Pharmacy-tailored preparations or compounded drugs can be the best choice in pediatrics in several circumstances. Compounding is the process of creating personalized medications by mixing, combining, or altering ingredients to meet the specific needs of a patient in compounding pharmacies and hospital pharmacies. In pediatrics, this can be particularly important because of the unique dosing and formulation requirements of children. A modern and emerging way to prepare compounded drug for children is 3D printing. Here are some scenarios where compounded drugs might be the best choice:
- Dose Adjustments: Children, especially infants and toddlers, require smaller doses that are often not available in standard, commercially available medications. Compounded drugs allow for the exact dose a child needs.
- Flavoring: Many children refuse medication based on taste. Compounding pharmacies can add flavors to make medications more palatable.
- Formulation Changes: If a child has difficulty swallowing pills, a compounding pharmacist can alter the form of the medication to a liquid, gel, or transdermal preparation.
- Allergy Accommodations: Some children have allergies to certain dyes, lactose, gluten, or preservatives found in standard drug formulations. Compounded medications can be made without these problematic substances.
- Unavailable Medications: Occasionally, the necessary medication might be in short supply or no longer manufactured. Compounding pharmacies can create a similar drug by mixing the individual ingredients.
- Enteral Feeding Tubes: Children with enteral feeding tubes may need medications in a form that is compatible with their tubes. Compounded drugs can be made in the appropriate form and consistency.
Compounded drugs are the best choice in pediatrics under circumstances where commercially available medications do not meet the unique needs of pediatric patients, as previously outlined. 3D printing of pharmaceuticals can offer several superior aspects over traditional compounding methods, particularly for pediatric patients, for reasons including accuracy, dose flexibility, and potentially increased safety through automation and quality control:
Accuracy and Precision: 3D printing allows for exact dosing, which is critical in pediatrics where the therapeutic window can be very narrow. The precision of 3D printing ensures that each dose contains the right amount of active ingredient, reducing the risk of dosing errors.
Dose Flexibility: Children often need doses that are not commercially available and can vary widely as they grow and as their conditions change. 3D printing enables the creation of dose-specific medications tailored to the individual child's weight, age, and medical condition. This flexibility is difficult to achieve with traditional compounding methods without the same level of precision.
Safety Through Automation: Traditional compounding involves a significant amount of manual labor, which increases the risk of human error. 3D printing is largely automated, which can reduce the likelihood of contamination or mistakes during the drug preparation process. Each unit is produced with the same specifications, ensuring uniformity and reproducibility.
Quality Control: With 3D printing, each batch can be consistently produced with precise specifications. The process is digitally controlled, which allows for easy adjustments and consistent output. This level of control is beneficial for maintaining high-quality standards in medication production.
The implementation of 3D printing technologies into hospital pharmacies and compounding pharmacies is a transformative leap forward in the creation of patient-tailored medications for children. This approach elevates the standards of safety, precision, and customization in paediatric pharmacotherapy. As we look to the future, the continued adoption and refinement of 3D drug printing stand to significantly improve the way we address the unique and delicate requirements of paediatric medicine, ensuring that the most vulnerable patients receive the best care tailored to their individual needs.
