Dr.EndoEP said:

The shortage clause is the answer to the second question and it is a subtraction rather than an addition.

This answered a question I did not know how to ask. Sending this to two other people who asked me the same thing last week.

From the other side of the consultation, briefly.

Compounding pharmacy response time test for compounded supply: I email customer service at odd hours to test responsiveness. A pharmacy that can't answer questions promptly is a red flag.

My current pharmacy: average response time same day. They answered my questions about sterility testing thoroughly and professionally.

Communication quality is a proxy for operational quality. A pharmacy that communicates well is likely manufacturing well too.

claudia_zurich said:

For compounded supply users considering compounded for the first time: here's a step-by-step guide: Get a prescription from your doctor (telehealth…

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.

paul_denver said:

They are two different exemptions from the same federal requirements and they buy different things.

Compounding pharmacy customer here with experience relevant to compounded supply.

I've ordered from 2 different compounding pharmacies over the past 2 years. The quality variation is real — purity ranged from 94% to 101% of label claim based on independent Janoshik testing.

My current compounder (a 503B facility) has been consistently 98-101% purity across 10 orders. I pay $133/month vs $1,363 for brand. The savings are substantial and the product is equivalent in my experience.

Re: compounded supply — this applies whether you're using brand or compounded. The clinical principles are the same.

Moderator note: the sourcing question belongs in the vendor section and has been split out.