Wedgewood Pharmacy compounds Guaifenesin during backorder; introduces compounded Toltrazuril for use in equine patients

(Swedesboro NJ, July 16, 2008) Wedgewood Pharmacy has added two equine preparations to its compounded-preparation formulary: Guaifenesin and Toltrazuril. Guaifenesin is currently on manufacturer backorder; Toltrazuril was previously unavailable in the U.S.

During the manufacturer backorder, Wedgewood will compound Guaifenesin as an intravenous solution, dispensed in 500ml and 1000ml IV-drip bags. Guaifenesin is a centrally acting muscle relaxant that is commonly used by veterinarians during surgery as a pre-anesthetic.

Available commercially in Europe, Toltrazuril is compounded by Wedgewood as an apple-flavored oral paste and suspension, package size and strength dependent upon dosage form. Research indicates that Toltrazuril is frequently prescribed by veterinarians as an anti-protozoal to treat equine protozoal myeloencephalitis.

Said George J. Malmberg, R.Ph., F.A.C.A, F.A.C.V.P., the pharmacist president and CEO of Wedgewood Pharmacy, “A manufacturer backorder or commercial unavailability of a medication does not lessen a veterinarian’s need for that medication as a treatment option. Veterinarians demand choices when caring for their patients, and they know they can turn to Wedgewood to provide treatment options that may be otherwise unavailable.”   

Guaifenesin and Toltrazuril are available by prescription for use in non-food chain animals only.

About Wedgewood  Pharmacy

A compounding pharmacy creates customized medications for individual patients in response to a licensed practitioner’s prescription. Wedgewood Pharmacy is the largest veterinary compounding pharmacy in the United States, providing more than 25,000 prescribers with compounds for their human and veterinary patients. It is located in Swedesboro NJ and licensed throughout the United States.

Background: About Compounding Pharmacy

Because every patient is different and has different needs, customized, compounded medications are a vital part of quality medical care. The basis of the profession of pharmacy has always been the "triad," the patient-prescriber-pharmacist relationship. 

Through this relationship, patient needs are determined by a prescriber, who chooses a treatment regimen that may include a compounded medication. Prescribers often prescribe compounded medications for reasons that include (but are not limited to) the following situations:

• When needed medications are discontinued by or generally unavailable from pharmaceutical companies, often because the medications are no longer profitable to manufacture;
• When the patient is allergic to certain preservatives, dyes or binders in available off-the shelf medications;
• When treatment requires tailored dosage strengths for patients with unique needs (for example, an infant);
• When a pharmacist can combine several medications the patient is taking to increase compliance;
• When the patient cannot ingest the medication in its commercially available form and a pharmacist can prepare the medication in cream, liquid or other form that the patient can easily take; and
• When medications require flavor additives to make them more palatable for some patients.

For additional information, visit the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists’ Web site at www.iacprx.org and www.compoundingfacts.org.