Apothecary Shoppe Focuses on In-Depth Counseling, Compounding Services

The third time was the proverbial charm for Sabrina K. Griggs, RPh, ACN, pharmacist in charge and owner of the Apothecary Shoppe in Kerrville, Texas.

Apothecary Shoppe is Griggs’ third experience with pharmacy ownership. From 1985 to 1989, she owned a pharmacy in Red River, New Mexico. Then, from 2001 to 2007, she owned her second pharmacy in Edna, Texas. During the years in between, she was a relief pharmacist at various independent pharmacies and hospitals in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Finally, in February 2018, Griggs purchased a compounding pharmacy that was struggling financially. With hard work and dedication, she reversed its course within 6 months.

“We strive to develop a relationship with our patients so that they are comfortable divulging information about their health to help us better serve their needs,” Griggs said. “For example, we provide detailed information regarding the what, why, and how behind our supplement recommendations.”

Griggs, a graduate of the Southwestern Oklahoma State University College of Pharmacy in Weatherford, sees patients by appointment for in-depth hormone and nutrition counseling. She uses laboratory tests such as those for food sensitivities and heavy metal toxicity, as well as patient-reported symptoms, to help guide treatment recommendations. An expert on the topics, Griggs regularly writes articles for local publications on various aspects of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) and nutritional wellness.

Apothecary Shoppe is primarily a compounding pharmacy, with the bulk of its compounds being BHRT and thyroid compounds. Griggs said they use estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone derived from yams, which are exact matches for the hormones naturally produced in the body.

“These can be made [into a] transdermal cream or gel [the preferred method for estrogen and testosterone], capsules, or troches and Solutabs for sublingual absorption,” Griggs explained.

BHRT is used to treat symptoms associated with menopause, such as hot flashes, night sweats, and low libido, as well as those for male andropause, such as impaired thinking and low libido. The pharmacy also compounds oral capsule forms of the thyroid replacement hormones levothyroxine and liothyronine. In addition, knowing that patients will need maintenance medications, the pharmacy also offers most commercial prescriptions at competitive cash prices for patients not covered by prescription insurance or those with high co-pays and deductibles.

Griggs spends a lot of time engaging with patients and the local community, both in person and online. She said this makes all the difference for their patients and differentiates their pharmacy from others. Griggs added that they post on social media, sharing articles such as product information from trustworthy manufacturers as well as learning experiences from educational seminars that the pharmacy staff regularly attend. They also go out into the community, speaking with local groups about how the pharmacy can help improve their quality of life.

When asked to share a positive story, Griggs said, “One of our best nutritional success stories involved a lady who…was experiencing digestive issues severe enough that her diet had been reduced to just beef, salt, and water. After 2 months following our protocol [which involves a high-quality probiotic, products to heal the gut lining, and a binder to remove toxins from the gut], she called us on the verge of tears and stated, ‘You all literally saved my life! I can eat anything I want, and I’m gaining my weight back and have energy to enjoy my family again.’ ”

In addition to her community connections, Griggs is extremely involved in the pharmacy profession. She was recently elected to the board of directors of American Pharmacies, a national advocacy, contracting, and purchasing organization for independent pharmacies. She has also served on the boards of the West Texas Pharmacy Association, Hill Country Pharmacy Group, Bexar County Pharmacy Association, Texas Pharmacy Foundation, and various Texas Pharmacy Association councils.

In her spare time, Griggs enjoys spending time with her family, which includes 4 adult children and 1 granddaughter, with another grandchild due in November.