HRT is another area where compounded medications can be utilized to treat a patients specific needs. HRT is used to replace the estrogen and progesterone when the body no longer produces the "normal" levels after menopause. Compounding technology can be used to design a patient specific combination of these drugs in different proportions to arrive at the best therapeutic effect for the patient while minimizing any untoward side effects.

The benefits to the patient are several: HRT may help to prevent or reduce bone loss(osteoporosis), hot flashes, vaginal dryness, sweating or perspiration, sleeplessness (insomnia), as well as help reduce the incidence of coronary disease in post-menopausal women.

As with any other drug therapy, there are some risks involved. These might include monthly bleeding, breast tenderness, increased blood pressure, fluid retention (peripheral edema) or an increased potential for gallbladder disease.

Your physician or healthcare provider is an expert resource to discuss if you are a candidate for HRT. If your physician believes that this therapy would be of benefit to you, we have several methods which can be used to administer these agents. These include capsules, transdermal gels, topical creams or ointments, vaginal creams , injections, implantable pellets or skin patches.

Another important therapy that has received a serious consideration is the hormone Dehydroepiandosterone (DHEA). DHEA is a naturally occurring hormone produced by the adrenal glands. It is a chemical precursor to both estrogens (female hormones ) and androgens (male hormones). As we get older the concentrations of the DHEA and its metabolite DHEAs progressively decrease after their natural peaking when we are about 20 years old.

DHEA has been researched over the last several years for several reasons. DHEA was first thought to be unimportant and weak precursors to androgens. Research has shown us however, that there is a detectable drop in our body’s natural level of DHEA when we are afflicted with auto-immume diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) or rheumatoid arthritis. Similar research has suggested that DHEA plays a role in chronic fatigue syndrome, obesity, NIDDM (diabetes), cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer. Studies have shown that DHEA has a stimulant effect on the immune system ,and there is a suggestion that low levels of DHEA are involved in the degenerative disease process as we all grow older.

Many physicians who are involved in treating these conditions feel that circulating levels of DHEAS should be maintained with a range of 150-200 mcg/dl in women and 200-400mcg/dl in men. There is a laboratory test that can be ordered by your physician to determine your baseline circulating blood level. A lower level may be an indicator that you are a candidate for DHEA replacement therapy. If your physician believes that you may be a candidate , we will work with both you and your physician to compound a dosage form that meets your needs.

Although DHEA is available as a nutritional supplement, we feel that all hormone replacement therapy should be monitored by a physician. As such, we will not compound this or any other hormone without a prescription from your doctor.