First time ordering compounded - what do I even look for??

Dr.SportsMedIN said:

GMP compliance checklist relevant to compounded supply compounding quality: Clean room environment with HEPA filtration Environmental monitoring…

Compounded has been just as effective for me. If compounded supply is the concern, the COA from my 503B pharmacy shows 99.1% purity. Verified by Janoshik.

KevinCompounds said:

Worth adding the genuine exception, because it is real and narrow: a change made for an identified patient where the prescriber determines it produces…

Bookmarking. The distinction being drawn above is the one nobody else makes. Adding it to my notes with a link back to this thread.

Dr.SportsMedIN said:

GMP compliance checklist relevant to compounded supply compounding quality: Clean room environment with HEPA filtration Environmental monitoring…

Vendor communication red flags for compounded supply:

• Won't provide COA before purchase — walk away
• Claims "100% pure" without analytical data — unrealistic
• No physical address or phone number — accountability matters
• Pushes you to buy more than you need — pressure tactics
• Won't answer questions about their compounding process — transparency is key
• Payment only via crypto or wire transfer — legitimate pharmacies accept cards

A legitimate compounding pharmacy operates like a healthcare business, not a gray market dealer.

nick_newbie said:

My pharmacy stopped supplying with three weeks notice and a letter that explained nothing, so I went and read the statute.

FDA inspection results for compounding pharmacies selling compounded supply: you can look up any 503B facility's FDA inspection history on the FDA website.

Check for: Form 483 observations (violations), warning letters, and recall history. A clean inspection record is a strong indicator of quality. My pharmacy has had 1 Form 483 observations in their last 2 inspections.

This is public information. Use it. Link: fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations

Moderator note: good thread. Keeping it here rather than moving it, because the question is general enough to be useful. Tagging this one for the weekly digest.