Extemporaneous

Extemporaneous refers to the process of preparing a drug or medication in a specific dose, based on a doctor's prescription, to meet a patient's individual needs. This method is often used when commercially available drugs do not meet the needs of a patient. This could be due to a variety of reasons such as the patient being allergic to certain ingredients, the required dosage not being commercially available, or the patient needing a different form of the medication.

Process

The process of extemporaneous compounding involves several steps. First, the pharmacist must receive a valid prescription from a doctor. The pharmacist then calculates the amount of each ingredient needed and accurately measures and mixes them. The final product is then packaged and labeled appropriately.

Uses

Extemporaneous compounding is used in a variety of situations. It is often used for patients who are allergic to certain ingredients in commercially available drugs. It can also be used when the required dosage of a medication is not commercially available. In addition, it can be used to create a different form of a medication, such as a liquid form for a patient who has difficulty swallowing pills.

Risks

While extemporaneous compounding can be beneficial, it also carries some risks. These include the possibility of human error in calculating and measuring ingredients, as well as the potential for contamination during the compounding process. Therefore, it is important that extemporaneous compounding is carried out by a trained pharmacist in a controlled environment.

Regulation

Extemporaneous compounding is regulated by various bodies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and state pharmacy boards. These bodies set standards for the practice and carry out inspections to ensure compliance.

See Also

• Pharmacy
• Pharmacist
• Prescription drug
• Food and Drug Administration

Extemporaneous Resources
Latest articles Most recent articles Ongoing trials	Wikipedia