Author: Bob Brensel | President, Pharmacist | ScriptWorks
Bob Brensel, RPh, earned his Pharmacy Degree at University of the Pacific in Stockton, California in 1980. He was honored as a student with the Longs Drugs Stores, “Outstanding Intern Scholarship” in 1977. Read More →
California Prescribers’ Most Trusted Compounding Pharmacy
Compounding pharmacies play a critical role in healthcare, especially for patients in California with unique medical needs and conditions that are not responding to commercial, mass-produced drugs on the market.
ScriptWorks stands at the forefront of a personalized healthcare movement, providing custom medication that retail pharmacies can’t offer. Here, we’ll explore how and why California practitioners prescribe compounds with ScriptWorks and potential benefits for patients with specific needs.
Compounding Pharmacy VS. Retail Pharmacy
When it comes to filling prescriptions, there are two types of pharmacies: retail and compounding. Although traditional retail pharmacies are more common, compounding pharmacies offer unique services worth exploring.
They may be preferred when an individual has trouble finding medications free of allergens/fillers, specific doses/forms, or when their prescription medications are in short supply or discontinued.
Mass-produced drugs may have certain dyes, sugars, lactose, fillers, and other active ingredients that a person might have an allergic response to or that might be contraindicated to their current condition. Compounding pharmacists can either decrease or altogether remove those nuisance ingredients or increase the amount of ingredients that may be more desired for the patient, depending on the physician’s orders. With this, medications are custom-made for adults, children, and animals.
PRESCRIPTION SPOTLIGHT
Sublingual Semaglutide
The STEP (Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with obesity) program, which consisted of several large-scale studies, revealed substantial weight loss among participants.
In the STEP 1 trial, individuals who received semaglutide experienced an average weight loss of around 15% of their body weight over 68 weeks. The STEP 4 trial, which focused on individuals with obesity and type 2 diabetes, demonstrated weight loss and, additionally, improvements in blood sugar control.
Prescribing & Requesting Refills for Compounded Medications at ScriptWorks
For Practitioners:
California healthcare practitioners have multiple methods for prescribing compounded medications. They simply can call or fax prescriptions directly to ScriptWorks, leveraging the convenience and speed of modern communication. However, to streamline the process further and allow more customization, many prefer using ScriptWorks’ Rx Order Forms provided by our pharmacy.
These Rx Order Forms are designed to make it easy for doctors to prescribe compounded medications. Each Rx Order Form will provide recommended options for the most popular medication (or combinations) in their different dosage forms (creams, gels, capsules, etc.), along with other customizations.
This allows practitioners to tailor the prescription to the patient’s exact needs, encouraging an optimal therapeutic outcome. We have Rx Order Forms for grouped by condition, demographic, and/or medications.
Rx Order Forms with ScriptWorks Exclusive Formulas
Please note: Our Rx Order Forms are exclusive to California medical practitioners.
If you’d like to access these tools, please contact us for password.
For Patients:
Patients looking to submit a refill for their prescriptions can easily do so by filling out our online refill form, calling, or texting us. This process helps patients continue receiving their personalized medications without interruption. The refill process is designed to be simple, straightforward, and patient-friendly.
*Requesting additional refills from your healthcare provider can take time. If you are out of refills, please give us a few days to contact your healthcare provider and obtain authorization for additional refills.
Choosing the Right Compounding Pharmacy: The Expertise Behind ScriptWorks:
Compounding pharmacists at ScriptWorks possess unique certifications, training, and experience, building a reputation among California’s most respected practitioners.
It’s important to choose pharmacy that is PCAB accredited (Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board), adhering the highest quality and safety standards.
Collaborating with Medical Practitioners of All Kinds
ScriptWorks works closely with a wide array of healthcare practitioners across California, including, but not limited to:
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists (OB/GYNs): For bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, sexual health, and menopausal-related prescriptions.
- Men’s Health Specialists: We provide options for Erectile Dysfunction (ED) and other men’s health conditions.
- Dermatologists: Creating specialized topical medications for various skin conditions like anti-aging, wound/scar care, hair growth, and more.
- Pediatricians: Providing child-friendly formulations and dosages.
- Allergists: Providing supplementation and crafting medications for Severe Allergies and other ENT conditions.
- Pain Management Specialists: Offering alternative pain relief that isn’t commercially availablem like Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) or Ketamine.
- Integrative Medicine: Hollistic approach to medical care.
- Weight Loss Clinics & Med Spas: Get the latest in weight loss support supplementation and weight loss medications like semaglutide (GLP-1).
- Veterinarians: Custom flavors, dosage, forms, and more. We make “medicine-time” easy.
- More: We work with all kinds of practitioners. Send us your difficult case and we can make recommendations and case studies to help your patients.
These collaborations are very helpful in delivering comprehensive care, particularly for patients with conditions that may need a more customized approach to medication.
Our Team is Ready to Help You
In California, where healthcare innovation and personalized medicine continue to thrive, compounding pharmacies like ScriptWorks play a crucial role.
Whether you’re a healthcare practitioner looking to prescribe a compounded medication or a patient with unique medical needs, ScriptWorks is equipped to provide the specialized service and care you deserve. With a commitment to excellence, quality, and patient satisfaction, ScriptWorks remains California’s premier choice for compounding services.
Contact us today to begin your health journey.
References:
Albanese, N. P., Rouse, M. J., Schlaifer, M., & Council on Credentialing in Pharmacy. (2010). Scope of contemporary pharmacy practice: roles, responsibilities, and functions of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, 50(2), e35–e69.
Giam, J. A., McLachlan, A. J., & Krass, I. (2011). Community pharmacy compounding—impact on professional status. International journal of clinical pharmacy, 33, 177–182.
Giam, J. A., McLachlan, A. J., & Krass, I. (2012). Characterizing specialized compounding in community pharmacies. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 8(3), 240–252.
Toklu, H. Z., & Hussain, A. (2013). The changing face of pharmacy practice and the need for a new model of pharmacy education. Journal of Young Pharmacists, 5(2), 38–40.
Urick, B. Y., & Meggs, E. V. (2019). Towards a greater professional standing: evolution of pharmacy practice and education, 1920–2020. Pharmacy, 7(3), 98.