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The Best Compounding Pharmacies in Adelaide

Five Adelaide compounding pharmacies that make medicines to a prescriber's order in their own labs, from Prospect and Norwood to Glynde, West Lakes and Pooraka. Each one is rated 4.5 stars or higher on Google from at least 20 reviews and none trades under a big pharmacy banner. Read the guide below first if this is your first compounded script.

By Joel Bauer, Adelaide, South Australia

Illustrative photo. Photo: Unsplash.

Most people land on this topic with a script in hand that a normal pharmacy cannot fill. The tablet is discontinued. The patient reacts to a filler. A child needs a liquid instead of a capsule. A compounding pharmacy makes the medicine to order for one person (or one animal). This guide lists five Adelaide pharmacies that do it, so you have somewhere to start.

They are spread across the city. Prospectus Compounding is in Prospect and Norwood Village Compounding Pharmacy is on The Parade in the east. Cann Compounding is at Glynde, Pooraka Compounding Pharmacy is in the north and Custom Compounding Chemist is at West Lakes. Which one suits you often comes down to where you live and whether you need something unusual, like a flavoured form for a pet or a gluten-free capsule.

There are rules worth knowing before you ring around. The Pharmacy Board of Australia's guidelines, in effect from 1 October 2024, say a medicine should only be compounded when no suitable commercial option exists, is unavailable or is unsuitable for the patient (an allergy to an ingredient in the commercial product is the Board's own example). A pharmacist should not compound a close copy of a suitable commercial medicine. The Board also says the container should carry the words "This product has been compounded by the pharmacist".

To build the list I used the three checks in the methodology below: a Google rating of 4.5 or higher from at least 20 reviews, a website saying the pharmacy compounds on site and no tie to a big pharmacy banner. I did not rank on price, because none of these pharmacies publishes compounding prices. Each quotes per script. Complex work such as sterile preparations is its own category in the Board's guidelines, so ask about it before you send a script.

The five pharmacies follow, then a short guide to scripts, turnaround and the PBS.

What compounding is and when you need it

Compounding is when a pharmacist makes a medicine to suit one patient (human or animal) because the commercially made versions do not. The Pharmacy Board of Australia gives three common reasons: you are allergic to an ingredient in the available products, the medicine you need is not made (or no longer made) or you need it in a different form, such as a liquid instead of a tablet.

There is also a firm limit. Under the Board's guidelines a pharmacist cannot compound something that would be the same as a medicine already available to you, even if the compounded version would be cheaper. If a suitable commercial product exists, expect the pharmacist to point you to it.

You need a prescription first

For a prescription medicine the pharmacist must have a prescription from your doctor or another prescriber before making it. For an animal it needs your vet's instruction. The TGA says a pharmacist must have an identified patient before taking any step in making the medicine and must not make extra stock in case more scripts arrive. That is why every pharmacy on this list asks for the script before quoting a ready date.

Compounded medicines do not go through the TGA approval process that commercial medicines do, so you will usually not get a Consumer Medicine Information leaflet. The Board's guidelines say the container should carry a label reading "This product has been compounded by the pharmacist" and the pharmacist should explain how to use it, how to store it and when it expires.

Sterile and non-sterile compounding

Most community compounding is non-sterile: creams, capsules, troches, oral liquids and suppositories. The Board treats sterile preparations, hazardous ingredients (such as cytotoxics or some hormones) and very low-dose capsules as complex compounding, which needs extra training, equipment and facilities. Sterile work must follow a recognised standard such as the PIC/S guides or USP 797.

If your script is for anything sterile (eye drops, injectables), ask the pharmacy directly whether it does sterile compounding before you send the script. The Board also suggests asking whether the pharmacist has the training and recent experience to make your particular medicine. Cann Compounding and Custom Compounding Chemist both describe their own work as non-sterile.

Turnaround, price and the PBS

Turnaround depends on the formula. Prospectus says it confirms what it can prepare and the timeline, usually within the business day. Cann says most standard formulas are ready to send within 48 hours of the order. Ask for a ready date and whether delivery is available when you send the script, especially for a repeat you cannot run out of.

None of these pharmacies publishes compounding prices. Prospectus explains that the price depends on the formulation, ingredients and dosage form and is confirmed when the script comes in, so ask for the quote before they start. Some compounded items can be supplied under the PBS (the Schedule has a separate section for extemporaneously prepared benefits with its own ingredient tariff and standard formulae), so also ask whether your script will be dispensed as PBS or private.

