Struggling through chronic pain problems like arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, nerve and muscle
pain does not have to be a daily activity. There's a better solution: pharmacy compounding, a customized
option for pain medication.
Alternate Dosage Forms
Many commonly prescribed pain relief medications help the symptoms associated with chronic conditions such as
arthritis, but they can also result in stomach irritation and other unwanted side effects. Compounding can
provide alternate methods of delivery by combining the ingredients of traditional oral pain medications in a
topical gel, cream or spray that can be applied directly to the site of the pain. For migraine sufferers, pain
medication may be administered through nasal sprays, flavored troches, or lozenges. These dosage forms bypass
the gastrointestinal tract, providing optimal results with less GI irritation.
Combined Formulations
Often, fibromyalgia patients are placed on a variety of medications to take care of all the symptoms
associated with the disease. On many occasions, these multiple medications can be combined into a single
compounded topical gel, ready to be applied directly to affected areas.
Strength Variations
Because patients vary in size, symptoms and pain tolerance, commercially available medications often do not
provide an appropriate dosage strength. Through compounding, a pharmacist can customize a medication to the
exact amount needed by the patient. Pain can be debilitating whether it's acute muscle or nerve pain resulting
from an accident, or a chronic condition such as arthritis or fibromyalgia. Compounding is effective in
providing relief with potentially fewer side effects while taking the proper therapeutic dose.