Compounding is simply the science of combining individual ingredients to create a specific medication.

Before the mass production of medications in the 1950's, the majority of medicines were compounded to suit an individual's needs by specialist pharmacists.  Today, there is a resurgence of interest in compounded medications as people discover that mass produced medications may not suit their particular situation.

General Compounding

At St Clair, we care about your patients, your clients, and your practice!

A veterinarian’s job is never easy. Not only do you have to keep your patients happy and healthy, you also must satisfy your clients and ensure the success of the practice. We understand these concerns, and so have made doing business with St Clair as simple as possible. We are open 7 days a week, and we compound 5 days a week. Orders can be sent by email, fax, or snail mail. Enquiries can also be made over the phone. A quick turnaround ensures that your patients stay healthy, and ensures your clients’ satisfaction.

You'll get superior value.

In addition to our extremely competitive prices, we also offer quantity price breaks. If we can save you money in a way you didn’t know was possible, we will let you know! St Clair also offers the service of nationwide express postage. We also notify when the product is ready, or when we pop it in the post, so your client knows when to expect it. We can also provide up-to-the-minute shipping information. Our consistent, professional packaging and customer service tailored to each patient help to improve your clients' loyalty.

Your unique needs are met.

Have you ever tried to put cream on an echidna? We have. Our team of compounding pharmacists and technicians is ready to help.  Would you prefer that we ship and bill to your clients?  Just ask us!  Is there a medication that is unavailable from your suppliers, either due to back-order or out-of-stock? Is a manufactured medication you need on back order or has it been removed from the market? Do you practice a specific veterinary medical specialty? Let us know. Our business is all about meeting the unique needs of your business. We aim to support medical professionals, their clients and their patients.  One prescription at a time.

You'll improve your clients' knowledge and your patients' compliance.

Did you know that clients’ frustration with medicating their pets medication is directly connected to the profitability of your practice?

These facts from a recent study^[1] may surprise you:

*  The rate of compliance for chronic medication is just 76%. That means an astonishing 24% of pets aren’t being treated with the medications they need to live healthy lives.

*  Pet owners who are shown one or more ways to administer medication had a significantly higher rate of compliance (73% vs. 59% for those not shown). Yet, only 43% of practices show pet owners how to administer medication.

*  60% of owners would pay more for medication that is palatable or easy to administer.

*  93% of veterinarians say that compliance monitoring has a positive impact on their practice.

*  72% of pet owners would like to receive information in writing about their pets’ medication so they could refer back to it.

^[1] Albers, J. DVM, Hardesty C. Compliance: Taking Quality Care to the Next Level

When it comes down to what matters most, you and your clients can confidently turn to St Clair Pharmacy and News!

We share your passion for pets.

Our compounding pharmacists, technicians, and customer care specialists all have different backgrounds, but there is one thing that we all have in common. We love animals. Whether we are speaking to you, compounding medications, or packaging them for postage, our enthusiasm for pets is obvious. At St Clair, our staff are lucky. Not only are they passionate about what they do, they do what they are passionate about.

You can count on us.

You need to know that your pharmacy understands you and your pet. Our chief compounding  pharmacist specializes in animal health. This includes continuing education in pharmaceutical care and compounds for veterinary patients; advanced canine and feline therapeutics; and avian and exotic pet pharmacotherapy. Every compounding and dispensing technician and customer care specialist is a St Clair Pharmacy certified pharmacy technician. You can be confident that one of the most qualified and caring teams in the industry is trained to deliver the quality and consistency you expect from your pharmacy.

Your clients trust you with the lives and well-being of their pets. And when you determine a course of therapy for your patients, you need a compounding pharmacy you can trust.

At St Clair Pharmacy and News, we’re meticulous about every prescription we handle, from compounding to dispensing. 

Our stringent quality control programs mean that every prescription meets the specifications of the pharmacy industry and the high standards you deserve. Each compounded preparation we dispense undergoes at least five pharmacist-checks to ensure quality and accuracy.

