In a woman’s life, the absence of menstruation for 12 months marks the official beginning of menopause. Waning ovarian function coupled with declining circulating hormone levels spark natural menopause, but menopause may also occur as result of surgical procedures such as following a hysterectomy and/or oophorectomy. Commonly reported symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, sleep disturbances, mood swings and weight gain,1 with an estimated 70% of menopausal women experiencing weight gain.

Developing pharmaceutical products for pediatric patients typically involves creating age-appropriate, weight-based dosing or considering complex formulations. Many commercially available drugs are not tailored for children, often containing unsafe excipients or being provided in dosage forms unsuitable for pediatric use.

Although acne commonly occurs in adolescents and some adults, it can leave lasting effects, including scarring. With June designated as Acne Awareness Month, gain clinical understanding of causes and potential treatments that may help your patients.

Menopause causes more than hot flashes, mood swing and changes in libido; it also impacts diseases caused by shifting changes in the vaginal microbiome. Bridget Briggs, MD, sheds light on the vaginal microbiome, its influences on a woman’s health throughout various life stages, as well as how HRT helps mediate changes — and associated diseases — in the vaginal microbiome during menopause.

The PCCA Research & Development (R&D) team constantly explores innovative ways to help meet the unique needs of patients. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, we developed SubMagna SL HMW, a self-emulsifying, sublingual delivery system, to accommodate a wide range of drugs with varying molecular weights — including those with a high-molecular weight. This innovative base is another way PCCA helps to fill the unmet needs of patients, prescribers and compounding pharmacies.

As compounders, we work with a variety of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), some of which are more challenging to compound than others. Compounding with methylene blue as an API has risen due to emerging research for a variety of clinical applications. However, methylene blue can be intimidating to compound due to its intense blue color, which may stain costly lab equipment, countertops and other materials. Discover some useful techniques that can ease the sometimes stressful process of working with this vibrant API.

Vulvodynia, a condition shrouded in mystery, affects 7% of American women and many times is misdiagnosed as vaginitis.1 The chronic vulvar pain disorder — often described as itching, burning or stabbing sensations — presents symptoms ranging from persistent discomfort to pain during intimacy.2 To better assist patients, we will explore the signs and symptoms of vulvodynia, illuminate the connection with pelvic floor dysfunction and discuss various ways to help patients: topical medications, pelvic floor physical therapy and the intriguing world of acupuncture.

Although January is National Thyroid Month, our Clinical Services team gets a lot of queries throughout the year on managing thyroid patients, including those with autoimmune conditions such as Graves’ disease (GD) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). While thyroid clinical management may seem complicated, understanding some basics of thyroid physiology and the pathophysiology of these autoimmune diseases may help make a difference in patients’ lives.

The human body is a complex network of interconnected systems, and recent research has shed light on the intricate relationship between visceral adipose tissue (VAT), estradiol levels and cognitive health.

In the quest for effective weight management, traditional methods often take center stage — balanced diets, regular exercise and lifestyle changes. However, emerging research suggests that certain nutritional and pharmaceutical ingredients, such as berberine, alpha-lipoic acid, oxytocin and topiramate, may each in their own way offer alternative avenues for those seeking additional support in their weight loss journey.