Extemporaneous compounding in a sample of New Zealand hospitals: a retrospective survey.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the extent and nature of extemporaneous compounding of liquid preparations in a sample of New Zealand hospitals.


METHODS
Retrospective data were collected from eight hospitals known to provide compounding services during the period 1 June 2004 to 31 December 2004; including dosage form, volume, and quantity prepared. Data were collected on site from compounding logbooks and batch sheets. Demographic patient data was limited to age and was only collected from pharmacy departments where this information was readily available. Off-label use was analysed where appropriate data were available.


RESULTS
2015 products were compounded over the 7-month period; an average of 251.9 per month. More oral dosage forms were compounded (n=152) compared to topical dosage forms (n=100); 74 drugs required extemporaneous preparation for oral use. There were 16 drugs used in an off-label manner on 144 occasions for paediatric patients. Most off-label drugs were reformulated as suspensions; omeprazole suspension was compounded at all of the hospitals. Off-label use of four drugs (sotalol, labetalol, diazoxide, and clonidine) was analysed for different paediatric age groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Suspensions are the most frequently compounded dosage form and omeprazole is the drug that is most frequently reformulated. Off-label medicines form a small but integral role in the supply of medicinal products.
Kairuz
Therése
T
School of Pharmacy, University of Auckland, Auckland. t.kairuz@qut.edu.au
Chhim
Srey
S
Hasan
Fhazeel
F
Kumar
Karishma
K
Lal
Aarti
A
Patel
Roshni
R
Singh
Ranjani
R
Dogra
Mridula
M
Garg
Sanjay
S
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009520:New Zealand; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013535:Suspensions
D013535:Suspensions