Manufacturers must be assured there will be a return on their investment when entering the market place with a drug product. It literally costs millions of dollars to get a single drug approved. Therefore, there are limited chemical forms, dosage forms, strengths, flavors, and packaging that are available for physicians to prescribe. Compounding allows the physician to prescribe a custom-tailored medication that is not available commercially. One of the most important reasons to use a compounded medication is patient non-tolerance of a manufactured product.
Many patients are allergic to preservatives or dyes, or are sensitive to standard drug therapies.
The pharmacist can also prepare the medication using several unique delivery systems, such as a sublingual lozenge, a lollipop, or transdermal gel. Thus, compounding can substantially improve patient compliance. Compounded medications are also used to help patients who are experiencing chronic pain. For example, topical, transdermal ointments can be applied locally allowing a patient to avoid nausea and other adverse gastrointestinal side effects. The ultimate goal of compounded medications is to help the physician and patient achieve a more positive and cost-effective therapeutic outcome.