Many hospice patients have trouble taking medications in traditional dosage forms. The skill and caring of a compounding pharmacist can complement a physician’s abilities. Patients with chronic illnesses or who are nearing end of life frequently require symptom control and pain relief.
While every individual is unique, common symptoms and problems include:
- Pain Management
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Severe Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Decubitis Ulcers
- Shortness of Breath
- Anxiety
Personalized, compounded medications may be the best way to deal with these symptoms. By working closely with our compounding pharmacist, a healthcare provider can prescribe a regimen of care which is tailored to the hospice patient’s individual needs.
Ordinarily, the first symptom requiring relief is pain, and managing it often requires medication around the clock. Our compounding pharmacists can provide specialized medications for patients who suffer from acute and chronic pain. To keep the administration of medicine to a minimum, unique drug combinations can be prepared to allow patients to live more comfortably within their pain threshold while potentially minimizing sedation or other adverse side effects.
Due to differences in patients’ body size, drug tolerance, or various organ failures, commercially available medications often do not provide the exact strength a patient requires. Through compounding, a prescriber and pharmacist can adjust medications to the exact dosage needed by the patient.