Long-term care involves a range of services provided by different caregivers to meet the health or personal care needs of an individual. These individuals often require compound medication to help manage their symptoms and illnesses.
Types of Long-Term Care
Long-term care is typically provided in the home by unpaid caregivers, such as family members or spouses. Individuals with serious conditions may be cared for in various healthcare settings, such as in hospice or palliative care.
Individuals requiring long-term care may receive the following services:
- Home health care
- Homemaker and personal care services
- Friendly visitor and companion services
- Senior transportation services
- Emergency medical alert systems
Risk Factors for Long-Term Care
The following factors increase an individual’s risk for needing long-term care:
- Old age
- Being female
- Unmarried individuals
- Poor diet
- Lack of exercise
- Genetics
Who is a Candidate For Long-Term Care Compounded Medication?
Compounded medication may be necessary in the following circumstances:
- Patients aren’t responding to traditional methods of treatment.
- Medication has been discontinued or is currently commercially unavailable.
- The patient is allergic to certain dyes, preservatives, or binders in the medications.
- The patient needs to take the medication in a specific, unavailable dosage strength.
- The patient is unable to ingest the medication and requires a liquid, cream, gel, lozenge, popsicle, troche, chewy treat, lollipop, lip balm, or other form.
- The patient needs customized flavoring to make the medication more palatable.
Conditions Requiring Compounded Medication
Medication compounded for long-term care patients may be prescribed in the following instances:
- Wound Care and Scars
- Pain Management
- Hemorrhoids
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Hypertension
- Epileptic
- Thyroid Cancer
- Hepatitis B
- Schizophrenia
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Diabetes
- Open Heart Valve
- Parkinson Disease
- Heart Disease
- Diabetes
- Mental disorder
- Alzheimer’s
- Osteoporosis
- Arthritis
- Asthma/COPD
- Cancer
Types of Drugs Offered in Long-Term Care
Patients in long-term care may receive the following drugs:
- Diuretics
- ACE Inhibitors
- Analgesics
- NSAIDs
- Antihistamines
- Anti-Cancer Agents
- Antibiotics
- Antibacterials
- Antifungal Agents
- Antiparasitic Agents
- Antiviral Agents
- Anti-Alzheimer Agents
- Alpha-Adrenergic Blockers
- Anticholinergic Agents
- Anticoagulants/Thrombolytics
- Antidepressants
- Anxiolytics, Sedatives and Hypnotics
- Antipsychotics
- Anticonvulsants
- Antiparkinsonism Agents
- Anti-Ulcer Agents
Additional drugs offered to long-term care patients may include Intestinal Motility Stimulants, Adrenocortical Hormones, Insulin and Anti-Diabetic Agents, Thyroid and Antithyroid Agents, Parathyroid/Bone Resorption Drugs, Female Hormonal Agents, Anti-incontinence/Antispasmodic Agents, Bronchodilators, Digitalis, Calcium Channel Blockers, Vasocoronary Agents, Beta-Blockers, Antiadrenergic Agents, Cholesterol-Lowering Agents, Antiplatelet, Angiotensin-Receptor Blockers, Antiarrhythmic, and Vasodilators.
Alternate Dosage Forms
Medication for long-term care may be formulated in the following dosage forms:
- Liquids
- Ointments
- Troches
- Creams
- Capsules
- Suppositories
Our Approach to Long-Term Care
Brigent Specialty Pharmacy is committed to providing high-quality compounded medications to patients receiving long-term care. Our pharmacists are trained to formulate medication in the dosage form and strength that each patient needs. We collaborate with physicians and other health care practitioners to create the right medication for each patient.
Compared to standard prescriptions, compounded medications require additional time to prepare due to the specialized processes involved. Compounded prescriptions are usually ready within 24 hours of receiving the prescription. However, we can accommodate immediate and emergency needs.
Contact one of our pharmacists to learn more about our approach to compounding medication for patients requiring long-term care.