The pharmacy makes the medicine
Compounding is the work of a pharmacist or doctor who makes a patient’s medicine by mixing ingredients. The patient gets medicine made to order rather than a drug company’s ready-made product.
Compounding and the US medicine agency (FDA)One reason can be a need an available approved product cannot meet, such as an allergy to a dye.
Made to order does not mean approved
As checked on September 26, 2026, FDA has not approved medicines made by compounding.
Before sale, FDA does not verify the quality of these medicines or check that they work safely.
FDA on what it has not reviewedA named prescription has a purpose
Federal requirements were checked on September 26, 2026. A licensed pharmacist or doctor can make medicine to fill a valid prescription written for an identified patient, while also meeting the law’s other requirements.
FDA on patient-specific compoundingA prescription alone does not show that every legal requirement is met.
Ask the pharmacist who will make the medicine and which rules allow its ingredients to be used.
Keep the pharmacy name
Get the full name of the pharmacy making the medicine and the one sending it. A program name on an offer is not the answer to that question.