Major Study Affirming the Relative Safety of Testosterone-replacement Therapy
Bruce Biundo, RPh, FICA, Retired PCCA Consultant

This article discusses a major research project that determined that testosterone replacement therapy was no worse than a placebo in men with cardiovascular disease or at high risk for cardiovascular disease.

Compounding for the Treatment of COVID-19 and Long COVID, Part 5: Associated Conditions, Prophylaxis, and Effective Treatment
Mike Riepl, RPh, Retired Compounding Pharmacist
Joe Kaiser, PharmD, RPh, Dakota PrecisionRx Labs

We review common conditions that afflict people with COVID-19 or long COVID, examine the effectiveness of vaccines designed to prevent infection with SARS-CoV-2 and mitigate its sequelae, and provide formulations for 2 compounded preparations that can assist recovery from acute and chronic conditions caused by that virus when manufactured drugs are unavailable in required dosages or dosage forms or cannot be tolerated by the patient.

Excipients and Adverse Events
Loyd V. Allen, Jr., PhD, RPh, Editor-in-Chief, IJPC

A brief discussion on excipients, the purpose of excipients, the selection of appropriate excipients, the use of excipients in formulation development by compounding pharmacists/manufacturers, excipient examples and usage, the numerous incompatibilities that should be considered when choosing an excipient, and a list of adverse effects related to excipients.

Compounding Metformin for Use in Functional Medicine
Sarina Desai, PharmD, University of Georgia College of Pharmacy
Tara Thompson, PharmD, FAPC, Revelation Pharma

Compounding pharmacists can prepare a topical formulation of metformin, which helps eliminate the unwanted gastrointestinal side effects, as well as eliminate the incompliance due to the size of the tablet. The transdermal use of metformin also allows the patient to take a much lower dosage compared to oral metformin. An oral liquid formulation can also help resolve the issue of swallowing a large tablet for those patients who are diagnosed with dysphagia.