VMSC Compounded Medications

Subject to modification by the VTH Director without approval.

Policy

This document outlines the process for obtaining compounded medications for VMSC patients.If a medication is a compound it must be dispensed with a label indicating that it is a compounded medication regardless of the source. This applies to all compounded medications. 

Guidelines

Compounded medications with sufficiently long beyond-use dates (BUDs) may be kept as office stock at the VMSC. These office stock compounds should be obtained from the VTH Pharmacy if possible or from a high-quality outside compounding pharmacy. Medications that are not commonly used or have short BUDs may be obtained by patient-specific prescription from either the VTH Pharmacy or a high-quality outside compounding pharmacy. When dispensing compounded medications, they must bear a label indicating that they are compounded.

Procedure (if applicable)

1. Commonly used compounds that are solid dosage forms (capsules, tablets, etc.) or liquids with extended BUDs should be obtained from the VTH Pharmacy (if available) or a high-quality outside compounding pharmacy and maintained as office stock. These can then be used in a manner similar to manufactured products. The only difference is that these will require a label stating that they are compounded and an expiration date sticker with the actual expiration date. (The expiration date pre-printed on the label will need to be crossed out.)
2. Compounded medications kept as office stock will each have a lot number. This lot number must be written on the duplicate label that prints. The duplicate label with the lot number written on it should be placed in the designated location for VTH Pharmacy staff to pick up.
3. Compounds that have BUDs of less than 2 months or are not used commonly should be ordered as a patient-specific prescription from the VTH Pharmacy or a high-quality outside compounding pharmacy. If ordering from the VTH Pharmacy, the compound can either be picked up by the client or a representative from the VMSC by going to the prescription pickup window. If the client is picking up the medication, they will be asked to pay for it at the time of pickup unless it’s already been paid for.

Definitions (if applicable)

Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH): The collective clinical services of the Large Animal Clinic, Midwest Equine, the Small Animal Clinic, and the Veterinary Medicine South Clinic.