By Frederick Cheng (RPh), and Christine Cheng (RPh)
Everybody has experienced pain in their lives. Often, the first thing we reach for is an oral pain-killer or anti-inflammatory drug. If it’s severe or becomes more chronic, we go see our doctors (or, at least, we should!). Did you know that some of the best medications your doctor can give you to treat your pain is absorbed through your SKIN, and not your gut? TOPICAL PAIN GELS/ CREAMS have become the cornerstone due to its wide efficacy and low risk of side-effects and interactions. The only way to get these customized medications is through a genuine compounding pharmacy with personnel who are specially trained by an organization such as “PCCA” (the Professional Compounding Centres of America).
Typically, to arrive at the appropriate topical pain medication, your physician would consult with a compounding pharmacist, such as Christine Cheng at Cloverdale Pharmasave, or Frederick Cheng at Pharmasave Steveston Village. The discussion would yield a formulation containing the IDEAL AMOUNTS of the APPROPRIATE MEDICATIONS in the APPROPRIATE BASE to be made in SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT (such as an ointment mill, Mazerustar planetary mixer, electric mortar and pestle, etc.). This prescription would be specific in addressing your particular type of pain, be it muscle, joint, nerve pain, or even headaches. If your physician or pharmacist has never heard of topical naltrexone, ketamine, amitriptyline, etc, or thinks that all bases are the same, or that you don’t need special equipment to achieve necessary sheering forces and a uniform product, then it’s time to move on to someone else.
A PCCA-TRAINED PHARMACIST has the background knowledge and understanding about each active AND non-active ingredient that goes into your custom medications. A high-quality product takes a lot of training and practice in order for the compounder to be able to make the appropriate medications FRO SCRATCH. Poor quality products will not be absorbed appropriately, and thus will not give you the desired effect, and sometimes could even lead to unwanted side-effects such as local irritation, or “bolus” deposition of drugs into your system.
Let us be clear: topical pain gels and creams are highly effective for the majority of pain cases, but only if compounded with the proper ingredients, in the appropriate bases, made with the appropriate equipment by specially trained personnel. If you need a genuine compounding pharmacy with 20+ years of experience, come see the passionate experts at CLOVERDALE PHARMASAVE and PHARMASAVE STEVESTON VILLAGE.
Christine and Fred Cheng are a passionate, charismatic sister-brother pharmacist team at their unique, family-operated Pharmasave stores in Cloverdale and Steveston, B.C. They specialize in natural remedies and compounding for both human and veterinarian use. Everything mentioned in their article is available InStore.
***All information posted and shared by Cloverdale Pharmasave is offered to provide information and choices regarding nutritional support for various health concerns, none of which is intended to be a treatment protocol for any disease state. The information does not replace seeking professional advice from your physician. Consult your health care practitioner before taking dietary supplements.
Articles, Q&A, blog posts and all materials submitted for publishing is the intellectual property of Cloverdale Pharmacy Ltd – reproduction in part or whole, in print or online, without written consent and permission is prohibited.
Articles, Q&A, blog posts and all materials submitted for publishing is the intellectual property of Cloverdale Pharmacy Ltd – reproduction in part or whole, in print or online, without written consent and permission is prohibited.
