The History of Compounding

The history of the pharmacy dates back to biblical times.  Ointments, balms, perfumes and oils are examples of compounding often referred to in the bible. During medieval times, priests used compounded medications and ministered to the sick with religious rites as well. Many peoples of the world continue the close association of drugs, medicine, and religion or faith.

Specialization of medications first occurred early in the 9th century in the civilized world in the Middle East. It gradually spread to Europe as alchemy, eventually evolving into chemistry.

Physicians often both prescribed and prepared medications.  Pharmacists not only compounded prescriptions but manufactured medicaments in bulk for general sale. The distinction between the pharmacist as a compounder of medicines and the physician as a therapist was not generally accepted until well into the 19th century.

By the 1800’s most towns and cities in the United States had a drugstore staffed by a compounding pharmacist. Education requirements were established and societies of apothecaries began.

During the industrial revolution major drug manufacturing came into existence. Based upon compounding principles these compounding pharmacists increased their production capacity and began mass-producing medications. The mass produced drugs were enticing to compounding pharmacists because they made their life easier. No longer would a compounding pharmacist have to prepare a compound while their patient waited. The compounding pharmacist could simply count out some manufactured pills and dispense them. This began the demise of the compounding pharmacist.

During the early 1900’s most prescriptions that were dispensed were compounded. By the 1960’s less than 5 percent of all prescriptions dispensed were compounded. The compounding pharmacist became a dispenser of medications rather than a compounder of medications.

Compounding has once again become a normal part of the pharmacy profession thanks to the efforts of pharmacists in the 1980’s.  These pharmacists, looking for non-commercially produced ways to help their patients, journeyed back to their compounding roots. Bulk drug distributors like PCCA and Hawkins Chemical have substantially contributed to the resurgence of compounding as well.