Hello again from the Compound Lab!
This is post #41; previous posts can be found earlier on our page (look for them on Fridays!). I’ll be continuing the discussion on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), so if you missed the previous weeks’ posts, I’d encourage you to read those first.
As I mentioned last week, I want to focus on some of the specific dosage forms you can use for HRT, and how they may work for you in practice.
Let’s start with creams. Creams are affordable and easy to use, and can incorporate all standard hormones, including estrogens, DHEA, progesterone, and testosterone. They also have the maximum dating allowed by compounding guidelines and can be kept at room temperature.
Most HRT creams are applied to areas with thinner skin and high blood flow like the inside of the wrist, near the armpit, between the thighs, etc. This helps ensure maximized absorption of the hormones into the bloodstream. A few of our patients choose to do vaginal creams instead. Vaginal creams work essentially the same as topical creams, but they do require a specialized device for application (more on this below).
We dispense our standard HRT creams in a device called an UnoDose. UnoDoses are calibrated containers that dispense a set amount of cream per quarter turn of its base. In other words, unlike with dosing syringes or just “eyeballing it”, UnoDoses help ensure that you receive the exact dose of your HRT that your provider prescribed.
For vaginal creams, our preferred container is a TopiClick Perl. TopiClick Perls work the same way as the UnoDoses but come with a vaginal applicator to allow for easy administration.
Of course, because every compound is patient-specific, there are plenty of other options for creams as well! If you have a reason to try something else, we can work with you—just let us know!
As always, we're available in the lab Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm. Or you can email me anytime at brandon.ladage@belewdrugs.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Until next time,
Brandon
For more information on compounding, click here