Compounding has been an essential part of pharmacy for over 5000 years.  Compounding is the preparation of a customized medication to meet the unique needs of patients.  Pharmacists are the only health care professionals that have the knowledge and skill to compound and prepare medications.  There are many reasons why a compounded product may be necessary for a patient:
 
--inability to swallow
--allergies to dyes and other products used in manufacted drugs. 
--a strength or dosage form not made by pharmaceutical company
--preparations for animals

Some things that can be prepared are:
--creams and ointments
--suppositories
--troches
--suspensions
--nebulizer solutions
--liquids
--transdermal preparations

Through the knowledge of the pharmacists, these preparations can be made specifically for each unique patient and their needs.