21 April 2008

Increasing demand for compounded medicines has triggered a call for the introduction of uniform national standards, according to a recent editorial in Australian Prescriber by community pharmacist, Mark Feldschuh.

Mr Feldschuh says “Although there have been few confirmed incidents of harm from compounded products in Australia, there is great potential for this to happen given the absence of enforceable quality control measures”.

“Compounding complex dosage forms, such as controlled-release formulations, has created concern, as variations in pharmaceutical performance are possible,” he writes in the April issue of Australian Prescriber.

The editorial outlines the Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) issues around compounding, stating that information and education on the appropriate use of compounded medicines have to be communicated to each patient.

“There is no consumer medicine information available for compounded medicines,” says Mr Feldschuh. “Prescribers and pharmacists must advise the patient on the correct use, storage, expiry date and possible adverse effects and interactions”.

Mr Feldschuh supports the Professional Practice Standards developed by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia to improve compounding standards in Australia. Currently, professional pharmacy practice is governed by pharmacy boards in each state or territory.

Patient counselling on the appropriate use of compounded medicines would continue to be a strategy to help minimise any potential for harm.

Mr Feldschuh concludes by saying “…the compounding pharmacist has to be aware of the risks, and the prescriber has to balance potential harm against clinical need.”

ENDS

Australian Prescriber is an independent peer-reviewed journal providing critical commentary on therapeutic topics for health professionals, particularly doctors in general practice. It is published by National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS), an independent, non-profit organisation for Quality Use of Medicines funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.