Fellow In Training
Robert Seik is an A4M Fellow specializing in compounding pharmaceuticals. He also provides customized hormone replacement therapy to meet the exact needs of the patient.
What is Compounding?
Compounding combines an ageless art with the latest medical knowledge and
state-of-the-art technology, allowing specially trained professionals to
prepare customized medications to meet each patient’s specific needs.
Compounding is fundamental to the profession of pharmacy and was a standard
means of providing prescription medications before drugs began to be
produced in mass quantities by pharmaceutical manufacturers. The demand for
professional compounding has increased as healthcare professionals and
patients realize that the limited number of strengths and dosage forms that
are commercially available do not meet the needs of many patients, and that
these patients often have a better response to a customized dosage form that
is "just what the doctor ordered".
Our compounding professionals can prepare
* unique dosage forms containing the best dose of medication for each
individual.
* medications in dosage forms that are not commercially available, such as
transdermal gels, troches, "chewies", and lollipops.
* medications free of problem-causing excipients such as dyes, sugar,
lactose, or alcohol.
* combinations of various compatible medications into a single dosage form
for easier administration and improved compliance.
* medications that are not commercially available.
Quality
Compounding Maximizes Therapeutic Outcomes
The efficacy of any formulation is directly related to its preparation,
which is why THE SELECTION OF YOUR COMPOUNDING PHARMACY IS CRITICAL. Ongoing
training for compounding pharmacists and technicians, state-of-the-art
equipment, and high quality chemicals are essential. Experience and
ingenuity are important factors as well. When tweaking a formula or
developing a unique preparation, the compounding pharmacist must consider
physical and chemical properties of both the active ingredient and
excipients, solubility, tonicity, viscosity, and the most appropriate dosage
form or device for administering the needed medication. Standard Operating
Procedures should be in place, stability studies should be considered when
compounding, and appropriate potency and sterility testing should be
performed.
Our compounding professionals can formulate suitable medications as
sublingual drops, oral and nasal sprays, lollipops, rectal solutions and
suppositories, and other customized dosage forms. Please contact us to
discuss your patients’ needs.
Structural differences exist between human, and synthetic and animal hormones. In order for a replacement hormone to fully replicate the function of hormones which were originally naturally produced and present in the human body, the chemical structure must exactly match the original. There are significant differences between hormones that are natural to humans and synthetic or horse preparations. Side chains can be added to a naturally-occurring hormone to create a synthetic drug that can be patented by a manufacturer. A patented drug can be profitable to mass produce, and therefore a drug company can afford to fund research as to the medication's use and effectiveness. However, naturally-occurring substances can not be patented, so scientific studies are less numerous on natural hormones, because medical research is usually funded by drug companies.
Natural hormones include estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), progesterone, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and pregnenolone. Our compounding specialists work together with patients and prescribers to provide customized hormone replacement therapy that provides the needed hormones in the most appropriate strength and dosage form to meet each woman's specific needs. Hormone replacement therapy should be initiated carefully after a woman's medical and family history has been reviewed. Every woman is unique and will respond to therapy in her own way. Close monitoring and medication adjustments are essential.