For Veterinarians

Every individual is unique, and the types of pain experienced can be equally diverse. By working with a compounding pharmacist, physicians can prescribe treatments tailored specifically for the patients pain management needs.

Worried about unwanted side effects?

If you associate pain relief with unwanted side effects (like drowsiness or stomach upset), the team at St Clair Pharmacy and News might be able to help.

Drawing on over 25 years of combined experience in compounding medicines, St Clair Pharmacy and News can tailor pain management according to your needs.  The professional team at St Clair can find solutions to side effects, and can create formulas to relieve pain that can’t be helped with “normal” medications.

By scientifically combining the ingredients of traditional pain medications with alternate methods of delivery such as:

*  Topical gels/creams

*  Spray forms that can be applied directly to the site of pain

*  Application sticks (varied in size, similar to 'deodorant' sticks)

*  Capsules

*  Flavoured/unflavoured troches (soft mini-lozenges)

*  Lozenges

Looking for another alternative?

If you are struggling with problems such as:

*  Arthritis

*  Fibromyalgia

*  Migraine

*  Headaches

*  Shingles

*  Nerve pain

*  Muscle pain

There may be a better way for you to manage your pain.

To find out more, talk to one of the professional compounding pharmacists at St Clair Pharmacy.
*any information in this article is of general nature and must not be used for diagnostic purposes.

Pain Management

Keeping a smile on your childs face!

At St Clair Pharmacy and News, our professional laboratory team works together with you, your children, and your doctors to customise medications and meet specific requirements.

Children are energetic and full of life. They’re at their best with smiles on their faces.  Smiles can turn to frowns (or even tears) at medicine time. Some children just don’t like medicine. Adding insult to injury, some parents must force-feed medicine when their child is ill.

Turn that frown upside down!

At St Clair Pharmacy and News, we care how you care.

For FREE, your child can choose his/her own flavour for whatever liquid medication he or she might require (over-the-counter or prescription). There are literally dozens of flavours to choose from. From bubblegum to mixed berry, your wish is our command. You can even combine flavours! Did someone say chocolate marshmallow?

Other options to liquid medicine:

For some children, liquids are not appropriate. Our compounding team can create lollipops, gummy shapes, or ice blocks with an appropriate dose of many medications. Some medications can even be given transdermally, or through the skin. This eliminates any need to offer medication orally.

Working closely with a compounding pharmacist, your child’s doctor can prescribe medications for pain relief, insomnia, skin disorders, travel sickness, cold sores, nappy rash, oral thrush, diabetes, head lice, respiratory disorders and more. 

A compounding pharmacist can even formulate a medication without unwanted allergens, colours, or preservatives.

Your child’s health is important to you.  It’s important to us too.

Paediatrics

Nausea is never a nice feeling!

When it leads to vomitting, a bad situation just gets worse.

There are many different causes of nausea and vomiting, so there are also many different treatments for these conditions. Some nausea and vomiting is caused by an infection. Bacteria and viruses are common culprits, and cause conditions like food poisoning and 'Bali belly'.  Nausea that is not a result of infection may arise from morning sickness, sea sickness, or cancer treatments.

In many of these instances we can help with over the counter products, but when you just can't keep anything down, talk to us and we can have a topical cream compounded to help settle down that feeling.

Nausea and Vomiting

A refreshing sleep is important for our emotional and physical well-being. Inadequate sleep can result in drowsiness, irritability and poor concentration. Poor sleep habits have also been associated with unhealthy weight gain, high blood pressure, poor sugar levels, and migraines. Feeling refreshed after a night’s sleep and not feeling sleepy during the day is a good indicator that you are getting the right amount of sleep.

A person with insomnia (sleep disturbance) will have difficulty falling or staying asleep. Insomnia that occurs for no apparent reason can indicate a problem with circadian rhythm, or a person’s internal “body clock”.

