Hospice Compounding

At the heart of hospice care is the belief that each person has the right to die pain-free and with dignity. In many cases, care is provided in the patient's home with a loved one serving as the primary caregiver. Pharmacists play a major role in the hospice environment, as caring  for the hospice patient generally centers around providing comfort by using pharmaceuticals to relieve and manage symptoms. Every individual is unique, and experiences during the  end of life vary. Common symptoms experienced during end-of-life care include pain, nausea/vomiting, difficulty taking medications, diarrhea, constipation, bedsores and anxiety. In hospice care, the goal is often to relieve as much pain as possible without causing excessive sedation or adverse side effects. Our compounding staff works with physicians and the family to tailor medication therapy to the hospice patient's individual needs

Alternate Dosages

In cases where hospice patients have difficulty swallowing Custom Rx Pharmacy is often able to put the required medication into forms that are easier for the patient to tolerate. Some patients prefer flavored lozenges, lollipops, or troches.  A troche is administered by placing the troche under the tongue or between the cheek and gum where it slowly melts and releases the medication.  The drug is then absorbed through the many blood vessels under the tongue.  Custom Rx can also make transdermal gels and creams that can carry the medication through the skin or put the medication into effervescent powders, suppositories, or suspensions.

Combined Formulations

Often, the first symptom requiring relief is pain, and managing it often requires medication around the clock. Compounding pharmacists can often provide specialized medications for patients who suffer from acute and chronic pain. To keep the administration of medicine to a minimum, unique drug combinations such as an ABHR gel, that treats agitation, nausea and pain, can be prepared to allow patients to continue to live normally within their pain threshold.

Strength Variations

Compounding gives patients access to dosage strengths that are not commercially available and takes into consideration the fact that patient's vary in both size and medication tolerance. Through compounding, a physician and pharmacist can design a medication to the exact dosage needed by the patient.

Common Hospice Compounds