Frequently Asked Questions
General
Most medications are mass-produced. Compounding is individually prepared specifically for you based on a valid prescription from your healthcare provider. It offers flexibility—because formulations can be crafted for your unique medical needs, not the masses.
With compounding, we can customize your medication's ingredients and dosage form (capsules, troches, injections, creams, ointments, suppositories, etc.). We can combine multiple medications, eliminate common allergens, address multiple health concerns with a single formulation, or tailor your dose rather than delivering only rigid, one-size-fits-all options.
Compounding opens up a world of personalized medicine that's rigorously regulated and personal.
Strive's operating and compounding processes follow applicable state and federal regulations, including United States Pharmacopeia (USP) standards–and our quality program is built to hold us to that standard every day. This looks like:
- Vetting vendors and pharmaceutical ingredients through a rigorous qualification process.
- Frequently testing finished compounded products via third-party analytical assessment for sterility, potency, and endotoxins.
- Training and ongoing competency testing for all Strive compounding staff.
- A robust internal quality assurance program that regularly monitors and audits processes and procedures.
- Routine cleaning and disinfection of all compounding areas and equipment to help prevent cross-contamination.
Healthcare is personal to us, meaning we never settle when it comes to formulations, ever-evolving best practices, and compounding standards. Striving for the best isn't just what we value—it's who we are. It's in our DNA and our relentless commitment to quality.
The short answer: We're a compounding pharmacy that cares about people.
The longer, more impassioned answer: We're a compounding pharmacy, which means we offer medication options and flexibility to meet unique patient medical needs, based on a valid prescription from a licensed healthcare practitioner. We're different from other pharmacies because healthcare has become an industry machine that sometimes forgets the human element, even though humans are the whole reason healthcare exists. We're striving to fix this imbalance. When you walk into one of Strive’s pharmacies, you're seen and welcomed as a real person with a real life and unique needs. Instead of seeing numbers, we see people—whole human beings with stories, challenges, and the potential to thrive. Nothing thrills us more than helping people strive for their very best life.
Some insurance companies cover compounded medications, some don't, and others decide on a case-by-case basis. Strive does not bill insurance. Our team is happy to answer questions about pricing for your prescribed medication(s). Sometimes, working with your healthcare provider to get a longer day supply for your prescription can also help with reducing refill frequency. A lot of work goes into compounding medications, so a 60- or 90-day supply can be efficient and convenient for you.
We're happy to help you look at your options!
Children don't always do well with the standard forms of a medication: a pill can be hard to swallow, or the taste can make doses a struggle. With a prescription from their healthcare provider, Strive can prepare a child's medication in a different dosage form, adjust the flavor, or leave out ingredients they're sensitive to, so they’re able to take it.
Yes! Your furry family members have sensitivities and unique needs just like we do! If they don’t like their medication, they might spit it out or resist taking it, and a medication can’t do its job if it’s not taken. Compounding means we have more options, so factors like taste, dosage form, and additives aren’t a barrier to medication use.
If you're a patient:
Talk to your healthcare provider about working with Strive and exploring personalized care pathways. You can also browse our directory of providers already partnering with Strive to find someone who understands what a tailored medication regimen can look like for you.
If you're a provider:
Customization begins with your clinical expertise. Strive offers thousands of possibilities for patient-tailored, customized medications.
We compound what you prescribe based on your clinical judgment for each individual patient—formulated to meet their specific medical needs per your instructions, with the highest standards of precision and care.
Have questions? Call your local Strive Pharmacy. We're here to support both practices and patients, every step of the way.
Whether you're a provider with questions or a patient exploring your options, we're here to help.
Find your nearest Strive Pharmacy location and give us a call!
We work with licensed healthcare providers to support a wide range of health goals—from hormone support, weight management, and skincare, to mental wellness and sexual health. Explore our list of services or reach out. We're happy to chat about the possibilities.
Yes, all of our compounded medications require a valid patient-specific prescription from a licensed healthcare provider. If you're not sure where to start, we can help connect you with one of our trusted partners in your state. Find a Provider.
Absolutely. If your healthcare provider isn't already working with Strive Pharmacy, we're happy to connect and collaborate to ensure your care plan includes customized options that meet your needs.
One of the advantages of compounding is the ability to avoid allergens and unnecessary fillers. We can remove dyes, gluten, sugar, lactose, and other potentially problematic ingredients to customize formulations that meet unique medical needs.
Providers
To appear on the Find a Provider page, a provider must be actively partnering with Strive.
Compounded medications are specially prepared for identified individual patient needs based on a valid prescription from a prescribing healthcare practitioner. Compounded drugs are not reviewed or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and intended for patients whose prescriber has determined their medical needs are not met by an available FDA-approved drug. Clinical decisions remain the responsibility of the prescriber at the discretion of their independent professional judgment. Availability, prescription requirements, and permissible compounding practices vary by state law.