Is a compounded medicine covered under the PBS?
Certain compounded prescriptions are partly reimbursed under the PBS on the Standard Formula List.
Can I get any reimbursement for the cost of a compounded medicine from my Health Fund
If you have Extras cover with your Health Fund you may be eligible for reimbursement for part of the compounded prescription price. Different Health Funds and levels of cover provide different levels of reimbursement. Check with your Health Fund to see if they will cover your compounded prescription. They will need to know the active ingredients of your compounded prescription. We will provide you with a Tax Invoice describing the medicine (name of compound including active ingredients and strength(s))to take to your Health Fund.
What is the expiry date of my compounded prescription?
There are two types of expiry dates that relate to your compounded prescription:
- The Prescription Expiry: the prescription is only valid for 12 months unless it is a prescription for an anabolic steroid (DHEA, testosterone are examples) or a drug of addiction (eg. Morphine, amphetamine, ketamine) which is only valid for SIX months.
- The Product Expiry: this is the expiry date of the actual compounded product. We use the APF or USP guidelines to determine the expiry date. The product expiry date depends on the expiry date of each of the ingredients, the stability of the formulation and whether or not a preservative is used. We apply a product expiry to each compound.
Where do the active ingredients such as hormones come from?
We source our active ingredients from Professional Compounding Chemists of Australia. We are provided with a certificate of analysis for each ingredient so that we are assured of the purity of the ingredient.
Are Bio-identical Hormones natural?
Bio-identical hormones are hormones that are identical in chemical structure to the hormones produced in your body. They are synthesized in a laboratory from diosgenin a plant chemical extracted from yams and soy.
How long does it take to compound products?
The following is a guide to how long different dosage forms take to compound.
Dosage Form Time*
Capsules 1 hour (more if more than one active ingredient)
Mixture ½-1 hour
Suspension 1 hour
Lollipop 3 hours (base needs to be melted and then solidify)
Pessaries 3 hours (base needs to be melted and then solidify)
Troche 2 hours (base needs to be melted and then solidify)
Sub-lingual drops ½ hour
Cream ½ hour
Melasma Cream 1 hour (active ingredients need grinding and mixing to smooth cream)
Ointment ½ hour
Gelatin Troche 3 hours
Transdermal Cream 1 hour
Lotion 1 hour (Minoxidil will take longer)
Paint ½ hour
Ear drop ½ hour
Nasal drop or Spray ½ hour
Vaginal Cream 1 hour
These are the times taken if there are no other compounds are to be made at the same time. Therefore it is best to check how long your compound will take to be made.
We are a member of Professional Compounding Chemists of Australia (PCCA). Membership also gives us access to a formulary of over 8,000 formulations and technical support.
We are proud to be amongst the first compounding pharmacies in Australia to be awarded the PCCA tick of approval for meeting their accreditation standards.