Drugs Tailor-Made For You

You've heard of tailored suits and custom cars, but how about medications designed particularly for you and your condition? The possibility may not be as far-fetched as it sounds. Just about anything a doctor can prescribe, a compounding pharmacist can custom design. Medications created by compounding pharmacists that you won't find commercially in the United States include:

• cyclosporine eye drops, for easing eye dryness associated with Sjögren's syndrome;
• electrolyte lozenges that provide relief from dry mouth associated with Sjögren's syndrome;
• anti-inflammatory gels that can be applied to the skin over painful and inflamed joints; and
• gels containing vasodilators - drugs that dilate the blood vessels. (When rubbed over the skin, these gels can prevent the painful constriction of blood vessels triggered by cold temperatures or stress in people with Raynaud's phenomenon.)

Compounding pharmacists can also modify manufactured medications to suit the patient. For example, if a person is allergic to one of the ingredients in a medication, pharmacists can often do things to remove the substance from the product.

Because compounded products are available only by prescription, consult your physician if you have medication needs that aren't being addressed by commercially available medications. To find a compounding pharmacy in your area, call the International Association of Compounding Pharmacists at 800/927-4227.

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