Service guide
Compounding pharmacies in Australia
46 pharmacies in Australia prepare compounded medicines. Compounding produces a medicine tailored to an individual patient, usually because a commercial option is not available in the right form, dose, or without a specific ingredient.
Last reviewed: April 2026
General information only. This page explains a pharmacy service in general terms. It is not medical advice and does not replace a consultation with a registered health professional. See your pharmacist or GP for advice about your specific medicines or health.
At a glance
- Compounding is the pharmacist-led preparation of a customised medicine for one patient.
- It is prescribed by a doctor or nurse practitioner when a commercial product does not fit.
- Compounded medicines are not TGA-registered, so they are not generally PBS-subsidised.
- Compounding is regulated by state pharmacy boards under the Pharmacy Board of Australia’s guidelines.
What compounding means
A compounding pharmacist prepares a medicine from ingredient components to match a specific prescription. Examples: a cream with a different strength than commercial tubes offer, a liquid version of a tablet for a patient who cannot swallow, a lactose-free version of a common medicine, a paediatric dose that is not available in a manufactured strength.
Compounding is distinct from dispensing. Dispensing hands you a pre-manufactured medicine. Compounding makes the medicine to your prescription.
When a compounded medicine is appropriate
A GP or specialist typically writes a compounded prescription when a commercial product is not suitable and no registered alternative exists. Common reasons include an allergy to an inactive ingredient (a dye, a preservative, gluten, lactose), a dosing strength that is not commercially available, a different dosage form (liquid instead of tablet, cream instead of oral, for example), or a commercial product that has been discontinued.
Compounding is not a workaround for an unapproved medicine. Australian compounding pharmacies work within the Pharmacy Board’s guidelines on what can and cannot be compounded.
How compounding is regulated in Australia
The Pharmacy Board of Australia sets professional standards for compounding and issues compounding guidelines. State pharmacy boards register individual pharmacists and pharmacies, and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) sets limits on what categories of compounded products are permitted.
Compounded medicines are not TGA-registered (each one is a custom preparation for one patient, so the normal registration process does not apply), but the premises, processes, and pharmacist qualifications are regulated and audited.
Cost and PBS subsidy
Most compounded medicines are not subsidised under the PBS, because PBS subsidy generally applies to TGA-registered products. Patients typically pay the full cost of a compounded preparation plus a preparation fee.
For specific cost questions, the compounding pharmacy can give a quote once they have seen the prescription. Prices vary with ingredients, preparation complexity, and quantity. Your GP or specialist may also be able to advise whether a registered commercial alternative exists that would be cheaper.
How to find a compounding pharmacy
Not every pharmacy compounds. Some do basic compounding (creams, simple liquids) and some are specialised compounders handling sterile preparations and complex formulations.
Use the compounding pharmacies directory to find a pharmacy near you that offers compounding. Filter by state or city. For specialist compounding (sterile injections, hormone replacement, veterinary-only), phone the pharmacy first to confirm they handle that category.
Find a pharmacy that offers compounding pharmacies
46 pharmacies in the directory list this service. Filter by state or city.
View the directoryFrequently asked questions
No. A compounded medicine is prepared against a prescription from a registered prescriber (GP, specialist, nurse practitioner, or dentist, depending on the medicine).
When compounded by a registered pharmacy following Pharmacy Board guidelines, compounding is considered safe for its intended purpose. Compounded medicines do not go through the full TGA registration process that commercial products do, so the clinical evidence base for any specific compounded preparation can be narrower than for an equivalent TGA-registered product. Speak with your prescriber and the pharmacist about what this means for your specific prescription.
Sometimes, provided the active ingredient is available and the Pharmacy Board’s guidelines permit compounding that medicine. Your prescriber and the compounding pharmacist will assess whether it is appropriate.
From a few hours to several days, depending on complexity. Phone ahead to confirm.
When to speak to a health professional
Compounding questions are usually medical questions. For whether a compounded medicine is appropriate for you, speak with the prescribing doctor and the compounding pharmacist. healthdirect’s nurse line on 1800 022 222 can help with general medication queries.
- Emergency: call triple zero (000).
- 24-hour health advice: healthdirect on 1800 022 222.
- Poisoning: Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26.
- Mental health: Lifeline on 13 11 14.