As a physician and a veteran who works closely with compounding pharmacies on behalf of my patients, I found that the accusations in the April 10 Military Times article "Compound pharmacies marketing directly to Tricare users" painted an unfair picture of the overall industry.
A few bad actors can do a lot of damage, but I can assure you that these aggressive marketing practices are spearheaded by the minority.
As the head physician for a clinic that focuses a great deal on family, sport, pediatric, and women's health, I have worked with many patients who need compounded bio-identical hormone replacement therapy — whether it be to help them conceive a child, alleviate complications from menopause or to treat symptoms of post-ovarian cancer.
I became interested in this practice area while I was stationed at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. My wife and I had been undergoing infertility treatment for seven years when I went to a conference on bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. I came home, found a quality compounding pharmacist that I trusted, and applied what I learned to my wife.
Shortly thereafter, she conceived our first "homemade" child (of our five children, three are adopted and two are biological). As a physician, I believe that one size does not fit all and that there are many patients who benefit from customized medications that are tailored to the exact needs of their body.
As a practitioner who focuses on a comprehensive approach to treating patients, I know that some will benefit greatly from compounded medicine while others will benefit greatly from manufactured drugs.
One thing I never do, however, is force a patient into taking something that is not necessary. If a patient and I decide to go the route of compounds, we discuss the pros and cons of the medicine just as I would with any manufactured drug, and share with them the names of the compounding pharmacists I work with closely.
Many times, the pharmacist, patient and I have discussions on the treatment and work together to adjust the dose and application of the medicine to ensure it is tailored to address the patient's need. This is what we call the "triad" relationship, and it's an important one.
A quality compounding pharmacist would never try to sell a customized medication to a patient without a physician and prescription involved. To that end, an individual should never agree to take something from a pharmacist — or in the case of the article in reference, a marketer — without their physician's involvement.
There will always be bad actors, whether it's pharmaceutical companies who pressure doctors to write prescriptions for their brand-name drug or those who try to take advantage of our troops. As these marketers try to appeal to the unique needs of active-duty members (PTSD, wounds, pains, anxiety, etc.), it is our job as the patient to not succumb to these traps.
Protecting access to compounded medications is vital for many patients (veterans and active-duty members included) to maintain their quality of life. We shouldn't let the bad business practices of a few cast a shadow on the rest of the industry.
I encourage patients who are approached by those employing poor ethics to never agree to any treatment without first consulting your physician.
Should you and your physician decide that a compounded medication is a viable option for treating your health needs, then I recommend you visit a few compounding pharmacies to make sure that you are comfortable and happy not just with the pharmacist but with his or her staff and facility. In doing so, you will know that your health is in the hands of a trusted and reliable source.
Lundell served seven years as a military family physician and did a tour in Iraq. He opened his own practice, Health Rejuvenation Institution, in Spanish Fork, Utah, in June 2010.
