Compounding R.Ph.s get labeling guidelines

To help patients better understand their medications, the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (IACP) has issued national labeling guidelines for its 1,800 members.

"The guidelines provide consistency so that our members are generally saying the same thing about what compounded medications are," King told Drug Topics.

If the drug is compounded for administration only in a physician's office, IACP recommends that the label should read: "This medicine was compounded in our pharmacy for use by a licensed professional only."

The IACP guidelines are a supplement to state pharmacy board regulations governing drug labeling, which require additional information such as the names of the patient, prescriber, and pharmacy; the Rx number; and the drug's name, strength, and quantity, as well as storage information, beyond-use date, and directions for use. "Compounding pharmacists are complying with state regulations," said King. "This is another layer of assurance that pharmacists are providing good consistent information to the patients."

After kicking around the feasibility of crafting national labeling guidelines for compounded drugs at its headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, IACP got feedback from its board of directors. Then the proposal was presented to the American Pharmacists Association and National Community Pharmacists Association for feedback. "This is the final result of a lot of discussion and fine-tuning," said King. "We made sure we covered all the bases."

The complete guidelines are posted on the IACP Web site at http://www.iacprx.org/.