Personalized medicine- what is it? And how can you be more involved with the process? The term itself gained popularity in the mid to late 20th century. It focuses on formulating unique medication based on patient-specific factors and preferences. Ultimately, it puts you, the patient, first. Through this process, that patient and doctor must decide on a medication formulation or in other words, the type of product that will be compounded. Many medically approved and recommended types will often be offered. Today's focus will be to explore the common types of topical formulations.
Topical formulations are used externally, meaning applied to body surfaces. Three common topical formulations are ointments, creams or lotions. The big question: what is the difference? When formulating/compounding topical products, the compounder must consider the ratio between oil and water bases. This change in ratio determines if the formulation will become an ointment, cream or lotion. Ointments have the greatest oil to water ratio, while lotions have the greatest water to oil ratio. Creams simply contain a ratio that is between ointments and lotions. Oiler-based formulations offer more moisture and product thickness. Water-based formulations are lighter and take a shorter time to be absorbed. With this information, we hope you find yourself more prepared to clarify which formulation is best for you.
Any questions about topical formulations please contact us 
​This content was originally provided by Saralinh Trinh, Pharm.D. Candidate 2020

Nearly 80% of all women in Western countries suffer from hot flashes to some degree during menopause.  Hot flashes are a sudden feeling of warmth, which is usually most intense on the face, neck and chest.  The skin may become red and flushed.  Hot flashes may also cause sweating and chills after loss of body heat.The root cause of hot flashes are not known, but it's likely related to several factors. These factors include changes in reproductive hormones in the body's thermostat (hypothalamus), which may become more sensitive to slight changes in body temperature.  Not all women who go through menopause have hot flashes, and it's not clear why some women do and some women do not.  Factors such as smoking, alcohol, stress, spicy food and obesity may increase risk.
There are several natural remedies for hot flashes such as phytoestrogens, Licorice root, Valerian root or Black cohosh. Estrovera is a branded phytoestrogen that binds to human estrogen receptors.  It has been proven in clinical studies to decrease hot flashes and reduce menopausal symptoms by 83%.  The key ingredient in Estrovera is ERr 731 which is a plant-based extract of Siberian rhubarb that has been recommended by health care practitioners in Europe for over 24 years.
Please contact us at precision pharmacy​ for any questions. ​
This content was originally created by Peng Yu-Shin Pharm D canidate 2019 

Precision Compounding Pharmacy Formulates medications that are not available in the neighborhood drug store.  

One of our compounding specialties is sustained release oral progesterone capsules, a hormone replacement therapy taken by women who experience insomnia due to menopause. 

Although available under the brand name Prometrium, it is only manufactured in 2 strengths, 100 mg and 200 mg, both being immediate release capsules, not extended release. 

The problem with immediate release for this particular medicine is that after a few hours, very often the patient will wake up due to the medication wearing off.  Our sustained release capsules last for 8 hours, so you enjoy a full night’s sleep with only one capsule.  We also compound multiple strengths ranging from 25 mg to 200 mg based on what the physician feels is necessary.  

Also, Prometrium contains peanut oil while our compound does not, rendering them completely safe for those with peanut allergies.

Precision Compounding Pharmacy is always available to answer any questions that you or your physician may have and we hope to see you soon !

This content was originally created by: Taylor Mischke Pharm D candidate 2019 

​Low pregnenolone will produce effects such as arthritis, depression, memory loss, fatigue, inability to deal with stress, insomnia, and lack of energy. The functions of pregnenolone are very important. Between regulation of stress and improving energy both physically and mentally, this hormone plays a tremendous part in regulating excitation and inhibition in the nervous system. This hormone also reduces pain and inflammation by modulating the NMDA receptor, which also plays a major role in memory.  
 
Understanding the role of pregnenolone in the hormone cascade is easy when you study the mechanism of the pregnenolone pull. This mechanism is better understood when looking at the sex hormone cascade on a piece of paper. When you are stressed, instead of your pregnenolone converting into your sex hormones it will convert into cortisol. This will cause menopausal symptoms. 

​As a compounding pharmacist at precision all I can do is give you my opinion. Monitoring pregnenolone should be done by a health care professional by drawing blood, saliva, or urine levels .The absorption of pregnenolone works best in a gelatin capsule with 40% methocel and a filler of your choice. The filler that I go with most of the time is avicel. The starting dose of pregnenolone is going to be 25mg. For any question please contact us for compounding advice. 

Formulation Opinion: 
Pregnenolone 25mg modified release Capsules 

​It is becoming increasingly difficult and very expensive to receive porcine thyroid medication through retail pharmacies because the big producers, Nature Thyroid and WP Thyroid, are deep in backorder due to the high demand and are struggling to obtain the ingredients. Since we are a compounding pharmacy we are able to source the raw materials needed and compound the capsule with ease.  
 
Our porcine thyroid medication is made using veggie capsules that contain only natural fillers. Although our medication is not covered by insurance, it is far more affordable and readily available than if you were trying to get the same medication from a retail pharmacy. 
Please contact us at Precision Compounding for more detailed information.
 
This content was originally created by Jason Baldinger Pharm D candidate URI ’24