or whether a commercial product would suit you just as well.

When Compounding Is Not the Right Choice

Compounding isn’t always appropriate. Under the Pharmacy Board of Australia’s guidelines, a medicine should not be compounded when:

  • it would be the same as a commercial medicine that is already available and suitable for you
  • the pharmacy doesn’t have the right equipment, or the pharmacist doesn’t have the required knowledge and skills
  • there is no evidence that it is a safe and appropriate treatment

In these cases, your pharmacist may suggest you speak with your doctor about other options.

How Prescription Compounding Works

  1. Talk to your doctor. Your doctor decides whether a compounded medicine is right for you.
  2. Get a prescription. The prescription sets out the ingredients, strength and form of the medicine you need.
  3. Call us first. Ring (02) 4296 5548 to check whether we can prepare your prescription.
  4. Your medicine is prepared. The pharmacist checks the prescription, prepares the medicine and can explain how to use and store it.

Prescription Compounding in Flinders

Flinders Discount Chemist is at 7 Munmorah Circuit, Flinders NSW 2529. Save & Deliver has more than 20 years of experience as a compounding pharmacy and is a member of the PCCA (Professional Compounding Chemists of Australia).

To learn more about how compounding works, read our guide to compounding pharmacy services, or contact us with your questions.

For answers to common questions, read our guide to compounding basics.

Call (02) 4296 5548

Prescription Compounding FAQs

Do compounded prescriptions need a prescription from my doctor?

A compounded medicine is prepared for one particular person. If it contains a prescription medicine, you will need a prescription from your doctor or another prescriber that sets out the ingredients, strength and form.

Are compounded medicines checked by the TGA?

Medicines compounded in a pharmacy for one person are generally exempt from the TGA’s registration process, so they are not evaluated in the same way as commercially made medicines. Pharmacists who compound must follow the Pharmacy Board of Australia’s guidelines.

Can Flinders Discount Chemist prepare my compounded prescription?

Not every medicine can be compounded. Please call us on (02) 4296 5548 with your prescription details and we will let you know whether we can help.