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Pharmacy & Pharmacology vocabulary · Dispensing and Counselling

Compounding

Meaning in pharmacy & pharmacology, with examples

/kəmˈpaʊndɪŋ/nounCommon term

In pharmacy & pharmacology, compounding means: The preparation by a pharmacist of a medicine made for an individual patient, such as a liquid for a child who cannot swallow tablets, when no suitable licensed product exists.

In Turkish: majistral ilaç hazırlama, majistral, ilaç hazırlama

How it is used

The usual term in American English; British pharmacists often say extemporaneous preparation. Compounding needs suitable equipment, accurate calculations and careful records, and sterile compounding of injections is done in clean rooms. The verb is 'compound a medicine'.

Example sentences

  1. We're compounding an oral solution for the baby because the drug only comes as tablets.

  2. Sterile compounding of chemotherapy is done in the hospital's aseptic unit.

Common collocations

  • compound a medicine
  • sterile compounding
  • compounding pharmacy
  • extemporaneous preparation
  • dosage formThe physical form in which a medicine is made and given, such as a tablet, capsule, syrup, cream, injection, patch or suppository.
  • excipientAny ingredient in a medicine other than the active ingredient, such as a filler, binder, colouring, sweetener or preservative, that helps the product work and keep.
  • GMPShort for good manufacturing practice: the rules and quality systems that make sure medicines are produced and controlled consistently to the right quality standards.
  • pharmacistA health professional trained in medicines who checks prescriptions, supplies medicines, advises people on using them safely and works with doctors on patients' treatment.

More terms: Dispensing and Counselling

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.