How to Write a Compounded Prescription 

What to Include on a Compounded Prescription

Because compounded medications are typically not pre-loaded into electronic medical record systems, accuracy depends on fully specified prescribing information.

Legal Requirements

At a minimum, all prescriptions must include the following elements:

• Patient details including full name, date of birth, and phone number for contact
• Active ingredient(s) and concentration or strength of each
• Dosage form (e.g., capsules, topical cream, solution, troche, suspension)
• Directions for patient use
• Quantity and number of refills, if any
• Any specific instructions , such as excipient exclusions, base preferences, or flavoring

There are additional requirements for controlled substances per the Controlled Substances Act:

• Prescriptions must be signed and dated on the day issued
• Full address of both the patient and the prescriber must be provided on the hardcopy transmitted
• Prescriber DEA number must also be present

Tips for Electronic Prescribing via EMR

While transmitting an electronic prescription for a compounded medication through an electronic medical record system may appear complex at first, it can often be accomplished with modest ingenuity and system flexibility. Because electronic medical record use is the current standard of care, it is important to work within these systems—rather than against them—to ensure efficient and accurate compound prescribing.

Clear documentation of compounded electronic medication orders also helps ensure that all members of the patient’s care team can view and understand the patient’s complete medication list, which is especially important when patients receive care across multiple medical facilities.

A recommended EMR option for transmitting a compounded prescription includes:

• POWDER form of the medication (when available for selection)
• A generic description such as COMPOUNDED MEDICATION that signals a custom formulation
• A similar pre-populated medication (a commercially available variant)

In all cases, the full compound—including ingredients, strengths, dosage form, and directions—should be entered verbatim in the Sig and/or Notes to Pharmacy field to ensure accurate preparation.

When prescribing a compounded medication that includes a controlled substance through an EMR, your secondary security token is required. To ensure this step is prompted, it’s important to select a drug option that triggers this security check. In many cases, choosing a commercially available version of the controlled substance with an established NDC code and then free-texting the compounded formulation in the prescription instructions or notes to the pharmacy allows the prescription to be sent smoothly and compliantly.

Prescription Intake and Order Coordination

Before compounding, we contact your patient to confirm dispensing details and answer clinical questions. We also discuss the medication cost and preferred logistics (pick-up date/time, or shipping). Patients can pick up their medication at our convenient location in Portland. We can also mail or ship anywhere in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, or Florida.

To avoid delays, prescriptions should include:

• Patient’s full name
• Date of birth
• Contact phone number

Clear and complete prescriptions help minimize clarification delays and ensure consistency each dispense.

Speciality-Specific Prescription Forms

To help streamline the prescribing process, we offer specialty-specific compound prescription forms designed around commonly prescribed compounded therapies.

These forms:

• List common formulations for quick and easy prescribing
• Help reduce follow-up calls or clarification requests
• Support consistent prescribing across your practice

Submitting Prescriptions to Coastal

Completed prescriptions may be sent via:

• Fax to (207) 899-0826
• Electronic prescribing via your EMR
• Verbal orders from licensed prescribers or their agents directly to one of our pharmacists

Each prescription is reviewed by our pharmacy team prior to preparation. If clarification is needed, we will promptly contact your office.

Clinical Collaboration & Support

Our pharmacists are available to support you with formulation questions, dosage form considerations, and ingredient availability—always within the scope of your prescribing decisions. We value collaborative relationships and are committed to being an extension of your clinical team.