What  is Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Customized Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is the replacement of deficient hormones with hormones that are chemically identical to those that the body naturally produces, but which have declined due to aging or illness.
Customized HRT has improved the quality of life for millions of women  who suffer from hormonal imbalance. The ideal process for achieving hormonal balance includes an assessment of hormone levels and complete evaluation of signs and symptoms, followed by replacement of the deficient hormones in the most appropriate dose via the most effective route for each individual, and monitoring to fine tune the therapy.
Estrogen is prescribed to relieve menopausal symptoms and treat postmenopausal problems such as vaginal dryness and tissue breakdown, painful intercourse, and various urinary disorders. Estrogens have been shown to decrease the risks of osteoporosis and colorectal cancer.
Progesterone is commonly prescribed for perimenopausal women to counteract “estrogen dominance”, minimizes the risk of endometrial cancer in women who are receiving estrogen, and may enhance the beneficial effect of estrogen on lipid and cholesterol profiles.
Published research has shown that the risk of breast cancer is increased by long-term use of conjugated equine estrogens, which are the most commonly prescribed form of commercially available estrogen, and the risk is further increased when the synthetic progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate is added. Conjugated estrogens are derived from pregnant mares’ urine, but most estrogens from horses are NOT naturally produced by humans. Additionally, synthetic medroxyprogesterone acetate does not confer all of the benefits of natural progesterone.  That is why we recommend the use of natural estrogen and progesterone.

Androgens are a class of hormones that include DHEA and testosterone, which are normally produced in a young healthy woman, and are important for libido as well as integrity of skin, bone, and muscle. When women enter menopause, testosterone and DHEA levels may decline. Experts now recognize the importance of supplementing androgens for women who are deficient.
While women have benefited from therapy with estrogens, progesterone, and androgens that are “chemically identical” to the hormones produced naturally by the human body, researchers and health care professionals realize that this is just the “tip of the iceberg” when it comes to achieving hormonal balance. Thyroid and adrenal function, as well as nutritional status, should also be evaluated and treated when indicated.

 Pain Management
Pain management is essential because even when the underlying disease process is stable, uncontrolled pain prevents patients from working productively, enjoying recreation, or taking pleasure in their usual roles in the family and society. Chronic pain may have a myriad of causes and perpetuating factors, and therefore can be much more difficult to manage than acute pain, requiring a multidisciplinary approach and customized treatment protocols to meet the specific needs of each patient.
Optimal treatment may involve the use of medications that possess pain-relieving properties, including some antidepressants, anticonvulsants, antiarrhythmics, anesthetics, antiviral agents, and NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) antagonists. NMDA-receptor antagonists, such as dextromethorphan and ketamine, can block pain transmission in dorsal horn spinal neurons, reduce nociception, and decrease tolerance to and the need for opioid analgesics. By combining various agents which utilize different mechanisms to alter the sensation of pain, physicians have found that smaller concentrations of each medication can be used.
Topical and transdermal creams and gels can be formulated to provide high local concentrations at the site of application (e.g., NSAIDs for joint pain), for trigger point application (e.g., combinations of medications for neuropathic pain), or in a base that will allow systemic absorption. Side effects associated with oral administration can often be avoided when medications are used topically. Studies suggest that there are no great restrictions on the type of drug that can be incorporated into a properly compounded transdermal gel.  When medications are administered transdermally, they are not absorbed through the gastrointestinal system and do not undergo first-pass hepatic metabolism.
We work together with patient and practitioner to solve problems by customizing medications that meet the specific needs of each individual. Please contact our compounding pharmacist to discuss the dosage form, strength, and medication or combination that is most appropriate for your patient such as…

• Sports Medicine preparations
• Topical transdermal gels for muscle aches and muscle cramps
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Sprains and trigger point
• Topical antifungals for athlete’s foot and nail fungus
• Creams for calluses and dry skin

 Dental Compounds

We work together with dentists and their patients to solve problems using customized medications.

Upon a prescription order, we can compound:

• Analgesics
• Anti-virals
• Antibiotics
• Topical Anethetics
• Sedatives
• Dry Socket mixtures
• Root Canal paste
• Plaque removal solutions
• Plaque disclosure solutions
• Oral rinses
• Adhesives
• Bleaching Gels
• Crown Preps

Medications are developed in a limited number of strengths and dosage forms that will satisfy the needs of most patients due to stability concerns, and the cost of stocking and distributing numerous formulations of each drug. Using pharmaceutical grade chemicals and specialized equipment not found in most pharmacies, we can compound medications in doses and dosage forms that are not commercially available.

 Veterinarian Compounds
We compound variety of formulations for animal use and work with veterinarians to broaden their prescribing abilities and to offer [dosage] forms that are patient-specific in strength and formulation. Therefore, the goal of compounding for the veterinary patient is to enhance the veterinarian-s ability to treat patients in a more effective and efficient manner...
Compounding can make medicating animals easier if the pharmacist prepares flavored chews that animals accept readily. For example, tranquilizing a feral cat with a liver-flavored chew eliminates the possibility of over- or underdosing. If a chew contains 10mg acepromazine and the dose fails to gain a response, a second flavored chew can be given to the animal. Furthermore, the amount of medication incorporated into the chews, capsules, [topical or transdermal], or liquid preparations can be formulated to the specific request of the veterinarian, thereby eliminating the need to cut-up tablets and divide the contents of commercially prepared capsules... As manufacturers decide that certain products are no longer economically rewarding to market, the list of commercially prepared veterinary medication becomes smaller. At present, the armamentarium of medications available for animals is less than perfect. Cherry-flavored amoxicillin or orange-flavored cephalexin may not be [appealing to a cat or monkey].

Our compounding pharmacy can prepare:

• Flavored medication
• Different size, strength, and dosage form
• Unavailable medications
• Combinations to improve compliance
• Novel devices and delivery systems

Compounding is actually a means to an end. We can provide medication issues by compounding specialized medications that meet the unique needs of each animal - pets, exotics, horses, or zoo animals. Let us know how we can help you and the animals in your care.

 Nutritional Supplements

We carry wide selection of pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements and nutritional prescriptions.