1: Do you take FSA cards?
Yes we do! If you have leftover money on your FSA card and need to use it up soon, we suggest ordering two to three months' supply of your medication.
2: I have a prescription for a compounded cream. What kind of base cream do you use?
At Harbor Compounding Pharmacy, we believe in using only the best ingredients for your compounded medications. The selection of base creams varies depending on the active ingredients to be incorporated, the condition, the application site, and of course, the patient preference.
For transdermal hormone replacement therapy, our main base cream, the Elements cream, is paraben-free and contains only natural ingredients such as coconut oil, olive oil, oleic acid, and vitamin E oil. This hormone base cream has shown to improve absorption of hormones across the epidermis and dermis of the skin and delivering hormones into the systemic circulation across the skin barrier.
If patients have extreme skin sensitivities or are applying creams vaginally, we recommend the Versabase cream, a paraben-free, hypoallergenic cream that has been proven to be well-tolerated in patients with various skin allergies. The Versabase cream has also been shown to be gentle for vaginal application without the side effects of burning or itching as with other creams.
3: What kind of dispensing devices do you use?
If your prescription requires exact dosing measurements, we only use FDA-approved medical dispensing devices that have been proven to deliver accurate and precise doses. For creams, we can dispense your creams in
1: prefilled syringes that can deliver doses as small as 0.1ml (our most popular option)
2: a Topiclick device that delivers 0.25ml of cream per click
3: or an airless pump that delivers 0.5ml of cream per pump.
If your prescription does not require exact dosages, we can dispense your cream or ointment in a tube or a pushup jar. Just let us know, and we are more than happy to accommodate your request.
4: Do you provide office use compounds?
Due to federal regulations, our pharmacy does not provide compounds to physicians for office use. All compounded medications can only be dispensed pursuant to a valid patient-specific prescription.
5: Can any doctor write a prescription for compounded drugs?
Only licensed doctors, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants can write a prescription. Certain naturopathic doctors have a license to prescribe depending on the state they are located in. California, Washington, and Oregon currently allow naturopathic doctors to prescribe drugs with certain restrictions. Check with your doctor for complete details on what they are allowed to prescribe.
6: Do I need a prescription for compounded drugs?
Yes, we need a valid patient-specific prescription from a licensed healthcare practitioner in order to dispense compounded medications.
7: Do you accept insurances?
Harbor Compounding accepts all forms of insurances (with the exception being Medi-caid and discount coupon cards). However, that does not mean the medication will be covered as it depends on the patient's specific plan. Recently, many plans have stopped covering for compounded prescriptions. In such cases, we offer discounted prices for 2 and 3 month supply of compounded medications.
8: How fast can I receive my compounded prescription?
If you reside in California or Nevada, you will most likely receive your order within 1 to 2 business days after placing your order. For patients residing in other states, we offer very competitive Fedex Express shipping rates for 2 to 3 day shipping. Ask us how you would prefer to have your order shipped or if your order is urgent, let us know so we can move your order to the front of the line at no extra charge.
9: Where does your courier service deliver to?
Our courier service delivers your order the next business day anywhere in California and Nevada. Even though we are located in Costa Mesa, CA, if you reside in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Fresno, or San Diego, our partnering courier service can deliver to your residence the next business day. There may be delays in shipment due to inclement weather or remote areas that are hard to reach, but these instances are rare, and if there are any delays, you will be promptly notified.