Pharmasist Mike Roberge "creates'' a custom drug for patient.
Until he began studying for his degree in pharmacy at the University of Rhode Island, Mike Roberge didn’t know anything about pharmaceutical compounding. Fast forward two decades to today and you’ll find Mr. Roberge sitting at the helm of Compounded Solutions in Pharmacy – the only full service compound pharmacy in the state of Connecticut.
The decision to open a compound pharmacy did not happen immediately after college. Mr. Roberge took the same route as most pharmacists after graduation, he worked for a retail community pharmacy. He wanted to be in the independent pharmacy business; however, the big box stores, complete with pharmacies, were giving the smaller independents too much competition. Eventually, most of the small community ‘drug stores’ were acquired by the large chains.
It was while he was working for a retail pharmacy in south western Fairfield County that this Fairfield resident’s interest in compounded pharmaceuticals began to grow, and he opened a small compound kiosk in the establishment. He also began doing research on the viability of a specialty pharmacy and studied compound businesses across the country. In 1999, Compounded Solutions in Pharmacy opened its door in Monroe.
Most people aren’t familiar with compounded pharmaceuticals; however, many have friends and relatives who must find alternatives to traditional prescriptions because of their unique medical needs. By ‘customizing’ medications, doctors have the flexibility to change a medication’s strength or combine ingredients to maximize benefits to a patient. And if the patient can’t take the medication in pill form, it can be made into a liquid, transdermal gels, eye drops, or dosage forms of lollipops, lozenges, and lip balms – in a variety of flavors.
These medications are the combination of two or more ingredients (compounds) which will create a new drug entity. The method used by the pharmacist is a combination of old and new. The mortar and pestle is still a tool of the trade, as is the ceramic ointment mill that micronizes a product in order to keep the ointment uniform and consistent.
Compounded pharmaceuticals are not exclusive to the human condition. Veterinarians frequently prescribe flavored liquids for their 4-legged patients who cannot tolerate pills.
“Compound pharmacists have to be pro-active and patient-driven,” explained Mr. Roberge. His staff of six full and part-time pharmacists continue training in their specialty by attending seminars two or three times a month. The topics range from general and sterile compounding to veterinary and hormone compounding and pain management.
In the sterile room, Mike Roberge prepares a prescription that will be given to a patient intravenously.
Compounded Solutions also trains pharmacy students, giving them the hands-on experience (with direct supervision) required for their doctor in pharmacy degree. An adjunct professor at UCONN’s School of Pharmacy, Mr. Roberge is presently training three pharmacy students in this specialized field.
The patients served by Compounded Solutions live throughout the United States and as far away as the United Kingdom. Most are transplants from Connecticut, but others learned about this pharmacy from friends, relatives, doctors or the internet. With shipping possible overnight, it has become a small world.
There are fewer than 300 compound pharmacies in the United States. It’s not difficult to realize that business is constantly growing and expansion for Compounded Solutions is on the horizon. “There is a need for our expertise in pharmaceutical compounding, and it’s my objective to help sustain a high quality of life for our patients through the preparation of customized medications.” .
This point was driven home a few years ago when the daughter of a woman in her late 80’s came to the pharmacy as a last resort. Her mother couldn’t swallow the 7 pills she needed to take daily to keep her heart beating. Compounded Solutions created two different liquids, in the flavor of her choice, to be taken morning and night. Three years later, this woman is still taking the medications, and last Thanksgiving the family sent a card to the pharmacy reflecting how thankful they were for the pharmacists.
A slow smile crossed Mr. Roberge’s face, “That’s what this business is all about.”