Although January is National Thyroid Month, our Clinical Services team gets a lot of queries throughout the year on managing thyroid patients, including those with autoimmune conditions such as Graves’ disease (GD) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). While thyroid clinical management may seem complicated, understanding some basics of thyroid physiology and the pathophysiology of these autoimmune diseases may help make a difference in patients’ lives.

The human body is a complex network of interconnected systems, and recent research has shed light on the intricate relationship between visceral adipose tissue (VAT), estradiol levels and cognitive health.

On November 1, 2023, revisions to USP Chapter 795 and Chapter 797 became official and made USP 800 compendially applicable and potentially enforceable. However, other regulatory agencies — including state boards of pharmacy and the FDA — may impact whether USP 800 is enforceable in your pharmacy.

At the beginning of a new year, many people begin a detoxification and weight loss journey as part of their annual resolutions or to recover from over-indulging during the holidays. But in an environment where most are exposed to a variety of foreign contaminants daily, practices that help minimize or remove chemicals unknowingly stored in the body have become an important habit throughout the year.

We explore the essence of financial benchmarking, its significance and how your compounding pharmacy can leverage this practice to achieve sustainable growth and understand the market value of your practice.

This Profile in Personalized Medicine highlights Tenille Davis, PharmD, BCSCP, FAPC, of Civic Center Pharmacy in Scottsdale, Arizona. Civic Center Pharmacy has been a proud PCCA member since 1990. Our profile asks pharmacy compounders how they incorporate PCCA’s Principles into their pharmacy.

Getting involved in wound care can be a very rewarding clinical niche. Many medical practitioners have limited experience and training in treating wounds, so when pharmacists have knowledge and compounded options to share, it is usually greatly appreciated. Understanding the pathophysiology of wounds and the pharmacology of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) used in wound treatment are needed to interact with prescribers and to formulate a patient-specific compound.

In the quest for effective weight management, traditional methods often take center stage — balanced diets, regular exercise and lifestyle changes. However, emerging research suggests that certain nutritional and pharmaceutical ingredients, such as berberine, alpha-lipoic acid, oxytocin and topiramate, may each in their own way offer alternative avenues for those seeking additional support in their weight loss journey.

EctoSeal P2G, our revolutionary powder-to-hydrogel base, is the first natural, biodegradable polymer base created for wound care preparations. Read about the motivation behind its development, as well as clinical applications, from PCCA Clinical Compounding Pharmacist Mark Gonzalez, PharmD.

We are excited to introduce three members of our Clinical Services team: Matt Lester, RPh, MBA, Catherine Henderson, PharmD, and Celeste Zizzamia, PharmD, BCSCP. Each brings their unique expertise — including addressing business concerns, compounding for lifestyle medicine, as well as compounding for oncology patients and USP 800 minimum standards — to assist our members with questions and concerns. You will also see their respective byline in future PCCA Blog posts and Apothagram articles, as well as featured guests in future Mortar & Pestle podcasts.