Compounded Medications and Generic Drug Safety in 2025

When you pick up a prescription, you might not realize you’re holding a compounded medication, a custom-formulated drug made by a pharmacist to meet a patient’s unique needs, such as removing an allergen or changing the dosage form. Also known as custom pharmacy preparations, these aren’t mass-produced like regular pills—they’re made one at a time, often for people who can’t tolerate standard drugs. But here’s the catch: while they offer life-changing flexibility, they also carry risks if not made under strict controls. That’s why the posts this month dive deep into how these formulas are created, who regulates them, and how to spot a safe compounding pharmacy.

Behind every generic drug you buy is a complex process called ANDA, the FDA’s Abbreviated New Drug Application pathway that lets generic versions of brand-name drugs enter the market after proving they work the same way. Also known as generic drug approval, this system saves billions yearly and keeps medications affordable. But getting approved isn’t just about matching the active ingredient. It requires bioequivalence testing, proof that your body absorbs the generic drug at the same rate and level as the brand. Also known as in vivo and in vitro testing, these methods determine whether a pill will work just as well in your system. And in 2025, the FDA is shifting toward more lab-based (in vitro) tests for simpler drugs to speed up approvals without sacrificing safety. Meanwhile, medication safety, the practice of preventing errors in prescribing, dispensing, and taking drugs at home or in hospitals. Also known as drug safety, it’s not just about avoiding side effects—it’s about knowing what to avoid altogether, like decongestants if you have an enlarged prostate, or NSAIDs if you have asthma. This month’s articles show how these issues connect: a generic drug might be safe, but if you’re taking it with St. John’s Wort or mixing it with a compounded version, things can go wrong fast.

What you’ll find here isn’t theory—it’s what’s happening right now. From how the FDA tests generic drugs for stability to why a TIA is just as urgent as a stroke, these posts give you the facts you need to ask better questions. You’ll learn how to subscribe to real-time FDA alerts, what to look for in an online pharmacy, and why children react differently to meds than adults. Whether you’re managing diabetes, migraines, or heart disease, or you’re caring for an aging parent, this collection gives you the tools to protect yourself and your family. No fluff. No guesswork. Just clear, practical info you can use today.