Compounded Palliative and Hospice Medications Overview

Palliative and hospice care focus on comfort and quality of life for patients with serious or life-limiting illness. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization estimates that more than 1.7 million patients receive hospice care in the United States each year. As illness progresses, patients may lose the ability to swallow, develop sensitivities to standard medications or require formulations that are not commercially available. When a hospice physician or palliative care provider determines that compounding is appropriate, a 503A compounding pharmacy like Pharmacy Solutions can prepare customized formulations based on their recommendations. Options may include concentrated oral or sublingual solutions, troches, suppositories, topical or transdermal preparations and combination formulations that address multiple comfort-related symptoms in a single preparation. These alternatives help ensure patients can continue to receive the medications they need in a form their body can accept. Pharmacy Solutions understands the urgency of hospice care and works closely with care teams to ensure timely preparation and delivery. Close coordination between the provider, pharmacist, patient and family supports compassionate, comfort-focused care.