Are there any Bioidentical hormones at regular drug stores?
Yes. Estrogen patches, for the most part, use real Estradiol. The manufacturer has patented the patch itself, not the hormones inside. Prometrium is real Progesterone mixed by a patented process with peanut oil. The peanut oil mixture is what is patented. It comes in only two dosages, but is available at any drug store and is covered by most insurance. Of Thyroid hormones, Synthroid is real T4 and Cytomel is real T3. Thyrolar is a combination T4/T3 in a 4/1 ratio. What is the advantage of compounding pharmacies? Hormones at a compounding pharmacy are real, bioidentical hormones. They can be put into oral capsules or tablets, skin cream, vaginal cream, oral troches, vaginal suppositories, or liquid drops and in any dose the doctor chooses. Different patients have individual needs and preferences. Most manufactured medications like Prometrium, come in one form and only a couple of doses. Forty years ago, before there were big chain drug stores, all pharmacies were compounding pharmacies.
