At Eastside Compounding, we take pride in our commitment to providing personalised and tailored healthcare solutions. One of the critical aspects of our approach is the meticulous sourcing of high-quality raw ingredients in the compounding process.
Firstly, it’s important to understand why compounding pharmaceuticals is so crucial to getting the best care for your personal needs.
What’s the difference between compounded medicine and commercially available medicines?
In a healthcare landscape dominated by mass-produced pharmaceuticals, compounding pharmacies like Eastside Compounding stand out as beacons of individualised care.
Unlike standard ‘one size fits all’ medications produced on a large scale, compounded medications are tailored to meet each patient’s unique needs. This can be to do with preferred dosage forms (such as gels, powders or capsules) combining ingredients to cover several medical needs or specific tailoring to eliminate allergens and intolerances.
At Eastside Compounding, our experienced pharmacists collaborate with healthcare professionals to formulate customised medications, adjust strengths, dosage forms, and eliminate allergens or unnecessary additives. This personalised approach ensures that patients receive medications that align precisely with their health requirements.
Circumstances for compounding medicine
We believe compounding medicine is an excellent and convenient option when commercially available medicines are not suitable or available. However, compounding medicine becomes imperative when a patient has a specific intolerance or allergy.
Understanding what’s in your medicine and supplements
In delving into the contents of your medicine and supplements, it’s crucial to note that commercially available products often incorporate non-active components referred to as excipients. These are additional additives that encompass fillers, colours, preservatives and flavours and may also include potential allergens like gluten, soy or dairy.
While these elements serve various purposes, such as improving the product’s shelf stability or making it look or taste more appealing, they can pose considerations for individuals adhering to specific dietary restrictions or those with sensitivities and are often unnecessary to the product’s efficacy.
At Eastside Compounding, we prioritise a transparent approach to medication ingredients. Our compounding process revolves around carefully selecting high-quality raw materials, devoid of unnecessary additives and tailored to individual requirements.
We source and secure high-quality ingredients that conform to the latest editions of USP, BP, EP and other compendial pharmacopeias.
It’s important to us that our patients both trust and comprehend the substances they are incorporating into their health regime.
The Governance of pharmaceutical compounding
As an Australian business operating in line with the rigorous standards of QCPP (Quality Care Pharmacy Practice), we adhere to the internationally recognised ISO AS 85000:2011 standard. This program, administered by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and audited bi-annually by Ernest Young, underscores our dedication to ensuring the safety, efficacy, and quality of compounded medications.
Pharmaceutical compounding is a practice governed by the Pharmacy Board of Australia and state health departments. Reputable compounding pharmacies, including Eastside Compounding, adhere to stringent quality and safety standards established to guarantee the safety and efficacy of medicines for all patients.
Education and training of compounding pharmacists
Our compounding pharmacists undergo specialised education and training to proficiently compound both simple and complex medications. This ensures the safety and effectiveness of the medications administered to our patients.
Our facility, equipment, and work environment
Eastside Compounding operates in facilities that meet satisfactory design, equipment, and maintenance standards. Our facilities are approved, registered and undergo regular risk assessments to ensure optimal safety. Above all this means there is utmost attention to detail given to cleanliness and the environment in which we compound our medicines.
Documentation of the compounding process
As we have demonstrated, this is understandably a highly regulated industry. We thoroughly document the compounding process for each compounded medicine, adhering to the highest standards of transparency and accountability.
Every compounded medication crafted by Eastside Compounding undergoes a meticulous, multi-layered quality control process. Our dedicated team of pharmacists conducts a thorough examination at various stages, ensuring the utmost precision and safety.
Utilising our advanced software system, each product is tracked from prescription to dispensing. Our final quality check guarantees:
- Correct formulation
- Accurate measurement of ingredients
- Integrity of the final product
To prioritise the assurance of quality even further, we undergo independent laboratory testing. We find these rigorous testing procedures important to validate the highest standards of purity and quality in our compounds. In addition, stability tests are conducted, allowing us to provide patients with precise expiry dates and optimal storage information to once again be confident that our patients are receiving the best care possible.
Labelling, packaging, and keeping you informed
All labelling and packaging of compounded medications strictly adhere to guidelines and requirements. Your medications and supplements should always make sense to you. At Eastside Compounding, we prioritise providing comprehensive yet understandable information for each compounded medicine, including usage instructions, storage guidelines, expiration dates, and information on any anticipated side effects.
We’re here to help.
We believe that the key to effective compounding lies not only in the expertise of our pharmacists but also in the quality of the raw ingredients we use. We are dedicated to upholding the highest standards to ensure our valued customers’ safety, efficacy, and satisfaction.