Our Profiles in Personalized Medicine highlights Erik Nelson, PharmD, FAAMFM, FACA, owner of Koru Pharmacy in Spokane, Washington. Erik shares what “Compounding: It’s Personal” means in his pharmacy, his motivation to become a compounding pharmacist, a special patient success story and more. Erik has been a proud PCCA member since 2013.

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.

You’re likely familiar with semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) used in commercially available prescription medicines for treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Are you aware that GLP-1 — the hormone semaglutide is designed to induce — is naturally produced by the body to help promote healthy blood sugar levels, curb cravings and maintain a healthy weight? Or aware of the bacterium in the gut microbiota that induces natural production of GLP-1?