Handled medicines are different from the industrialized ones, because they can be prepared directly in the pharmacy, by the pharmaceutical professional. They are produced from standardized formulas and recognized by Anvisa, or from the prescription of a skilled practitioner, such as the physician, who is able to establish in detail their composition, dosage and manner of use.
This type of remedy can have several purposes, from the treatment of diseases, food supplementation or aesthetic purposes, and presents some advantages, since it contains the active principle in quantities and formulations customized for the person who will use.
However, this type of medicine also presents disadvantages, since it can be a greater difficulty of inspection by the sanitary organs. In general, medicines handled are reliable and effective, but this is only guaranteed if the pharmacy follows the practices determined by the Ministry of Health, uses quality raw materials and exercises the handling processes in a rigorous and controlled manner.
What are the diferences
According to Anvisa, which is the body responsible for approving the marketing of medicines in Brazil, the main differences between the manipulated and industrialized medicines are:
| Pharmaceutical Products | Medications Handled |
They are produced in the industries in large quantities, with the use of equipment that produces lots of up to thousands of units; | They are handled according to a medical prescription and in sufficient quantity only to meet the specific needs of the patient; |
They are produced with dosages or standard concentrations ; | They are personalized, ie, prescribed and handled at a specific dosage or concentration; |
They go through quality control throughout the production process, with materials and products analyzed by the manufacturer of the drug; | They do not go through quality control as in the industry. Analyzes of the raw materials and the materials of the packaging are made by the suppliers and some tests are redone in the pharmacies; |
Manufacturing processes are supervised by qualified pharmacists ; | Handling processes are supervised by qualified pharmacists ; |
They have standardized packages . Data on indication, use, side effects, contraindications and storage precautions are included in the package insert. | Contains labels with information about the pharmacy responsible for handling, date and validity, responsible pharmacist and conservation care. It does not contain the bull. Other information, such as form of use and effects, should be provided by the physician and the pharmacist; |
They usually have a longer shelf life because they contain stabilizing products and preservatives in their formula; | The period of validity is usually only that of the period of treatment of the patient, since it is done to meet those specific needs; |
Industrialized drugs must be registered with the National Sanitary Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) . | Manipulation pharmacies should be registered and inspected by the sanitary surveillance services of Brazilian states and municipalities. |
Main advantages
Some of the key advantages of drug handling include:
- It produces medicines in individualized doses, which is a great benefit, since the standardized doses of the industrialized medicines do not always correspond to what is necessary for each person;
- It allows the association of two or more substances, which helps in the use of a smaller quantity of tablets or capsules per day;
- It avoids waste because it is produced in the quantity necessary for the person's use;
- Replaces non-marketed medicines in pharmacies, which are not produced separately or because there is no interest in commercialization by the pharmaceutical industry;
- Prepares medicines without any excipients, such as preservatives, stabilizers, sugars or even lactose, which may be present in the standard formulas of the industrialized;
- It produces medicines with different forms of presentation, such as tablets, capsules, creams, gels or solutions, making it easier to use the person, such as producing a syrup that is only sold as a tablet.
Thus, if produced with quality, the manipulated drugs can produce the desired effect, with the advantage of better adapting to the person who uses, if necessary, facilitating the treatment.
Main disadvantages
Despite the advantages, manipulated drugs also present some drawbacks, such as:
- Difficulties of inspection by the sanitary organs, due to the increase in the number of pharmacies of manipulation by all Brazil, what can compromise its quality;
- Risk of errors of dosages, since the analyzes are made by the suppliers of the active principles and tested by the pharmacies themselves;
- The expiration date is shorter, and if not used for the full time, it can not be saved;
- More expensive and need time to be prepared, it is generally easier and cheaper to buy the ready-made industrialized medicine in the pharmacy.
Thus, it is very important that before handling a medication, the person make sure that it is a reliable pharmacy and that it follows the handling regulations correctly, to avoid undesirable effects throughout the treatment.
