Thursday, October 13, 2011

Manage Pain or Sports Injuries with Products Prepared Just for You by a Specialty Pharmacy

By Stephen Daniels


When it comes to the way peoples' bodies react to medication for pain management and/or to heal from injury, "average" is almost meaningless. It's a statistical number derived from hundreds of thousands of users, all of whom have a similar injury - but that is where the similarity very likely stops. Unfortunately, over-the-counter (OTC) medications are designed and mass produced in a manner designed to deliver results to the averages.

The not-so secret of mass-produced pharmaceuticals is that they must be produced in a cost effective manner, and inherent in that dilemma is that aesthetics and long shelf life are both high on the list of priorities. While these meds may and often do provide relief for most people, they often also contain common allergens, preservatives, food coloring and other non drug-related ingredients. For people - athletes, especially - seeking better, more personalized relief, specialty pharmacies offer the capability of preparing medications that are free of preservatives and common allergens, and are formulated for each individual based on their needs.

Aches, pains and injuries are a part of the game for athletes, and they can range from moderately bothersome to severe. Whatever the case, pain management is an important component of an athletic lifestyle, whether professional or amateur. Localized treatment has been shown to be an effective means of managing pain. While heat or ice packs may be applied to a sore spot or aspirin or ibuprofen may be taken to reduce swelling or inflammation, these measures may not be enough. After consulting with a doctor, the source and the extent of the injury can be determined, and from there a treatment regimen that is most appropriate for each individual can be determined.

Specialty or compounding pharmacies formulate customized medication solutions as an alternative to the standard doses and delivery methods commonly dispensed by traditional pharmacies. A doctor may prescribe a certain anti-inflammatory drug that is usually only available in gel capsule form. In order to effectively reduce pain, it may also contain a narcotic that renders the user dopey and incapable of functioning on a normal level. By contrast, your doctor can write the same prescription to a local compounding pharmacy where they can create the same medication in a topical cream or gel that is rubbed directly onto the sore spot. Not only does this allow precision application of the anti-inflammatory, but it doesn't interfere with the ability to function, and doesn't come with the potential side effects so common in pills and capsules.

Besides gels and creams, other delivery methods offered by specialty pharmacies include transdermal patches which adhere to the skin which allows the body to absorb the medication where most needed; oral sprays and even powders that mix with water; and even effervescent drinks, lollipops or syrups for children or those unable to swallow large pills.

Athletes don't just want to heal; they want to get back out and do battle with themselves or their opponents. In order to perform at their accustomed level as well as prevent re-injury, effective, localized pain management is needed. Compounded medications are often preferable in that they take a person's unique bodily needs into account. Compounds for injuries are designed to treat the specific injury or illness rather than provide blanket "relief" or drug the injured in a stupor so they don't feel anything at all.

Additives found in mass produced pharmaceuticals are particularly vexing. They are there to increase a drug's shelf life and make it look attractive. A short list of commonly used additives includes preservatives like benzoates and parabens, food coloring, artificial flavors and sweeteners.

Another major reason to request your doctor work with a compounding pharmacy is that they don't simply provide medication with average dosages. Dosage is optimized to address the person's specific needs and tolerance to drugs, resulting in more effective treatment that is far less likely to cause drug dependence or side effects. Together with the appropriate method of delivery and the removal of superfluous ingredients, customized dosages are instrumental in providing precise drug relief for sports-related pain.

Relying upon mass produced medicines might offer a measure of relief and has been shown to work for most people, but it doesn't even come close to the ability of specialty pharmacies to provide effective, customized pain relief for those who are fussier about what goes into and onto their bodies, or those who cannot tolerate the additives that are found in all drugs found at traditional pharmacies.

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