Pharmacy compounding is the art and science of preparing customized medications for patients. Its practice dates back to the origins of pharmacy. It declined in the 1950s and ‘60s as the pharmacist’s role quickly changed from a preparer of medications to a dispenser of mass-manufactured products. However, this “one-size-fits-all” approach to medication meant that some patients’ needs were unmet. Within the last few decades, compounding has experienced a renaissance, as modern technology, innovative techniques and new research have allowed more pharmacists to customize medications to meet a patient’s unique needs.
