The Science of Pharmaceutical Compounding

Pharmaceutical compounding is the science of creating customized medication by combining different ingredients in an exact strength and dosage that will provide patients with personalized solutions for a variety of medical conditions. Working with your physician and other practioners, our pharmacists at MEDS Pharmacy will be happy to come up with the perfect customized medication to meet your individual needs.

Visit Us in the Kingsway

Since 1975, Canadian Compounding Pharmacy (formerly the Medicine Shoppe) has been the go-to specialty pharmacy in Toronto for compounded medications. Recently, Canadian Compounding Pharmacy joined MEDS Pharmacies and in 2017 moved to our new location at 2920 Bloor Street West.

At MEDS Canadian Compounding Pharmacy we are able to offer our customers various kinds of medical compounding for a variety of needs, such as, pain management, veterinary medicine solutions, and hormone replacement therapy. Using our state-of-the-art labs we can create these therapeutic alternatives, as well as modify dosage forms and medication delivery systems, and even flavour medications for easier consumption.

Come visit us to learn what a compounding pharmacy is and how we can provide you with specialized treatments for you, your family, and your pets.

The History of Pharmaceutical Compounding

It may not have crossed your mind, but pharmaceutical compounding is actually as old the earliest human civilizations. It was only in the early 20th century that mass-produced pharmaceuticals created by large-scale manufactures became the norm.

Humans have always had a fascination with nature and its many uses, especially when it comes to consumption and the effects on the body. There is evidence that as early as 60,000 years ago early humans were experimenting with medical plants such as opium poppies, ephedra, and cannabis. Throughout history we’ve heard mention of shamans, healers, apothecaries, and so forth, and their knowledge of extracting elements of nature to combine them into suitable medications.

By the late 1800s, the modern pharmaceutical industry emerged as apothecaries transitioned from using botanicals to the first synthetic drugs. At this stage, and up until the early 1900s, compounding was the norm and drugs were being produced by small-scale manufacturers, though, with little regulatory control.

By the turn of the 20th century stricter government regulations were placed on the practice of medicine. Because of the need to implement regulations, and the development of marketing and branding, the mass-production of pharmaceuticals quickly shifted to the norm, and compounding specialists eventually became a rarity.

New Breed of Compounding Specialists

Today, there is a resurging demand for customized, medically compounded medications because mainstream drug manufacturing doesn’t always meet the distinct requirements of every individual. Physicians are becoming increasingly interested in customized drugs because a patient may not be able to tolerate a commercially available drug, the exact preparation needed may not be commercially available, or because a patient may require a drug that is currently in shortage or discontinued. Everyone’s body is different, from their weight to how they react to various chemical compounds. Even age can factor into how someone reacts to a certain medication.

Working closely with a number of different prescribers, MEDS Canadian Compounding Pharmacy prides itself in being a pioneer of a new breed of compounding specialists. We have compounding solutions for a number of medical issues, as well as the ability to alter the way a medicine is administered or flavoured for easier consumption.

Take a look below to see some of the ways in which we use pharmaceutical compounding to help our customers in the heart of Toronto.

Bioidentical Hormones

Bioidentical hormones are compounded medications that are created from the naturally-derived supplements of plant hormones that are biologically identical to those in the human body. Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are among the most commonly replicated and used in treatment. Bioidentical hormones come in various forms, including pills, patches, creams, gels, and injections.

The benefits of bioidentical hormones can be life-changing for women going through menopause. With your doctor we can create a custom compound of these plant-based hormones to meet your body’s unique needs, relieving menopausal symptoms and slowing the progression of many age-related conditions.

We at MEDS Pharmacy Group have numerous years of experience providing bioidentical hormones for hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) in Toronto and throughout Canada.

Pain Management

Pain can be debilitating and life-altering, preventing you from living your life to the fullest. Whether your chronic pain is because of fibromyalgia, arthritis, migraines, or a neuropathic condition, we can work with you and your doctor in developing a pain management program tailored to your specific needs.

Often common pain relief medications prescribed by doctors will help the symptoms associated with chronic conditions, but they can also result in unwanted side effects. Compounding can provide alternate methods of delivery by combining ingredients of traditional oral pain medications in a topical gel, cream, or spray form that can be applied directly to the site of the pain. Doing this can relieve unwanted side effects such as upset stomach or bad breath.

Veterinary Medications

Many pet owners have difficulty administering medications to their pets; whether it’s getting them to swallow a pill or making sure they are taking the correct dose. Working with your veterinarian, we can prepare customized medications for your picky fur-friend by providing a variety of different formulas and flavouring options to make administering medicine easier.

Pediatric Medications

Some children might also have issues with the flavour of their medication, or might not be comfortable with swallowing a pill. If you have a child who is refusing to take their medication because of taste or the form it’s administrated in, we have options that will make your life easier. With pharmaceutical compounding we can add flavour to their medications, or even change the way it is administered, so that your child will feel more comfortable with their medication.

For all your pharmaceutical needs in the core of Toronto, be sure to stop by any of our MEDS Pharmacy locations, at the Kingsway, High Park, or the Junction. We have everything you need to provide you with the right pharmaceutical solutions just for you.