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Pet Forum / Miscellaneous / Animal Health / October 2007Compounding pharmacies
I had to get some melphalan compounded into 0.75 mg capsules, and the local compounding pharmacy charged me $140 for 14 capsules. That's $10 each. Yikes. Online, I found some pharmacies that were less expensive. One in particular, Diamondback Drugs in Scottsdale, AZ, quoted me only $1 each. I asked how they could be so much less expensive, and they said it's because they do a lot of veterinary business and buy the melphalan in large quantities, while the local pharmacy was probably buying the tablets to crush and compound one at a time. Anyway, does anyone know anything positive or negative about Diamondback Drugs? Also, can anyone recommend any other compounding pharmacies that are reputable, reliable, and reasonably priced? Background: One of my cats was recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma (cancer in the liver, spleen, and probably bone marrow). I don't want to put him through anything too invasive or rough, but the veterinary oncologist I saw thought a combination of two oral drugs might work -- prednisolone and melphalan. We did a blood test after two weeks, and the results were very encouraging! Some of the values were back in the normal range and others were heading in that direction. Thanks. JEP I've used Island Pharmacy (http://www.islandpharmacy.com) before. It's been several years, but it was a good experience; they were very helpful and prompt. At the time I also corresponded with Golden gate pharmacy (http://www.ggvetrx.com/) and while I ultimately didn't use them, found them to be very helpful and responsive. Oh and I've used VetCentric (http://www.vetcentric.com/Pharmacy_Tour.cfm), also with no problems. Also fwiw, if you're giving multiple meds you may be able to have them compounded together. My dog was on a relatively high dose of an NSAID and needed to be on pepcid as well to avoid complications, so to reduce the stress of giving her pills, I had them put both meds in the same capsule. Good luck. > I had to get some melphalan compounded into 0.75 mg capsules, and the > local compounding pharmacy charged me $140 for 14 capsules. That's [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > JEP > My dog was on a relatively high dose of an NSAID > and needed to be on pepcid as well to avoid complications, so to reduce > the stress of giving her pills, I had them put both meds in the same > capsule. How did that work out, Lee? My dog was on NSAIDs for 6 years and he finally came down with ulcers, which the pepcid cleared up but he is no longer taking them and his activity level is very low now. Kate >> My dog was on a relatively high dose of an NSAID >> and needed to be on pepcid as well to avoid complications, so to reduce [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Kate Mu dog had severe gastric ulcers, to the point he stripped his mucosal lining, required pyloric reconstruction and stomach reshaping to take out the dead/leaking areas. Because the pyloric reconstruction resulted in a leaking valve where gastric juices constantly splashed back into the stomach, he required cemetidine, prilosec (which nexium is simply prilosec -otc- + cemetidine- otc only a lot more expensive for you), and carafate (a stomach liner bandaid) for the rest of his life. When he got older, and needed pain relief, we were aware that nsaids could cause stomach ulceration. He needed nsaids or his quality of life just wasn't. So we gave him the ulcers, and the regimen he was already on for his stomach protected him, and ulceration was never an issue with him when it came to nsaids. I can't imagine a worse stomach than his. We mortgaged the farm for his vet bills. I think if your dog really needs nsaids.. you should discuss options with your vet. It worked for my dog. >>>My dog was on a relatively high dose of an NSAID >>>and needed to be on pepcid as well to avoid complications, so to reduce [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > I think if your dog really needs nsaids.. you should discuss options with > your vet. It worked for my dog. Thanks, Diddy. I'll talk to her about it. Bear had an ultrasound back in May and the only abnormality was enlarged adrenals. He went on Prilosec and antibiotics Tramadol and went off the NSAID. He's on antibiotics again for a possible sheath infection or possible uti. For Dr Sandy and Dr Deborah, we re-did the bloodwork and urinalysis, sent them off to Auburn. The total protein was still high, but not as high. TP - 7.7 range 5.0-7.4 Alk Phos 218 range 5-131 Globulin 3.9 range 1.6-3.6 Urinalysis Specific gravity - 1.060 range 1.015-1.050 wbc - 4-10 range 0-3 His Alt was low before and normal now. No trace of protein, no bacteria, PH now normal, no crystals, epithelium fine. His only treatment before the results wass adding 1000 mg of vit C to his diet. Kate She was on the NSAIDs for bladder problems (I forget exactly why the consultant recommended it). Mixing the pepcid w/ the meds in one capsule worked well. I ended up losing the dog several months later so I couldn't tell you the long term effects. >> My dog was on a relatively high dose of an NSAID and needed to be on >> pepcid as well to avoid complications, so to reduce the stress of [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Kate > She was on the NSAIDs for bladder problems (I forget exactly why the > consultant recommended it). Mixing the pepcid w/ the meds in one capsule > worked well. I ended up losing the dog several months later so I > couldn't tell you the long term effects. Thanks for the info. I'm sorry for your loss. Kate |
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