Any parent can attest to the numerous challenges when comes to getting children to take their medicine. Many pediatric patients have trouble swallowing pills and the taste of most liquid formulations can be even worse when it comes to ingesting the medication.
Least popular of all from any child you ask is the option of an injection.
This poses a significant dilemma when it comes to treating various pediatric and neonatal illnesses because if we can’t get our kids to take their medications it’s definitely not going to be effective. Large drug companies do not often invest in and create pediatric dosage forms due to a smaller return on investment. For example, an adult cholesterol medication can be taken by a patient for 30 years or more. In comparison, a pediatric medication in a dosage form specific for children is likely going to be required for 5-10 years at most. The average age a child learns to swallow a solid dosage form (tablet, capsule, etc…) is 10 years old so the dissolvable pleasant tasting tablet is no longer required and the big pharmaceutical companies are well aware of this.
Children in the Las Vegas area are not limited to the unpleasant options commercially available. Our compounding specialists provide multiple enticing alternatives including delicious tasting solutions, suspensions, gummi bears, lollipop lozenges, ice pops, and orally dissolving tablets. Not only do we provide multiple pleasant tasting dosage forms but we also have multiple flavoring agents which kids can choose from.
Sometimes an oral dosage form regardless of how it is compounded is not practical for a child and in some cases it is better to limit the entire body’s exposure to a particular drug. In these cases, it may be possible for us to create a topical formulation such as a transdermal gel, ointment, cream, lotion, or even a patch to deliver medication to specific places in the body.
Specific Disease States
Acne is far more devastating than a simple temporary blemish when the emotional impact is considered as well as the possibility of permanent scarring.
It is well known that acne is a multi factorial ailment yet commercially available products typically treat one aspect of acne.
Additionally, several commercially available products require numerous applications throughout the day which can be embarrassing for adolescents. At Meta are able to combine several medications treating multiple phases of acne in order to shorten the duration of blemishes which are present and also able to prevent future breakouts.
Depending on your skin characteristics we can combine products which act synergistically thereby making them more effective requiring less frequent applications.
The prevalence of ADHD has increased exponentially which results in children being exposed to more drugs at an earlier age.
Medication is definitely beneficial for children with ADHD, however identifying the lowest effective dose for each child is the goal for prescribers yet small increments in dosage strengths are not commercially available. This limits prescribers’ ability to best manage each child’s ADHD, which require specially compounded doses that can be provided at Meta. We are also able to compound this dose into a time-released formulation so a child does not require a dose in the middle of the day while they are typically in school with their peers.
Autism diagnosis has increased significantly in the United States and other countries since the 1970’s with an exponential increase in incidence since 1990. The specific cause for the increase is unknown with conflicting theories including environmental exposures versus genetic predisposition. What we do know is Autism is a disorder on a spectrum based on symptoms and there is not yet a cure for Autism.
There are multiple traditional and alternative approaches to improve the symptoms and thus where a patient falls on the Autism spectrum.
At Meta Pharmacy Services we are of course able to support the medication needs for traditional symptom and co-morbidities for patients with Autism. This includes but is not limited to conventional medications for ADHD, seizures, anxiety, and depression. In addition to this approach at Meta Pharmacy
Services in southern Nevada we have positioned ourselves to be on the forefront of complementary and alternative therapy to the traditional medications for patients with Autism. One distinct advantage we have within our modern facility is the ability to compound medications without products which may be adversely impacting patients with Autism. For example gluten-free diets have been shown to be beneficial in numerous patients with Autism however many commonly used medications contain gluten.
In addition the peptide casein may have the same effect as gluten in these patients so the probiotics often prescribed to patients with Autism may actually cause some adverse effects due to commonly containing casein. In these cases our compounding specialists are able to uniquely prepare the medications gluten as well as casein free to maintain the specialized diet. As always we have the capability to make delicious recipes such as lollipops, lozenges, and pleasantly flavored syrups which have kids enjoying taking their medication.
There are numerous additional complementary and alternative herbal and nutritional supplements which have shown promise in the arena of Autism. We have experience with some of the more commonly used supplements like melatonin and secretin as well as vitamin therapy with magnesium and pyridoxine (vitamin B6). In addition, we also have experience with the less common alternative therapy including intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and chelation treatments so feel free to talk to us regarding any questions you may have.
A baby’s arrival into the family is a blissful experience, however, this can be derailed if your child develops a nasty diaper rash. Unfortunately it is more correct to say “when” rather than “if” because almost every single child is maligned by diaper rash at sometime and more likely multiple times.
In order to change this from an inevitable extended duration affliction for your baby to a short duration easily resolvable and even avoidable term of the past the current treatment approach must be altered.
Diaper rash creams manufactured today both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription clearly do not have all the necessary components to prevent and/or treat diaper rashes otherwise this would not continue to be one of the top questions asked to pediatricians from mothers of newborns.
Working with distinguished pediatric physician Dr. Ellen Fitzpatrick we have been able to create a formulation tested and proven in the neonatal intensive care units. This cream is able to cure even the most severe cases of diaper dermatitis. Additionally when needed, we are able to compound unique diaper rash treatments for each child’s specific needs with various components in numerous strengths guided by your pediatrician.
