THE SCOOP ON COMPOUNDED DRUGS:
Compounded veterinary medicines are sometimes not advisable, but at other times, may be the only safe choice.
All the large drug companies will tell you that all compounded drugs are bad. Yet, in equine medicine, there seem to be a lot of compounds used. How do you make sense of it?
First, it is illegal and unethical for a doctor to use a compounded drug when a commercial preparation is available from a manufacturer in a form, strength, and sometimes at a cost that is rational. Keep that in mind, because there are times when there are compounds available, and some pharmacies will compound anything - but it's a big violation to use those preparations.
In cases where a drug goes on backorder, or you need a certain strength that would make it impossible to get what you need from a commercial product, compounded drugs are certainly a viable and often cost-effective option. Once such case is a drug called Histrelin. This drug regulates ovulation in mares. There are two commercial preparations that work similarly that have been available traditionally. Both those products can often become unavailable through veterinary suppliers. So, when you have a mare you're ordering semen for, do you leave ovulation to chance and gamble that the semen will still be viable when she decides to ovulate on her own? No.... unless you have unlimited money. This is a time when a compounded drug is not only legal to use (since no commercial variation is available), but it's the wise choice financially and for the best chance of pregnancy.
In other cases, such as with Omeprazole (the active ingredient in Ulcergard and Gastrogard), a compound is not nearly as rational or ethical a choice. Ulcergard and Gastrogard are commercially available from Merial. Yes, they are more costly than compounded omeprazole paste. However, they are patented and proven to be the most bio-available products available on the market for Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome. It is unethical for compounding pharmacies to make, and vets to sell, these preparations in concentrations that are available through supply houses or manufacturers.
The bottom line is that you should always check with your veterinarian before you reach for or order a compound. There can certainly be bioavailability or dosing differences when you're not using a commercial product. There is also the question of which compounding pharmacies are putting out the safest products regarding dosage and strengths. Are the compounds that you're considering going to be "stable" for the duration of the shelf life? Some drugs lose their efficacy very rapidly if it's not the commercial preparation. Some drugs are not stable in liquid, but remain effective and inert in powders and vice versa. And a compounding pharmacy that sells prescription drugs without a prescription is not a reputable pharmacy, period.
If you need more information on how to decide if a compound is the way to go, or what options you have, we encourage you to give us a call. We will discuss openly and honestly the options you have and why those options exist. We'll help you weigh the pros and cons. After all, the health of your horse is not just important to you - it's also important to us!
First, it is illegal and unethical for a doctor to use a compounded drug when a commercial preparation is available from a manufacturer in a form, strength, and sometimes at a cost that is rational. Keep that in mind, because there are times when there are compounds available, and some pharmacies will compound anything - but it's a big violation to use those preparations.
In cases where a drug goes on backorder, or you need a certain strength that would make it impossible to get what you need from a commercial product, compounded drugs are certainly a viable and often cost-effective option. Once such case is a drug called Histrelin. This drug regulates ovulation in mares. There are two commercial preparations that work similarly that have been available traditionally. Both those products can often become unavailable through veterinary suppliers. So, when you have a mare you're ordering semen for, do you leave ovulation to chance and gamble that the semen will still be viable when she decides to ovulate on her own? No.... unless you have unlimited money. This is a time when a compounded drug is not only legal to use (since no commercial variation is available), but it's the wise choice financially and for the best chance of pregnancy.
In other cases, such as with Omeprazole (the active ingredient in Ulcergard and Gastrogard), a compound is not nearly as rational or ethical a choice. Ulcergard and Gastrogard are commercially available from Merial. Yes, they are more costly than compounded omeprazole paste. However, they are patented and proven to be the most bio-available products available on the market for Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome. It is unethical for compounding pharmacies to make, and vets to sell, these preparations in concentrations that are available through supply houses or manufacturers.
The bottom line is that you should always check with your veterinarian before you reach for or order a compound. There can certainly be bioavailability or dosing differences when you're not using a commercial product. There is also the question of which compounding pharmacies are putting out the safest products regarding dosage and strengths. Are the compounds that you're considering going to be "stable" for the duration of the shelf life? Some drugs lose their efficacy very rapidly if it's not the commercial preparation. Some drugs are not stable in liquid, but remain effective and inert in powders and vice versa. And a compounding pharmacy that sells prescription drugs without a prescription is not a reputable pharmacy, period.
If you need more information on how to decide if a compound is the way to go, or what options you have, we encourage you to give us a call. We will discuss openly and honestly the options you have and why those options exist. We'll help you weigh the pros and cons. After all, the health of your horse is not just important to you - it's also important to us!