There are many therapies available which can assist in regulating your sleep.  Sleep disturbances can be caused by many different factors including anxiety, depression or not being able to turn off.  Speak with your doctor or one of our compounding pharmacists to see how or if a compounded medicine can assist with your sleep.

Sleep and Insomnia

It's becoming increasingly common for people and animals to have health needs that off-the-shelf prescription medicines cannot meet. This is where Veterinary Compounding is useful to customise medications and is the stepping stone to better health.

Veterinary compounding is even more important for treating animals because of the comparatively limited selection of medicines that are manufactured by pharmaceutical companies. Veterinary compounded medications are prescribed by doctors or veterinarians and mixed safely by trained compounding pharmacists.

The pharmacists at St Clair Pharmacy and News have studied chemical compatibilities and can safely prepare customised dosage forms. Because every patient is different and has different needs, customized, compounded medications are a vital part of quality medical care.

Compounded medications are prescribed when a veterinarian determines the appropriate treatment is not otherwise available in the strength, dosage form, flavour or package size the veterinarian thinks is necessary for treatment. When your veterinarian orders a prescription from St Clair Pharmacy and News, a pharmacist formulates a medication that meets the individual needs of your pet.

What if my pet simply will not cooperate?

Don’t panic. You are not alone in this problem. In our experience, a pet who doesn’t want to take its medication is a common (but solvable) scenario.  Firstly, it’s important to recognize the reason your pet refuses medication. 

The most common reasons pets have trouble cooperating are:

*  Bitter or unpleasant taste

*  large, hard-to-swallow tablet/capsule size

*  Difficulty administering any oral preparation

At St Clair Pharmacy and News, we understand these concerns, and so we use various innovative methods to address these issues. For oral medications, we let our patient “choose” from our extensive list of over 30 flavours. We also use non-bitter versions of active ingredients, and use flavour-masking methods in conjunction with flavouring to make medicine more pleasant. 

There are also alternative to the traditional pill or liquid. We can make treats, licking pastes, and even offer some medication in a topical cream. After consideration, your veterinarian will conclude if one of these dosage form options is suitable for your pet. As always, your veterinarian will make the final recommendation in regards to your pet’s treatment.

When is compounding necessary?

Veterinarians often prescribe compounded medications for reasons that include (but are not limited to) the following situations:

*  When necessary medications are discontinue or are out-of-stock from pharmaceutical companies, often because the medications are no longer profitable to manufacture.

*  When the patient is allergic to certain preservatives, dyes or biners in available proprietary medications (eg, lactose intolerance).

*  When treatment requires unique dosage strengths for patients with unique needs (for example, a dose for a Chihuahua vs. a Great Dane).

*  When a pharmacist can combine several medications the patient is taking to increase compliance (for example, allergies, inflammation, or heart failure).

*  When the patient cannot ingest the commercially available medication and a pharmacist can prepare the medication in cream, liquid or treat the patient can easily take.

*  When medications require a flavour change to make them more palatable for animals (for example, from raspberry to liver).

Compounding is extremely important to the veterinary community, which often requires different flavours, more dosages forms and more varied dosage strengths than commercially-prepared medications supply.

Veterinary

Compounding is the traditional method of preparing customized medications to help meet your unique needs.

In some instances it may be necessary to obtain a prescription from your doctor, but at other times, we may be able to help you “over the counter”. It’s as easy as coming in and having a chat with one of our accredited compounding pharmacists.

Gone are the days where is there is no solution, or no other alternative. Your compounding pharmacy is always here to offer an alternate suggestion.

What is compounding?

We can do things from as simple as changing the flavour of childrens’ medications, to formulating medications for bio-identical hormone replacement therapies, to pain management. The possibilities are endless!

We can even make medication for your pets, that you just can’t get anywhere else. For your furry family, we can make mini-capsules, creams, troches, liquids and much more!

