Compounding for children
Children are full of life, energy and the curiosity to try new things with a smile. Bring a medicine bottle out of the cabinet and those smiles may turn to tears. Kids just don’t like medicine. Sometimes there’s nothing you can do about that; there’s nothing fun about being sick, and taking medicine just makes it worse.
While there is no guarantee that taking medicine will ever become an entirely pleasurable experience, there are some ways to help. One of the best involves contemporary pharmaceutical compounding.
Pediatric compounding is more effective than a spoonful of sugar
Compounding is the art and science of preparing customized medications for patients. In recent years, compounding has experienced a resurgence, as many physician are working with pharmacists to offer their patients the benefits of medication tailored specifically for certain needs. Children are especially suited for custom compounding prescriptions, as commercially manufactured drug forms are often not the best solution for kids.
Working closely with a compounding pharmacist, your child’ pediatrician can prescribe medications for nausea and vomiting, pain relief, oral thrush (yeast), head lice, diaper rash, skin disorders, cold sores/fever blisters, warts and more. Compounding can benefit patients in a variety of ways.
Flavored medicine
The child who refuses to take his or her medicine because of the taste is a prime opportunity for considering compounded medications. Dozens of flavors are available to compounding pharmacists who can enhance the taste and color of a medication, while also ensuring that the flavor’s pH is compatible with the medication’s properties. Your child won’t mind taking medicine as much when it tastes like bubblegum or fruit.
Unique dosage forms
Many children have a very difficult time swallowing capsules or tablets, especially if they have to take more than one medication during the day. To solve this problem, your pediatrician and compounding pharmacist can develop and prepare medications in alternate dosage forms your child won’t mind taking. These include syrups, suspensions, lozenges, topical gels and creams and lollipops – and all can be administered in any number of great flavors.
Strength and formula variations
Your child is unique. Children vary in size and weight. Some have allergies to fillers, food colors, and lactose or may need their medications free of dyes, sugar, soy, gluten or preservatives. As a result, it’s often a challenge to find a commercially available medication suitable for the individual needs of your child. A compounding pharmacist can be of help in formulating a medication to make the proper dose formulations suitable for the individual needs of your child.