Although most people take medications in their original form as made by drug manufacturers, some people take custom medications that are created by compounding pharmacies. These patients may require compounded medications to avoid certain allergens or to make ingestion of a medication easier if they can’t swallow a tablet or capsule.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), drug compounding is “the process of combining, mixing, or altering ingredients to create a medication tailored to the needs of an individual patient.” That means compounded medications are “custom” medications and can be safer and more effective for certain patients.
However, because they differ from the formulas and ingredients that undergo rigorous testing, compounded medications aren’t FDA-approved. They also don’t have any quality control before they are sold or administered to patients. Instead, patients must rely on their pharmacies to produce safe compounded medications.
But because the compounding process has little to no oversight beyond a specific pharmacy’s protocols, these medications can put patients at harm when the process is flawed. One of the biggest risks that patients face from compounded medications is receiving dosages that are too high or too low for their conditions or being exposed to harmful bacteria and contaminants.
If you or someone you love was harmed by a negligently compounded medication, you may be eligible to file a compensation claim against the pharmacy that prepared it. The drug injury lawyers at Ferrer Poirot Feller Daniel can guide you through this process. Contact us today for a free consultation.