Which practice is not allowed among compounding pharmacists?

• A. Compounding drugs already commercially available
• B. Compounding medications based on physician prescriptions
• C. Compounding medications in small batches
• D. Using FDA-approved ingredients for compounding

Answer: (A)

Compounding pharmacists are not permitted to compound drugs that are already commercially available, primarily due to regulatory guidelines designed to ensure patient safety and the integrity of the pharmaceutical supply chain. The rationale behind this restriction is to prevent the diversion of patients from established, tested, and approved medications that meet rigorous safety and efficacy standards. By compounding a drug that is readily available on the market, pharmacists could undermine the integrity of the pharmaceutical industry and pose risks to patient safety through potential manufacturing errors or inconsistencies in the compounded medication.

In contrast, compounding medications based on specific prescriptions from physicians is a standard and crucial practice in pharmacy. This allows pharmacists to create customized medications tailored to individual patient needs, which is essential when a commercially available product does not meet those needs. Compounding medications in small batches is also permitted, as it can be necessary for fulfilling specific prescription demands without excess waste. The use of FDA-approved ingredients in compounding is permitted and encouraged, ensuring that the compounded medications are made using safe and quality components.