Our pharmacists have also designed their own formulations of anti-inflammatory pain relief creams, anti-itch creams and solutions for eczema and psoriasis.

We’re here, waiting to serve you and cater to your unique requirements.

How can compounding help me?

Menopause is a natural event in every woman's life. Unfortunately, it often brings along many unpleasant and uncomfortable symptoms, varying in severity from woman to woman. It is important to be aware that there are many different treatment options available.

Considering that every woman eventually experiences it, it's easy to see why there is much talk and speculation about menopause. Essentially, menopause is the cessation of monthly menstruation. Menopause officially signals the end of a woman's child-bearing years and indicates the point where she will no longer be fertile. 

By learning the basics about menopause: what it is, when it occurs, what its symptoms are, and how to manage them, women can prepare themselves and have a much better chance of getting through this major life change with elegance and comfort.

Bio Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy - Menopause Treatment

Unfortunately, menopause is unpredictable and does not arrive like clockwork. Over a gradual period of time, a woman's ovaries begin to work less efficiently. 

Approximately around the age of 40, this process speeds up and as a result, the woman becomes less and less fertile. Most women cease menstruating around 50 years of age; some stop as young as 40 years, while others continue as late as 60 years. 

Without a doubt, there is a wide window of time during which menopause can occur- and there's no way to predict when it will happen!

When does menopause occur?

The symptoms of menopause are widely known and are familiar to many women. As women approach menopause, they often begin experiencing symptoms of some sort. In fact, approximately 70% of women will experience menopause symptoms. 

Some of the most common symptoms include:

*  Hot flushes

*  Night sweats

*  Mood swings

*  Weight gain

*  Depression

Why do these symptoms happen? 

Hormones are largely to blame. When menopause occurs, levels of estrogen and progesterone drop. This decline in the levels of hormones can trigger the many common symptoms of menopause.

Symptoms of Menopause

There are several different tips, tricks and treatments for handling and managing the symptoms of menopause. What works for one woman might not work for another. 

One of the most popular treatments nowadays, though, is hormone replacement therapy. Doctors prescribe prescription medication that is customised to fit a woman's precise needs in terms of her levels of estrogen and progesterone. In turn, a compounding pharmacy receives the prescription and carries out the doctor's instructions to the letter. 

As a result, the patient receives a customised dose of medication that will help balance out the levels of those hormones in her body. Often, the problematic symptoms of menopause are successfully managed in this way, and a woman is able to go on about her life without incident or discomfort.

Treating Menopause Symptoms

Bio-identical hormone replacement and natural hormone replacement are conceptually similar. However, it important to note that what the general public perceives as 'natural' is not the same as 'bio-identical'.  

Many people make the mistake of assuming that as long as a product is derived from nature, it is 'natural' and good for the body. For example, phytoestrogens derived from soy products are perceived as being 'natural', but these estrogens are not bio-identical to human oestrogen, meaning the body recognises them as foreign. 

This is also the case for some medication made by major drug manufacturers, some of which unfortunately contains equine (horse) estrogens. 

On the bright side, bio-identical hormones go one step further; the molecular structure of bio-identical hormones is exactly the same as the corresponding hormone in the human body. 

Bio Identical Hormones vs 'Natural' Hormones

This is where a quality compounding pharmacy enters the picture.  St Clair Pharmacy and News can prepare bio-identical hormones in different strengths, concentrations and delivery methods so that you can get an individualized, customized hormone replacement treatment to achieve optimal results for you. 

Every woman has different hormone requirements, meaning that there is not a 'one size fits all' solution. It's the job of a specialised medical doctor to determine the appropriate dose of suitable hormones based on saliva analysis and blood tests. 

Then, it is the job of our qualified compounding pharmacist to safely and accurately prepare the high-quality, tailor-made bio-identical hormone replacement therapy that you can rely on.

Why Choose Us?

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