Wedgewood Pharmacy Compounds Thyroid Tablets During Manufacturer Backorder of Armour Thyroid Tablets

* Reuters is not responsible for the content in this press release.

Thu Nov 5, 2009 11:05am EST

SWEDESBORO, N.J.--(Business Wire)--
Wedgewood Pharmacy announced today that it is compounding thyroid tablets in
response to physician demand during the long-term backorder of Forest
Laboratories` ArmourĀ® Thyroid tablets. Compounded using Thyroid USP powder, a
naturally occurring thyroid, Wedgewood Pharmacy`s scored tablets are available
by prescription in 15mg, 30mg, 60mg and 120mg, with prices ranging from $21 to
$25 per 100-count bottle. Thyroid tablets are commonly prescribed by physicians
to treat hypothyroidism. 

Beth DeSouza, human health product manager for Wedgewood Pharmacy said, "When
commercially available medications go on long-term backorder, compounding
pharmacies can help ensure that patients` prescribed treatment regimens continue
uninterrupted. Being able to fill a void during a manufacturer backorder is just
one of the reasons why compounding pharmacies are a vital component of the
healthcare system." 

ABOUT WEDGEWOOD PHARMACY

A compounding pharmacy creates customized medications for individual patients in
response to a licensed practitioner`s prescription. Established in 1980,
Wedgewood Pharmacy is one of the largest compounding pharmacies in the United
States, providing more than 25,000 prescribers with compounds for their human
and veterinary patients. It is located in Swedesboro NJ and licensed throughout
the United States. 

BACKGROUND: ABOUT COMPOUNDING PHARMACY

Because every patient is different and has different needs, customized,
compounded medications are a vital part of quality medical care. 

The basis of the profession of pharmacy has always been the "triad," the
patient-physician-pharmacist relationship. Through this relationship, patient
needs are determined by a doctor, who chooses a treatment regimen that may
include a compounded medication. Physicians and veterinarians often prescribe
compounded medications for reasons that include (but are not limited to) the
following situations:

* When needed medications are discontinued by or generally unavailable from
pharmaceutical companies, often because the medications are no longer profitable
to manufacture 
* When the patient is allergic to certain preservatives, dyes or binders in
available off-the shelf medications 
* When treatment requires tailored dosage strengths for patients with unique
needs (for example, an infant) 
* When a pharmacist can combine several medications the patient is taking to
increase compliance 
* When the patient cannot ingest the medication in its commercially available
form and a pharmacist can prepare the medication in cream, liquid or other form
that the patient can easily take 
* When medications require flavor additives to make them more palatable for some
patients, most often children and pets

For additional information, visit the International Academy of Compounding
Pharmacists` Web site at IACPRx.org and CompoundingFacts.org.

Wedgewood Pharmacy
Marcy Kelly
Vice President, Marketing
856-832-1303
mkelly@wedgewoodpharmacy.com
or
Heather Flitcraft
Communications Specialist
856-832-1392
hflitcraft@wedgewoodpharmacy.com


Copyright Business Wire 2009

Comments (0)
This discussion is now closed. We welcome comments on our articles for a limited period after their publication.