The list side by side

No.NameAreaBest forRating
01Prospectus Compounding PharmacyJoel the Nerd clientProspectHormone, pain, skin and paediatric scripts made in an on-site lab4.9 (112)
02Norwood Village Compounding PharmacyNorwoodAn eastern suburbs pharmacy with the deepest review record on this list4.9 (1228)
03Cann CompoundingGlyndePrescriber-led custom formulations in unusual dosage forms4.7 (40)
04Pooraka Compounding PharmacyPoorakaA full-service northern suburbs pharmacy that also compounds4.6 (38)
05Custom Compounding Chemist West LakesWest LakesWestern suburbs patients and vets who need a flavoured or allergen-free form4.8 (26)

Prospectus Compounding Pharmacy

Prospect. Hormone, pain, skin and paediatric scripts made in an on-site lab

Joel the Nerd client

An independent pharmacy on Churchill Road that does compounding and nothing else, owned and run by pharmacist Maria with a small team. Every preparation is made in its own lab behind a viewing window in the dispensary. You can ask to see it when you visit. It covers hormone therapy, pain, dermatology, paediatric flavoured liquids and allergen-free formulas, with veterinary work through its sister business Animal Welfare Compounding.

  • Compounds on site and does not outsource
  • Scripts by upload or email to scripts@prospectuscompounding.com.au
  • Open Saturdays 10am to 2pm and Thursdays until 7pm
  • Delivery around metropolitan Adelaide where practical
Rating
4.9 from 112 reviews on Google
Book or get a quoteVisit website

Norwood Village Compounding Pharmacy

Norwood. An eastern suburbs pharmacy with the deepest review record on this list

A pharmacy on The Parade that trades under a compounding name and has by far the most Google reviews of any pharmacy here. Its Google listing offers delivery and in-store pickup. Its website was down when we checked, so call to confirm what it compounds before you send a script.

  • Delivery and in-store pickup listed on Google
  • On The Parade in Norwood
Rating
4.9 from 1228 reviews on Google
Visit website

Cann Compounding

Glynde. Prescriber-led custom formulations in unusual dosage forms

A compounding-only pharmacy that opened its first facility here in Glynde and added a second in Brisbane in early 2024. It makes non-sterile compounds in forms including gummies, capsules, creams, oils, pessaries and suppositories. It also takes veterinary scripts. It says most standard formulas are ready to send within 48 hours of the order.

  • Compounding-only facility in Glynde
  • Scripts sent by SMS or email
  • Most standard formulas ready to send within 48 hours
  • Veterinary compounding available
Rating
4.7 from 40 reviews on Google
Visit website

Pooraka Compounding Pharmacy

Pooraka. A full-service northern suburbs pharmacy that also compounds

A local pharmacy in the Montague Farm Shopping Centre, established in 2015 to give northern suburbs patients closer access to compounding. It compounds bio-identical hormone replacement, dental, dermatological, pain and veterinary formulas, plus forms like suspensions, creams, lollipops and suppositories. It is also a PBS-approved pharmacy with dose packing and blood pressure checks.

  • Compounding since 2015 in the northern suburbs
  • PBS prescriptions and e-scripts dispensed
  • Dosette packing with free delivery within 5 km
  • Open Saturdays 9am to 3pm
Rating
4.6 from 38 reviews on Google
Visit website

Custom Compounding Chemist West Lakes

West Lakes. Western suburbs patients and vets who need a flavoured or allergen-free form

A western suburbs compounding chemist that makes non-sterile medicines for patients, doctors and vets. For animals it lists discontinued medicines, pain preparations, dermatological creams and troches, with flavours like beef, chicken or fish to help pets take their dose. It also offers lactose-free and gluten-free dosage forms and delivers Australia-wide.

  • Non-sterile compounding for people and pets
  • Lactose-free and gluten-free dosage forms
  • Open Saturdays 9am to 5pm
  • Australia-wide delivery
Rating
4.8 from 26 reviews on Google
Visit website

Frequently asked

Do I need a prescription for a compounded medicine?

For any prescription medicine, yes. The Pharmacy Board says the pharmacist must receive a prescription from a prescriber (or an instruction from a vet for an animal) before compounding it. A pharmacist can also compound a medicine that does not need a prescription at your request, as long as it is appropriate and safe.

Are compounded medicines approved by the TGA?

No. A medicine compounded by a pharmacist for a particular person is exempt from being entered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, so it does not go through the TGA's approval process. It still has to be of good quality and safe. Pharmacists must also follow the Pharmacy Board's Guidelines on compounding of medicines.

Does the PBS cover compounded medicines?

Some can be. The PBS Schedule has a section for extemporaneously prepared benefits, with a drug tariff of ingredients and a list of standard formulae. Whether your script qualifies depends on what is in it, so ask the pharmacy when you send it whether it will be PBS or private and what you will pay.

Can a compounding pharmacy make medicine for my pet?

Yes, on your vet's instruction. Prospectus (with its sister business Animal Welfare Compounding), Cann Compounding, Custom Compounding Chemist and Pooraka Compounding Pharmacy all list veterinary compounding on their websites. The Board's guidelines say the label should also read "For animal treatment only".

Can a pharmacy compound a cheaper version of a medicine I already take?

No. The Pharmacy Board's guidance says a pharmacist cannot compound a medicine that would be the same as one already available to you, even if the compounded version would cost less.

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