what does Compound mean?

Please tell me what the difference between a compound pharmacy and a regular one? What is the difference in the hormones.??
I go to the doc on thursday. I need some ammo.
Dana

Hi Dana!

I think I can help answer your questions.

Compounding pharmacies differ from other pharmacies in that they make customized prescription medications for patients rather than dispensing products prepared by pharmaceutical companies which the other pharmacies sell.

Compounding pharmacists can prepare bio-identical hormones for replacement therapy based on your needs. Working with your doctor based on symptoms you have (and in some cases, also based on hormone testing) the pharmacist can make your hormones not only in the strength and dose you need but also can make them in various forms. Common forms are creams, pills, troches (lozenges) and sublingual drops.

So, you can get bio-identical from either pharmacy with a prescription. The difference is, you have more choice as to dose, strength and method of delivery with a compounding pharmacy. You can learn more about estrogen choices by reading Articles #9-12 in the Hormone Article List.

Good luck with your appointment on Thursday! Let us know how it goes!

s

Well that doctor was a waste of time.
He did prescribe some vaginal estrogen, and some testosterone cream I could try...although I could tell by his voice that he was just shutting me up.
Maybe its just middle age bordom. who knows.
The estridiol cream is to help the dryness that could be making me itch. The testosterone cream is to be applied vaginally too.
I'll still take my 1 mg estirdiol pill.
I wanted my whole well being to be cured. Easy as that.
Needless to say, I went away in tears.
Oh...he did say, that wellbutrin is a possibility. Uggggg.
Sorry to be so negitive but in my last post to the site...I wondered if I needed Brad Pitt to pay me a visit. See if my sex hormones come alive. Don't make me test it that way...haha.
Keep in touch.

(((Dana))), I'm sorry you left feeling that you haven't solved anything, but the right hormones prescribed at the right dose/strength can make a huge difference in how we feel. I have been using vaginal estrogen in one form or another since about the 7 month post-op mark and it makes a big difference in how those tissues feel. The tesosterone plays its role well, as does the estrogen and progesterone I use. It's a complex and delicate balance and it does take work to find it and keep it. Patience in the Jungle is a virtue!

I hope you find a doctor who will work with you to get it right. You deserve that!

s

I don't think I'll find that doctor, so I guess i am on my own, and I appreciate sites and people like you.
He said i could still take my pill form of estidiol as well as the vaginal est. cream? Is that a good idea? And he said that i wouldn't see any diff for about 8 weeks. Tell me about your dose and do you still take pill form.
Have a good day. I am off to work.

It takes both systemic and vaginal estrogen to keep me feeling right, along with testosterone and progesterone. I'm definitely not a one size fits all hormone user!

The vaginal estrogen pretty much stays in those tissues and doesn't have much, if any, effect on overall estrogen levels. I've been happy with how it works for me.

I am not on oral estrogen anymore. I decided I wanted to try the transdermal route so my Biest is in cream form. I also have a separate progesterone cream. My Biest is 40/60, 2mg/ml and I use 0.5gm twice a day. The progesterone is 30mg/ml and I use 0.5gm twice a day. I use 1% testosterone a couple of times a week at most, just a tiny pea-sized amount but there is also testosterone in the vaginal cream I use. I use 1 gram of the vaginal cream twice a week.

I don't know that it would take 8 weeks to see any difference. When my hormones are changed I usually notice changes quite quickly with optimal results being reached after a few weeks' time.

Keep working on it! I know it is frustrating. We'll do our best to share and help you along the way.

s