Massachusetts Pharmacy Technician License Practice Test

What is the main function of a compounding pharmacy?

1. Dispensing over-the-counter medications

2. Making customized prescriptions

3. Providing medical advice

4. Manufacturing large volumes of medications

The correct answer is: Making customized prescriptions

The main function of a compounding pharmacy is to make customized prescriptions. This process is essential for patients who may require specific dosages, forms, or ingredients that are not commercially available. Compounding pharmacists create tailored medications based on a healthcare provider's prescription, allowing for modifications such as altering the strength of a medication, changing the form (for example, converting a tablet into a liquid), or excluding certain ingredients for patients with allergies or intolerances. In contrast, dispensing over-the-counter medications is a general function of retail pharmacies that does not require customization. Providing medical advice is also a component of pharmacy practice but is not exclusive to compounding. Lastly, manufacturing large volumes of medications aligns more with industrial pharmacy practices rather than the specialized, individualized approach of compounding pharmacies, which focus on creating specific medications for individual patients rather than mass-producing them.