Olga Afichuk | Compounding Pharmacy Growth | Provider Support
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olgarx.bsky.social
Olga Afichuk | Compounding Pharmacy Growth | Provider Support
@olgarx.bsky.social
13 followers 29 following 50 posts
🔬Translating complex compounding into practical provider solutions ✦ WA, OR, ID, MT & AZ ✦ Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine - Bastyr ✦ Functional & Holistic Health ✦ Harbor Health & Apothecary in Gig Harbor, WA ✦ Cat mom x2 🐾 | Bouldering enthusiast 🧗‍♀️
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6. Filter your water
7. Keep shoes at the door
8. Add plants for cleaner air
9. Wash bedding weekly
10. Dim screens and lights before bed
1. Open windows for fresh air
2. Swap plastic for glass
3. Use essential oils instead of synthetic scents
4. Run an air purifier
5. Clean with vinegar and baking soda
Your home can heal you or drain you.
Here are 10 simple clean home habits that actually make a difference.

Small shifts make a big impact. Start where you are.

#CleanLiving #IntegrativeHealth #NaturopathicWellness #HealthyHabits #HolisticHome #LowToxLiving #WellnessTips #HealthOptimization
Did you know 👀 you can make eye drops from a patient’s own blood serum?

These are called autologous serum tears. At Harbor Health and Apothecary in Washington, we compound them to provide the same natural healing factors found in real tears. A game changer for stubborn dry eye cases.
The progesterone paradox: If adding progesterone makes anxiety worse, consider the delivery method. Oral progesterone metabolizes to allopregnanolone (calming). Topical bypasses this conversion. Different routes = different effects on mood. 8/8
Lab timing for compounded hormones: Topical hormones peak 2-6 hours after application. For meaningful levels, draw labs 4-6 hours post-application, not at trough. Timing can mean the difference between "therapeutic" and "subtherapeutic" results. 7/8
Cream application sites matter: Inner arms and thighs have thinner skin = better absorption. Avoid areas with hair (testosterone especially). Rotating sites prevents skin irritation and maintains consistent absorption patterns. 6/8
Testosterone dosing for women: Think physiologic, not pharmacologic. Women produce 0.1-0.4mg daily naturally. Starting doses of 0.5-1mg topical daily often work better than the 2-5mg many providers prescribe. Less is frequently more. 5/8
The "estrogen dominance" puzzle: Patient feels worse adding progesterone? Check the ratio. Sometimes it's not too little progesterone - it's too much estrogen relative to progesterone. Reducing estrogen can be more effective than increasing progesterone. 4/8
Absorption reality check: Oral progesterone has 10-20% bioavailability due to first-pass metabolism. If your patient needs 200mg oral to feel balanced, they might only need 30-50mg as a topical cream. Consider delivery method, not just dose. 3/8
Timing matters more than you think: Progesterone taken in the morning can cause daytime drowsiness. Evening dosing uses that sedative effect as a feature, not a bug. Simple scheduling change = better compliance and sleep quality. 2/8
🧵 HRT prescribing tips from the compounding trenches: After formulating thousands of hormone prescriptions, here are the clinical pearls that make the difference between success and frustration... 1/8

#HRT #Menopause #WomensHealth #ClinicalPearls #HormoneTips
Questions about T4/T3 ratios, desiccated alternatives, or patient selection? This is where functional medicine meets pharmaceutical precision. We serve WA, OR, ID, MT, and AZ. 8/8
Patient counseling tip: Compounded thyroid meds need consistent timing and empty stomach, just like commercial versions. The difference is we can adjust ratios and eliminate problematic excipients. 7/8
Why this matters for women: Hormonal fluctuations (pregnancy, menopause, PCOS) affect thyroid function differently than textbook cases. One-size-fits-all doesn't work when hormones are constantly shifting. 6/8
Patient counseling tip: Compounded thyroid meds need consistent timing and empty stomach, just like commercial versions. The difference is we can adjust ratios and eliminate problematic excipients. 7/8
Real case scenario: 35-year-old mom, optimal labs but crushing fatigue. Turns out she wasn't converting T4 to active T3 efficiently. Custom 4:1 T4/T3 ratio = energy restored, brain fog lifted. 5/8
The compounding advantage: We can create:
• Dye-free, preservative-free formulations
• Custom T4/T3 ratios based on individual conversion
• Alternative delivery methods (sublingual, topical)
• Precise micro-dosing for sensitive patients
• Lactose-free options for intolerant patients 4/8
When to consider compounded thyroid options:
• Persistent symptoms on standard levo despite optimal TSH
• Sensitivity to fillers/dyes in commercial brands
• Need for T4/T3 combination therapy
• Unusual dosing requirements (pediatric, elderly, absorption issues)
• Allergy to synthetic ingredients 3/8
The reality: Your patient says "I'm still tired, my hair is falling out, and I feel awful" despite TSH being "normal." Sound familiar? Sometimes it's not the dose - it's the delivery method or formulation. 2/8
🧵 Women's health providers: 1 in 8 women will develop thyroid problems, but what happens when standard levothyroxine isn't enough? Let me break down when compounding becomes the game-changer... 1/8

#WomensHealth #ThyroidHealth #HormonalHealth #FunctionalMedicine #CompoundingPharmacy
Vets in WA, OR, ID, MT, AZ: We handle the complex formulation science. You focus on the diagnosis and treatment plan. Better compliance = better outcomes = happier families. 7/7
For pet parents: Ask your vet about compounding when:
• Your pet consistently refuses medications
• You're breaking pills into tiny pieces for small pets
• Commercial flavoring still doesn't work
• Your pet has multiple meds that could be combined 6/7
Real success story: 12-year-old cat with heart disease. Owner struggled for months with pills. We created a transdermal gel applied to the ear. Same medication, absorbed through skin. Cat doesn't even know she's getting treated. Heart condition now managed. 5/7
The compounding difference: We don't just "flavor" existing meds. We completely reformulate for your pet's species, size, and preferences. Chicken flavor for cats who actually want fish. Liquid versions that taste like treats. 4/7