Pharmacy Innovations Welcomes New Location in Houston, Texas

Houston, TX - (October 8, 2007): Pharmacy Innovations, with home offices in Jamestown, NY; and owner and operator of 2 PCAB accredited compounding pharmacies, has purchased Red Oak Pharmacy, located at 17070 Red Oak Drive in Houston,TX. Like the Pharmacy Innovations locations in Jamestown, NY and Erie, PA, Red Oak Pharmacy will specialize in pharmacy compounding, or the method of pharmacists custom preparing medications to meet unique physician and patient needs.

The pharmacy also includes a full service retail pharmacy and will provide other special services to the community.

Richard B.Moon, PharmD, RPh, FIACP, of Frewsburg, NY, is the owner and head pharmacist at Pharmacy Innovations, and is one of more than 3,000 independent, community pharmacists nationwide who practices the art of pharmacy compounding. Dr. Moon is a 1986 graduate of the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and a 2004 PharmD graduate of the Bernard J Dunn School of Pharmacy at Shenandoah University. Richard is also a member of the National Association of Community Pharmacists.  He is a full fellow and member of the Board of Directors of the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists, and is a Foundation Research Committee member. Dr. Moon is a member of the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York, the Pharmacists Society of Western New York and the Pharmacists Society of Pennsylvania. He has received the 1998 Heart of Hospice Award for service to Chautauqua County's Hospice and their patients. Dr. Moon is a co-recipient of the 2003 Orvil Baxter Distinguished Alumni award, and the January 2004 Pharmacist of the Month award from the Professional Compounding Centers of America.

With a physician's prescription, Moon and his staff prepare "customized" medication in a special compounding laboratory, using the latest techniques and devices available. They then dispense the medication in a special dosage form or delivery system suited for the patient.

"We're bringing a new era in pharmacy care to the North Houston community," said Moon. "Through pharmacy compounding, patients receive the type of personalized care they deserve. We will work closely with their physician to help them pursue more positive therapeutic outcomes."
 
There are several reasons why pharmacists compound prescription medications.  Yet, the most important one is patient non-compliance.  Many patients are allergic to preservatives or dyes, or are sensitive to standard drug strengths.  With a physician's consent, a compounding pharmacist can customize the strength of a medication and alter its dosage form to make it easier for the patient to ingest.  A compounding pharmacist can prepare the medication using several unique delivery systems, such as a lozenge, a suppository, or a transdermal gel.  For example, for those patients who are having a difficult time swallowing a capsule, a compounding pharmacist can often make a liquid suspension or suppository with the medication instead; or a sinusitis patient who has had problems with chronic infections and may chose to receive their medication via a nebulized system instead of an oral treatment.

Often parents have a tough time getting their children to take their medicine because of the taste.  A compounding pharmacist can work directly with the physician and the patient to select a flavoring agent, such as vanilla butternut or tutti frutti, which provides both an appropriate match for the medication's properties and the patient's taste preferences.
 
Compounding pharmacists also have helped patients who are experiencing chronic pain.  For example, arthritic patients who cannot take certain medications due to gastro intestinal side effects.  Working with their physician, a compounding pharmacist can provide them with a topical preparation with the anti-inflammatory or analgesic their doctor prescribed for them. 

"We can take care of the whole family" says Dr. Moon.  The pharmacy also offers compounding services for veterinarians and animals.  Medications for animals of all sizes can be customized to meet the needs of the pet.  There is a large difference in size from parakeets to horses, and Pharmacy Innovations works with the veterinarian to make the right dosage for the size of the animal. For example, for a pet who gets motion sickness while travelling, Pharmacy Innovations can provide a transdermal medication, which is a cream that can be applied to the ear surface of animals to help prevent the issue.  Good tasting suspensions or flavored chewable medicated treats such as marshmallow, liver, beef, chicken, fish or molasses flavors make it much easier to give your pet medication.  Custom medications are available for seizures, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, parasitic infections, appetite stimulation; they include anti-fungal inhalation for birds, inhalation therapy for dogs to treat kennel cough, and many, many more.  The pharmacy has treated a wide range including everything from hedgehogs to iguanas.

Compounders focus on meeting special needs.  This may involve compounding an eye drop in a sterile compounding lab, an injection for impotency, preparing medications for veterinarians in a variety of dosage forms and flavors, providing natural alternatives in hormone replacement therapy, or assisting physicians in treating hospice patients.  The ultimate goal in preparing any of these customized medications is to help the physician and patient achieve a more positive therapeutic outcome.
 
Red Oak Pharmacy is located at 17070 Red Oak Drive, Suite 103 in Houston, TX. They can be reached by phone at 281-586-0771 or toll free at 1-888-733-6250.  For more information on Pharmacy Innovations, please contact Janet Calabrese, Director of Marketing, at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it , by calling 1-888-844-4573, or visiting the website at www.pharmacyinnovations.net.