Patients

A compounding pharmacy prepares customised medicines for individual patients when a suitable commercially available product is not available or appropriate.

These medicines are prepared by a pharmacist in accordance with a prescription from a registered prescriber to meet specific clinical needs, such as different strengths, dosage forms, or ingredient requirements.

Most community pharmacies dispense medicines that are manufactured in standard strengths and forms.

A compounding pharmacy, such as Optimus Healthcare, prepares individualised medicines based on a prescription from a healthcare practitioner. This may involve altering the strength, formulation, or dosage form to better suit a patient’s needs.

A wide range of medicines may be compounded when clinically appropriate and prescribed by a healthcare practitioner. These may include formulations used in areas such as:

• Dermatology
• Ophthalmology
• Paediatrics
• Palliative care
• Hormone therapy
• Veterinary medicine

The suitability of compounding depends on the patient’s clinical needs and the prescriber’s assessment.

With a valid prescription, a compounding pharmacist may:

• Prepare a medicine in a specific strength or dose
• Change the dosage form (e.g. liquid, cream, capsule)
• Exclude certain non-active ingredients where appropriate

All compounded medicines are prepared in accordance with professional standards and relevant New Zealand regulations.

Your prescriber has determined that a customised medicine is required for your specific clinical needs, and that a suitable commercially available product may not be appropriate.

Compounded medicines are prepared specifically for the individual patient named on the prescription.

Compounded medicines may be prescribed for patients of all ages, including:

• Children who require alternative dosage forms
• Older adults requiring adjusted doses
• Patients with specific sensitivities or formulation needs
• Animals requiring veterinary prescriptions

All compounded medicines must be prescribed by an authorised prescriber.

Preparation times vary depending on the complexity of the formulation and the availability of ingredients.

Most prescriptions are prepared and checked within 5–7 working days.

We recognise the importance of timely access to medicines and continually work to improve our processes to enhance efficiency, while maintaining strict quality and safety standards.

Our team will provide an estimated timeframe once your prescription has been received.

Due to the individualised nature of compounding, not all formulations are listed online.

Please contact our team to discuss your requirements. Availability will depend on clinical appropriateness and a valid prescription.

Please speak with your doctor, nurse practitioner, veterinarian, or other authorised prescriber. Once your prescription is written, it can be sent to us via the Prescribers Portal.

After we receive your prescription, we will provide you with a quote.

If you wish to proceed, please follow the link in the quote to:

• complete payment, and
• provide the required personal and delivery details.

Once confirmed, your prescription will be processed and prepared by our compounding team.

When your medicine is ready, we will notify you by email with either:

• a courier tracking number, or
• a collection notice.

You can choose to have your medicine:

• delivered by courier, or
• collected from our Penrose facility.

We partner with New Zealand Post for courier delivery.

By default, deliveries require a signature to ensure medicines are received safely.

If you would prefer a non-signature delivery (e.g. “leave in letterbox”), you may request this in Delivery Instruction when confirming your order. Please note that this is at your own risk.

Courier deliveries are typically completed within a few working days.

If your medicine has not arrived within a reasonable timeframe, please contact us:

• 09 580 0951
• enquiry@optimushealth.co.nz

We will follow up with the courier provider on your behalf.

If a parcel is confirmed as lost, we will arrange a replacement where appropriate.

Please note: if you have requested delivery without a signature, we may be unable to confirm loss or arrange a replacement. In such cases, a new prescription from your prescriber may be required.

In most cases, your prescriber will issue a prescription for up to three months’ supply of medication (unless otherwise specified). Optimus Healthcare will provide a quotation based on this supply and will dispense the medicine once payment has been received.

Under current regulations, prescriptions may include repeats covering up to 12 months. However, we are legally required to dispense a maximum of three months’ supply at a time.

When you are ready for your next supply, simply contact our team and we will arrange your repeat dispensing. For prescriptions with 6–12 months of repeats, you do not need to obtain a new prescription each time.