SPECIALIZED MEDICATIONS FOR PAIN MANAGEMENT

According to national statistics, 86 million American adults deal with chronic pain. Over the years, many people have turned to prescription medications to manage their pain, which may result from injury, aging or disease. However, in recent years, popular pain medications have drawn more scrutiny and skepticism because of various side effects. Some pain medications – both over the counter and prescription – have proven dangerous to patients when used for prolonged periods of time or in combination with other medications.

One of the main advantages of prescription compounding that merits re-emphasis is the ability to individualize care for patients. The ability to customize medications through compounding for individual needs is almost limitless. This process of customizing for individual needs becomes especially important in managing pain.

Pain is perhaps the most common patient complaint that physicians have to deal with. Yet it seems that successful management of pain is too often, less than optimal. Perhaps this is because pain is one of the most complex and least understood features of human existence.

The successful management of pain requires expertise from several disciplines. Since the primary treatment modality is medication, the compounding pharmacy has important contributions to make. Our staff at South River Compounding Pharmacy and Wellness Center have training and expertise to help with pain management in a number of ways, including:

Selection of most appropriate analgesic agent

Determination of dosage regimen

Design of a customized dosage form

Options for dosage forms and the ability to infinitely vary the amount of medications are important advantages in the treatment of pain. The options for dosage forms include:

ORAL – usually preferred due to convenience; has additional advantage of being formulated as a solid or liquid and can be varied by flavor and texture. Combining several medications into one preparation is usually possible with oral dosage forms and may result in cost savings.

TRANSDERMAL – includes both the skin and oral mucosa. Transdermal medications bypass the gastrointestinal tract, which helps to avoid some side effects associated with oral dosing. Additionally, transdermal administration may result in achieving effective therapeutic benefit with a lower dose because the liver deactivates less medication before it reaches the site of action in the body.

RECTAL – may be preferable when patients have nausea or vomiting, or when there has been surgery or trauma to the gastrointestinal tract.

NASAL – currently several medications are under investigation for nasal administration. A major advantage will be very rapid relief of pain since the absorption through the nasal mucosa is a direct route to the brain, the site of action of most analgesics.

INJECTABLE – used at times when other dosage options may be inappropriate or less effective.

South River Compounding Pharmacy is in its second decade of providing specialized and compassionate care to chronic and acute pain patients. If you suffer from chronic pain and have concerns about which medication you should take, then give us a call. Whether you are concerned about side effects or simply committed to natural health solutions, South River offers several natural alternatives for pain management.

South River’s “Inflammatory Support” -- A combination of all-natural ingredients, including white willow bark, boswellia serrata and berry extract. Double-blinded studies of these ingredients have demonstrated effectiveness in treating pain and inflammation related to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, low back pain and asthma. This compound offers a sound, natural alternative to anti-inflammatory pain medications such as Vioxx, which have been shown to increase risk of heart attack and stroke if used for a prolonged time.

We can work with you and your physician and devise a patient specific pain regimen.

We have worked with patients and physicians for the following types of chronic pain:

Cancer

Osteoarthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis

Chronic fatigue syndrome

Migraines

Fibromyalgia

Neuropathic pain

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD)

Post herpetic neuralgia

Diabetic neuropathy

Phantom limb pain

Musculoskeletal (knee, hip, back, elbow, etc.)

We have worked with patients and physicians for the following types of acute pain:

Dental

Sports injuries

Post surgical

Burns

Fractures

Wounds

South River Compounding Pharmacy
Southside: 2300 Robious Station Circle, Midlothian, VA 23113
West End: 3656 Mayland Court, Richmond, VA 23233
Serving the Greater Richmond, Virginia area, including Chesterfield, VA, Hanover, Henrico, Powhatan