What is a compounded medication?

Compounded medicines contain FDA-approved drugs in formulations that have not been individually evaluated for long-term safety, efficacy, and quality. These customized formulations are tailored to each patient's individual needs. They may be appropriate in cases where patients have experienced side effects while taking the FDA-approved version of the drug, or if patients are concerned about the risk of side effects. It is important to be aware that although certain compounded topical formulations may lower the risk of side effects, this risk is not zero.