TOPIC: Testing & compounding

Hi does anyone know where you can get daclatasvir tested and compounded in New Zealand ? Haveing a problem finding anybody..

Hi William, I researched this a little bit earlier. To my surprise, my local chemist in Wainuiomata agreed to put my powder into capsules as long as I had a prescription from a NZ doctor, but he was very cautious about it. He said it was a first for him, mentioned some wastage, the need to obtain the empty caps to fill and that there would be `a fee.'' No doubt much higher than the A$80 it has cost in Aus. He is a common pharmacist not a compounder. No doubt you have tried some of the listed compounders?
As for testing, perhaps the same prescription requirement would apply at a lab. I did not try to arrange testing of my powder.

Hello there, I am wondering the same for UK.

hi,i think its unlikely in uk.for compounding there is the diy option.there is a guide on how to do this somewhere on this site or go to greg jefferys homestead site.

best option is just go through buyers club

Hi Wilko, Is that still an available option?
Have a feeling that's all a bit up in the air for UK patients?
Thanks, for your reply.

From Greg Jefferys homestead site
Sept 20, 2015:

(Making capsules from API (active ingredient powder)

Last time we were in touch, I was looking for a doctor to give me a
prescription for Indian Sofosbuvir. I didn't find one and ended up
ordering APIs from Mesochem.

My Sovosbuvir and Ledipasvir APIs arrived this week and I have been
looking for a compounding chemist to make up the capsules. I found one
on Friday afternoon who was happy to make it up (maybe she hadn't read
her mail yet). I asked her what the procedure was for encapsulating APIs
and the system she told me was far simpler and more accurate than
anything I have come across on the web. I give it here in case you want
to publish it for anyone else who is in this position.

She first weighs out the total amount of the API. So in my case, that's
400 mg Sofosbuvir + 90mg Ledipasvir for 12 weeks, so 84x400mg = 33.6
grams of Sof and 84x90mg = 7.56 grams of Led. Note that this does not
require a multi thousand dollar milligram scale. 1/10th gram accuracy is
plenty. 1/10th gram over 84 capsules is .1/84 = 1/840 = about 1
milligram error for each capsule. This is well inside any reasonable
tolerance. A .1 gm scale costs under $100.

Then put the weighed APIs into a measuring cylinder. Measuring cylinders
cost under $10 at any laboratory glassware dealer. Use the smallest that
will hold the entire batch. Add excipient (e.g. lactose) to the cylinder
to make up the correct volume. The chemist already knows the correct
volume, because she's done this before, but the rest of us have to find
the correct volume before we start, which is done by carefully filling
84 capsules with lactose and pouring them into the cylinder. Whatever
volume results is what we have to make up the final mixture to.

Pour the API/excipient mixture into a bowl and mix well. This sounds
like the hardest part of the whole procedure.

Fill the 84 capsules with the mixture. If everything has been done
carefully and accurately the mixture will just fill the capsules without
any waste. If it was thoroughly mixed, the APIs are now distributed
evenly at the correct dosage over the 84 capsules.

One thing she mentioned was that 400 mg Sof + 90 mg Led is a lot to put
in one capsule, and its probably easier to make 168 capsules of 200 mg +
45 mg (i.e. 2 capsules per day), which is easily done by changing the
volume the mixture is made up to.
I left my APIs with her since she said she could have them ready by
Tuesday, but since I need 24 weeks of therapy, I will probably make up
the next batch myself.
.......
(I should also add that in conversations I have had with two doctors on this subject they have both told me that minor variations in the amount of active ingredient between capsules is not critical. Even with factory manufactured meds the absorbsion of active ingredients by the body varies slightly from day to day so we do not have to worry if one capsule has 400mg of API and the next has 394mg and the next 406 milligrams.)
ENDS

You won't find a chemist in the UK who will encapsulate API's for you LondonGirl, unless you know one who will do it as a personal favour. Here is a more detailed version of my method that Greg asked me to put together for him:

Encapsulating Daclatasvir API into useable form

The Process

1) I bought some 'precise digital scales' from myprotein.com, which I first calibrated with a couple of quantified small weights. These scales weigh in increments of 10mg.

2) I then put the Daclatasvir into the big end of pharmaceutical grade gelatin capsules (size 3, which I had check weighed at 40mg), which I had bought from The Alchemists Apothecary on ebay.

3) I then weighed them with the capsule cap loosely fitted. It was trial and error, but I soon got a feel for aproximately the correct amount (60mg + 40mg capsule weight) without having to re-weigh several times.

4) I weighed each batch of 20 filled capsules to check that the total weight was 20x1 dose + 20 capsules, which they were. I did this process 4 times.

5) I followed the same methodology as above (4) to produce 5 more loaded capsules.

6) I check weighed the whole batch, divided the weight by 85 and subtracted 40mg (the capsule weight) from this to triple check that I had the correct dosage per capsule.

7) I pressed all the capsules tight (the large section and cap click together). I then put them into an empty re-sealable vitamin container with a sachet of silica (it helps eliminate moisture from the air in the container).

Notes

1) myprotein.com is a UK company. You should be able to obtain a similar product in most countries. It should be easy to find them by Googling 'precise digital scales'.

2) If I was to do this again, I would try to find scales that weigh in increments of 1mg if they were not too expensive. This would eliminate the need for so much check weighing (though I would probably still check weigh for peace of mind).

3) The Alchemists Apothecary is also a UK company (you can collect from the ebay counter in Argos stores). But, again, it should be easy to find capsules through Google in your own country.

4) Don't get the enteric-coated delayed release capsules. This medicine is designed for immediate release in the stomach.

5) This method is best suited to encapsulating individual medicines, but the same process with adjusted dosages can be used for Ledipasvir (90mg) and Sofosbuvir (400mg).

Thank-you both chapel and alsdad, but I can't see myself taking this route - Can't see me having he patience for it at all and think it would make me nervous - I do appreciate your time and effort to advise though

Greg is now offering 3 months supply of tested and compounded Dac delivered to anywhere in the world for £200 (less in Australia).

You can read about it and contact him here:

hepatitisctreatment.homestead.com/generic-harvoni.html

The info is at the end of the 23 September entry.

Hi London Girl,
I filled cupsules with Dac myself. It took me 5 hours to do 24 week'S supply. It's not a rocket science. You just need the right scales and some empty gelatine capsules.

Thanks Nadia, Think there's no need for that now, hopefully.

We must work at the same pace Nadia. It took me about 2 - 2 1/2 hours
I agree, once you get past the starting nervousness it's as easy as shelling peas.

Oops! Forgot to say that I made 12 weeks supply!