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What veterinarians should include when writing a prescription for a compounded preparation

Writing a prescription for a compounded preparation is much like writing a prescription for any other medication, and many of the same elements and shorthand apply. Each prescription for a compounded medication must contain:

  • Patient and owner names and the animal species, breed and/or weight
  • Active ingredient: (e.g. Cyclosporine)
  • Strength: (e.g. 2%)
  • Dosage form: (e.g. Ophthalmic Drops)
  • Sig: (e.g. 1 GTT OU BID Refills: 2)
The veterinarian may make additional specifications such as indicating the vehicle (for the example above, corn oil or olive oil). The veterinarian is responsible for selecting an appropriate therapy, the pharmacist for accurately and appropriately compounding the medication. The compounding pharmacist will determine the appropriate inactives (filler/diluents) and packaging; formulations can differ from pharmacy to pharmacy.

Many states’ regulations allow for the veterinarian to order medication for use in their practice. You should familiarize yourself with the regulations in your state.

Learn more about the role of compounding in veterinary practice

We've recently published a guide to compounding pharmacy in veterinary practice as an ebook downloadable from our website. In it, you will get a comprehensive overview of

  • the most commonly prescribed compounds
  • when to and when not to prescribe a compounded medication
  • how dosage forms and flavoring may increase patient (and owner) compliance
  • instruction on how to write a prescription for a compounded preparation
  • statistics on how veterinarians are using compounds in their own practice
  • information on how to choose a compounding pharmacy for your practice
Your copy of the Guide to Compounding Pharmacy in Veterinary Practice from Wedgewood Pharmacy is now available for download.



Phil Scully R.Ph. Phil
Phil Scully, R.Ph.
Technical-Services Pharmacist
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About Phil Scully:
Philip A. Scully, R.Ph., technical-Services Pharmacist for Wedgewood Pharmacy, works with prescribers and their staff to develop custom formulations. He is a member of the Formula-Change Control Committee and Quality Review Board of the company and works closely with Research & Development.

Scully is experienced in all aspects of the compounding-pharmacy specialty and has developed unique expertise in compounding formulations, flavoring and oral dosage-forms. He has been in the pharmacy profession since 1993 and has worked at Wedgewood since 2003.

He is a Registered Pharmacist in New Jersey and was a certified primary diabetes educator. Previously, he was director of Operations/pharmacist-in-charge for Winslow's Pharmacy: An Omnicare Company (Vineland NJ); a consultant pharmacist with Cherry Hill Pharmacy LTC (Cherry Hill NJ) and was pharmacist-in-charge for an independent pharmacy.

He holds a B.S. degree in Pharmacy from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.

Disclaimers:
The views expressed on this blog are solely those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Wedgewood Pharmacy.

Medications compounded by Wedgewood Pharmacy are prepared at the direction of a veterinarian. Many compounded preparations are commonly prescribed, and supported by literature, to treat particular disease states, but you should always consult your veterinarian before taking or administering any compounded medication. Wedgewood Pharmacy does not make claims for the efficacy of its compounded preparations.