Compounded Drugs A Specialty Of Reliant Pharmacy

By Nancy K. Crevier

A David in a world of Goliaths, Reliant Pharmacy at 200 Main Street South in Southbury holds what owner/pharmacist Sandy Kantamaneni believes is the stone in the slingshot that will, if not topple, at least give notice to box store pharmacies that she is a force with which to be reckoned.

Located in a 2,000-square-foot standalone structure at the edge of the busy street, Reliant Pharmacy not only is the sole independently owned pharmacy in Southbury, but offers one service in particular that other pharmacies do not, said Ms Kantamaneni.

“We do compounding,” said Ms Kantamaneni, a time-consuming process in which drugs are mixed to order for an individual by the pharmacist. Drugs were commonly compounded years ago by pharmacists, before mass production overtook the art of creating drugs to order. Pharmacists who practice compounding are far and few between, but it is a passion Ms Kantamaneni has pursued since she was introduced to it by the former owner of Beacon Pharmacy in Willimantic, where she worked after receiving her master’s in pharmacy from Lamar University in Texas.

“If there is a medication no longer available from a manufacturer, for instance,” Ms Kantamaneni said, “we can make it here for a patient. We can do suspensions, lollipops, creams, or pills to deliver the medication in the manner that works best for the patient, and we have even compounded medications for pets.”

It is not unusual for the pharmacist to be approached by pediatric doctors to compound medications for young patients, or to help patients who are allergic to one of the inactive ingredients in a prescription. “We can make it without that component, especially for them. There are fewer additives in compounded medications,” she said. “Some of these compounded drugs are real life savers,” said Ms Kantamaneni. “I get a great deal of satisfaction when a customer returns to tell me how much a compounded drug has helped him or her.”

Of course, she noted, regular prescriptions are also filled at Reliant Pharmacy.

Another service offered by Reliant Pharmacy is blister packaging for senior citizens, in which the various medications they take are put into one convenient and easy to use pill package, sorted by date and time of day the medications should be taken.

“It helps our older clients with compliance for taking medications, rather than having several bottles of different medications around. All of the medications are packaged as to when the doses are needed,” she explained. New customers can bring in their medications to be distributed into a handy blister package, she said, but future refills and new prescriptions must be filled at Reliant Pharmacy in order to continue to receive pill packaging.

Personal Attention

An independent pharmacy can provide personal attention that may not be available at larger stores, said pharmacy technician Tina Licata, who assists Ms Kantamaneni. “We have even gone to doctors’ offices to pick up narcotics prescriptions, for which a hard copy is required by law, for our clients who don’t have their own transportation,” she said.

Although smaller than other pharmacies in the area, there is no difference in the co-pay for regular prescriptions, said Ms Kantamaneni, as long as the insurance does not specify a particular pharmacy to be used. That is where an independent pharmacy does have trouble competing, she said. Some insurance can require that patients use a certain pharmacy, and it is usually a chain drug store.

“For those people who do not have insurance, though, they may find that the price of the prescription may actually be cheaper here than at a large pharmacy, because the price is not dictated by a corporation,” Ms Kantamaneni said.

Personal service means that customers can feel free to speak with the pharmacist or herself, Ms Licata said, allowing any questions to be fully answered.

Despite the three upholstered easy chairs nestled in one corner of the store that would make for a comfortable wait, the small drug store prides itself on filling prescriptions within ten minutes. All-day delivery of prescriptions is also available through Reliant Pharmacy, and a drive-up window provides convenience for customers who do not wish to, or are not able to come into the store.

Customers used to “one stop shopping” may be surprised when they step into the store for the first time. The focus is primarily on health care, with only a small section of the store allotted to gift items and cards.

Four short aisles are filled with mainly skin care, dental, and personal hygiene items, over the counter pain relievers and cold medications, first aid items, and eye care products. Vitamins are prominently displayed, including the Nordic Naturals Omega 3 fish oil capsules from Norway.

No magazines, books, or school supplies take up shelf space, and only a small area near the check out counter is devoted to candy and cough drops.

“Those things don’t even need to be in a pharmacy,” said Ms Kantamaneni.

Opened in November 2010, she is looking forward to celebrating her first year in business, acknowledging that introducing herself and her specialty services has been challenging. “But I chose Southbury to open my store specifically because it does not have an independent pharmacy that offers what I do,” Ms Kantamaneni said. “It has been a tough market, but the past three months, business has been picking up.

“People have forgotten what a local pharmacy is. Here,” she added, “They see a difference.”

Reliant Pharmacy, 203-262-8000, is at 200 Main Street South in Southbury. The pharmacy and drive-through window are open Monday through Friday, 9 am to 6 pm; and Saturday, 9 am to 3 pm. The store is closed on Sunday. For more information on compounding services available, visit www.reliantpharmacyllc.com. Reliant Pharmacy is a member of Professional Compounding Centers of America.