What does extemporaneous compounding refer to in pharmacy practice?

Extemporaneous compounding refers to the process of preparing a medication specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of an individual patient, typically when a commercially available product is not suitable for that patient. This practice allows pharmacists to create customized mixtures by combining or altering ingredients in accordance with a licensed prescriber's directions for a specific prescription.

This approach is crucial in scenarios where patients may require different dosages, forms (like liquid instead of solid), or ingredients due to allergies or other health considerations. The customization is typically done in a precise manner to ensure that the medication is safe, effective, and suitable for the patient's needs at the time of dispensing.

In contrast, other practices mentioned do not involve the individual compounding of medications. Utilizing commercially available large volume parenterals (LVPs) or small volume parenterals (SVPs) focuses on ready-to-use products without modification, and distributing over-the-counter medications pertains to non-prescription items rather than compounded prescriptions.