Specialty pharmacies are adept at providing unique, made-to-order prescriptions for individuals experiencing depression and/or anxiety. Typically, people obtain their antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication from a standard pharmacy. However, certain issues can, depending on the specific needs of the person, make that rather challenging. Allergies to filler ingredients, distaste for specific delivery methods, or the need for a customized dose can impair the ability of a conventional pharmacy to offer relief to patients. That is the reason compounding pharmacies are so vital.
More than 21 million Americans between the age of 15 and 44 are afflicted by clinic depression. Of these people, many experience anxiety issues as well. Depression is the leading cause of disability in that age group and causes an estimated $30 billion in lost work productivity every year.
There is some overlap of depression and anxiety symptoms, though each mental illness is distinct. Depression is characterized, in part, by:
• Hopelessness and feelings of low self-worth
• Noticeable weight loss or gain
• Chronic lethargy
• Too much or too little sleep
• Feelings of guilt and sadness
Anxiety, by contrast, often manifests physical and mental symptoms, including:
• Dizziness and fast heartbeat
• Breathing trouble
• Dry mouth
• Lack of focus or concentration
• Irritability
• Hopelessness
• Insomnia
If left untreated, depression can result in suicidal thoughts and actions. More alarmingly, depression is a factor in many of America’s 30,000 annual suicides. Though different, depression and anxiety are related in that almost half of people suffering from depression deal with anxiety issues as well.
Treatment of both anxiety and depression is most beneficial when several methods are joined together. Commonly, people undergo some type of professional treatment such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT. In many instances, medication is prescribed by the psychiatrist to complement the talk sessions. Other beneficial things include a healthy diet, vitamin supplements and regular exercise, all of which have been shown to elevate mood.
When medication is prescribed to relieve the symptoms of depression and/or anxiety, it is vital that it be successful without causing harm. Prescription medications offered by conventional pharmacies are mass-produced and almost always contain a variety of filler ingredients. Dosage levels are optimized for profit, and coloring agents, preservatives and other inactive additives may exacerbate allergies or cause uncomfortable side effects. Compounding pharmacies steer clear of this by creating person-specific medication, customized with regard to ingredients, dosage and delivery method.
Compounding pharmacies work with doctors and patients to make drugs designed to suit a person’s individual needs. For individuals who have trouble swallowing pills or tablets, for instance, a specialty pharmacy may make a syrup or chewable gummy candy. Other delivery method alternatives include dermal patches, suppositories, sprays and – in some cases – injections. The essential idea is that individuals get the medication they need to control their illness in a manner most consistent with their personal needs.
A serious problem among people suffering from depression and/or anxiety is people going off their medication too soon or without their physician’s approval. Specialty, compounded medications are more likely to be consumed regularly because they are created specifically for the individual taking them. Pharmaceutical compounds obtained from a specialty pharmacy take a person’s weight, height, allergies, dosage requirements and other factors into consideration to formulate prescription drugs that are effective without being harmful. For patients suffering from one or both of these illnesses, better relief is possible through a compounding pharmacist.
