In this episode of the Root Cause Medicine Podcast, Dr. Carrie Jones sits down with seasoned compounding pharmacist Sara Hover, RPh, to demystify the world of personalized medications. They dig into how compounding pharmacies offer tailored solutions for hormone therapy, acne, hair loss, weight loss, and more—and why this approach can be life-changing for patients who’ve hit dead ends with conventional medicine.

Sarah shares eye-opening stories, from hormone creams and sublingual weight loss medications to pediatric popsicles and custom thyroid solutions, showing just how flexible and powerful compounding can be.

What You’ll Learn

• What compounding pharmacies actually do—and why it matters
• Why the finished compounded meds aren’t FDA-approved (and why that’s okay)
• How bioidentical hormone therapy transforms women's health
• Solutions for allergies to common fillers like red dye or peanut oil
• Fun and effective delivery forms: lozenges, topical creams, even popsicles
• Hair loss, acne, eczema, and anti-aging compounding options
• The surprising science behind sublingual GLP-1s for weight loss
• How to find (or help your doctor become) a compound-friendly provider
  
  

Sara Hover, RPh is a compounding pharmacist with 30 years of experience and a specialty in hormone replacement therapy. She serves as a lead educator at PCCA, where she trains pharmacists and providers on the latest in compounding innovations. Sarah is passionate about personalized, patient-centered care—and believes no one should be told they're "crazy" when a tailored medication might be the real solution.

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Labs & Tests Mentioned

• Thyroid labs (TSH, T4, T3)
• Hormone panels (estradiol, progesterone, testosterone)
• Adrenal function testing
• Saliva testing (for topical hormone absorption validation)
  
  

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro to compounding01:00 – Sarah’s background and spark for pharmacy03:00 – What compounding offers that retail doesn’t06:00 – FDA approval vs. compounding safety09:00 – Why hormone therapy changes lives11:00 – Creative formulations: creams, popsicles, transdermals14:00 – Red dye, peanut oil, and other allergy issues17:00 – Custom thyroid medication and adrenal support20:00 – Commercial drug variance and its risks23:00 – Acne, eczema, and aging skin treatments27:00 – Hair loss solutions and common ingredients30:00 – Weight loss and sublingual GLP-1s35:00 – Insurance coverage realities38:00 – How to find a compound-friendly provider40:00 – Final message: Women, advocate for your hormones