recompositum

Recompositum is a Latin term used in pharmacology and historical alchemy to denote a medicine formed by recombining multiple ingredients into a single preparation. The word derives from re- “again” and compositum “having been put together,” indicating a compounded product created from various components.

In historical pharmacopoeias and herbals, a recompositum referred to a remedy produced by an apothecary by combining multiple simples (herbal, mineral, or animal ingredients) with binders, solvents, or carriers to form a standardized dosage form. This could take the shape of tablets, draughts, electuaries, syrups, or ointments. Such preparations were used to consolidate diverse therapeutic properties into one prescription and were often accompanied by detailed preparation and dosage instructions.

With the rise of modern pharmaceutical manufacturing, the term is largely historical. In contemporary practice, the closest equivalent is a compounded or extemporaneously prepared formulation—an individualized preparation created by a pharmacist by combining active ingredients with excipients according to a prescription. These preparations are designed to meet specific patient needs that standardized products do not address, and they follow modern standards for quality, safety, and efficacy.

In addition to its pharmacological usage, the term appears in some alchemical or historical texts to describe materials believed to be recomposed from constituent parts to regain a unified, original nature.

See also: compounding, pharmaceutical formulation, pharmacopoeia, polyingredient remedies.