Compounding is the art and science of tailoring medications to individual needs and requirements. Compounding has traditionally been a skill in all pharmacies but became less relevant over the past 50 years as more manufactured medicines became available. Compounding is now a pharmacy specialist area dealing with much more potent products and hormones requiring extra training and education.
While manufactured medications fit most people’s needs there are always situations that do not fit ‘in the box’. This is where we can individualise medication for a specific patient.
In our modern laboratory we can compound many different dosage forms to fill the patient’s needs. These include transdermal creams, capsules, suppositories, mixtures, paints and trouches (lozenges). Bioidentical hormones (natural progesterone, oestrogens, testosterone, pregnenolone and DHEA) are an area we specialise in and appointments can be booked for salivary hormone profiles conducted by our professionally trained pharmacists. If you would like to make an appointment for this service please telephone our Woodgate Beach Pharmacy on 07 4126 5228.
Children are specifically suited for custom compounded prescriptions, as some commercially manufactured medication forms are often not the best solution for kids.
We are able to provide a choice of natural or artificial, colour-free and sugar-free flavours alternatives, and with flavour choices like watermelon, strawberry, chocolate, vanilla, bubblegum, tangerine, orange, cheesecake, strawberry truffle, choc cheesecake, melon berry we will be able to encourage children to accept their medication. These flavours can be added to your child’s regular medication as well as to our compounded products.
The region’s most experienced compounding pharmacist Brendan West, is working at our Woodgate Beach Pharmacy which has a purpose built compounding area. Brendan is passing on his in-depth knowledge and experience by training our Pharmacists Katie-Jay McLeod and Nick Adams, so that more professionally trained compounding pharmacists will be available with Coral Coast Pharmacies.
We are a member of the Professional Compounding Chemists of Australia (PCCA). PCCA provides its members with comprehensive training in the latest compounding techniques, equipment and devices.
The Coral Coast Pharmacies’ team are dedicated to promoting health and happiness to you and your family.
Short Profiles of our Compounding Pharmacists.
Brendan West
I am a fourth generation pharmacist in practise for over 25 years and have been compounding since starting work with my father over 30 years ago. I commenced speciality compounding in Bundaberg in 2003 and have attended many seminars and lectures on bioidentical hormone therapy. I have a particular interest in helping women with hormone issues that are beyond the scope of manufactured medicines.
Katie-Jay McLeod
I was born and raised in Bundaberg and have enjoyed working with the local community since I became registered as a pharmacist. My recent training with the PCCA compounding specialists has awakened my passion for compounding. I am excited about the opportunities and health solutions that my fresh view and growing expertise in compounding will provide to the Wide Bay/Burnett community, and I look forward to gaining experience in all areas of this specialist focus.
Nick Adams
I have worked here in Bundaberg as an intern and after graduating as a Pharmacist. However, during university I did secure a two week placement in a specialised compounding pharmacy on the Gold Coast. My interest in compounding really started there. Compounding appeals to me because it offers treatment solutions to customers that may not be met by main-stream manufactured pharmaceuticals. I completed my specialised training with PCCA in November 2011. The opportunity to compound medicines that can be individually-tailored for patients’ needs, which will provide better health outcomes, is why I am pursuing compounding as part of my career as a Pharmacist.