Lascassas Drugs adds compounding services on The Murfreesboro Post

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Lascassas Drugs adds compounding services

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By: MELINDA HUDGINS, mhudgins@murfreesboropost.com

Posted: Sunday, March 25, 2012 6:08 am

Lascassas Drugs adds compounding services | Lascassas Drugs, Lascassas, Rutherford County, Health Care, Health, Living Well, Business

Pharmacist Erica Lykins mixes together a specialized medicine using a mortar and pestle March 21 at Lascassas Drugs, located in the northeastern portion of Rutherford County. (Photo by M. Hudgins)

Mortar and pestle has been the classic signature of a pharmacy, and now Lascassas Drugs is putting it back to use.

Located along Lascassas Pike, the independent pharmacy recently launched its compounding services after adding to its staff Erica Lykins, who earned her doctorate of pharmacy from the University of Tennessee’s health sciences program.

“It makes it more specific to your treatment,” explained Brian Messick, a doctor of public health who owns Lascassas Drugs with Candi Mathis, also a doctor of public health.

Patients can be tested to determine their exact levels, and Lykins will create a specific concoction to suit each person’s exact needs.

“Compounding can be used any time we need specialized medications that are not on the market,” she said.

Sometimes, a large pharmaceutical manufacturer discontinues a medication. Often this happens because not enough patients are taking the drug, so it is unprofitable to keep mass-producing it, according to the Professional Compounding Center of America, a complete resource for independent compounding pharmacy’s needs.

“Compounding allows a medication to be personalized for an individual patient. The ability to create these personalized medications allows compounding pharmacists to help patients with a wide variety of needs,” according to the center’s website.

Compounding pharmacists make medication allergy-friendly by formulating it to give the patient the treatment they need while leaving out the problematic ingredient.

Additionally, some medications have a very unpleasant flavor, which makes the patient less likely to take it as directed. A compounding pharmacist can flavor many medications to make it more palatable without compromising its effectiveness. This is especially handy when dealing with patients who may refuse medication, such as young children, elderly patients, or even pets.

Reeves-Sain on Memorial Boulevard and Mills Pharmacy on South Church Street both offer compounding, and Lykins says Lascassas Drugs extends compounding services to another geographic area.

After several ladies inquired about hormone replacement therapy, Lascassas Drugs began offerings its compounding services. Lykins pointed out the products she uses come from plants rather than pregnant mare urine, which is commonly used in hormone replacements therapy.

“We’re always looking for different niches – things we can do to help the people we serve – and that was a niche that we thought was needed,” Messick continued, calling compounding a “more specific therapy.”

Messick and Mathis said they previously wanted to offer the services but were limited in space and staff. Less than a year ago, they moved Lascassas Drug into its current home near Valley Growers on Lascassas Pike.

“Now in the new building, we have the space and have added Erica (Lykins) to be the one in charge and be the lead on that program,” Messick said.

Such offerings also reinforce the pharmacy’s focus on being customer-oriented.

“Most chains can’t offer it,” Messick said. “We have time to talk to our customer, we know our customer, and most of the folks who come in, we know them and speak to them.”

He explained how pharmacies have evolved into a volume-driven business, but Lascassas Drugs is “still trying to specialize in service. It’s one thing that sets us apart.”

As for patients using insurance, Messick said some companies cover the compounds, while others do not.

“If you have (insurance), we’re going to do our best to get it covered and to get it paid for,” he said.

While the company kicked off its compounding program with hormone replacement therapy, Lykins said she seeks to create medications for veterinarians and pediatricians, as well.

For information about Lascassas Drugs’ compounding program, visit lascassasdrugs.com or call 615-896-9808.

Tagged under Business, Health, Health Care, Lascassas, Lascassas Drugs, Living Well, Rutherford County

Member Opinions:

By: ail2b_mtsu_s12 on 3/29/12
I personally believe that this compounding service being offered near Lascassas drug is a great idea. The new pharmacist hired there will definitely be able to help the community and also the pharmacy. Since this compounding hasn’t been done around the Lascassas area before, this will give the chance for curious and needy customers to get their chance and try this experiment. Many people have issues with their prescriptions and are always trying to find help and now with this compounding idea they can finally achieve some good results. Also, this service being offered at Lascassas drug will help their customer numbers rise and they will be able to probably make a higher profit since they will be offering a new service. It seems to me like a win win situation. The only downside that I can think of is just the fact that this compounding is still a fairly new idea to many here and it might be risky. But I am sure that the pharmacists know what they are doing. It is a mixing experiment, but for those willing to try I am sure that I will be helpful. Rutherford County should be excited to be expanding in the medical fields and trying out new ideas to help out the community.

By: 10 on 3/30/12
Lascassas Drugs is a great place. The service is top notch and they always go the extra mile for their customers. The compounding service also makes sun burn cream and poison ivy cream this time of year (who doesn't need sun burn cream this time of year?). Plus they have ice cream while you wait!