- According to federal law, how many refills are permitted for a Schedule V controlled substance prescription?
Answer: Up to 5 refills within 6 months of issuance
This question tests knowledge of federal requirements for controlled substance prescriptions, specifically refill limits for Schedule V drugs. The Controlled Substances Act establishes rules for handling prescriptions, including limits on refills based on drug schedules. For Schedule V drugs, federal law allows up to 5 refills within 6 months of issuance, aligning with Schedules III and IV. The correct answer reflects the federal guideline that Schedule V substances can be refilled within this limit, demonstrating understanding of DEA regulations. A common distractor might imply no refills or unlimited ones, often due to misconceptions about lower schedules. To aid understanding, teach the importance of distinguishing between DEA schedules and emphasize consistent refill rules for lower schedules. Practice verifying refill authorizations in real-world scenarios.
- Under federal law, which schedule generally has the highest abuse potential among prescribable controlled substances?
Answer: Schedule II
This question tests knowledge of federal requirements for controlled substance prescriptions, specifically abuse potential among prescribable schedules. The Controlled Substances Act establishes rules for handling prescriptions, including limits on refills based on drug schedules. Schedule II has the highest abuse potential among those with accepted medical use. The correct answer reflects the federal guideline on abuse classification, demonstrating understanding of DEA regulations. A common distractor might choose Schedule V, inverting the scale. To aid understanding, teach the importance of distinguishing between DEA schedules and emphasize risk levels. Practice ranking schedules by abuse potential.
- A prescriber issues a patient three separate prescriptions for Adderall XR on the same day, each for a 30-day supply. What must be included on the second and third prescriptions for them to be valid?
Answer: An earliest fill date, such as 'Do not fill until...'
Federal law allows prescribers to issue multiple prescriptions for a Schedule II substance on the same day for up to a 90-day total supply. However, each subsequent prescription (after the first) must include written instructions indicating the earliest date on which it may be filled.
- A patient presents a new, valid, written prescription for oxycodone. According to federal law, what is the maximum number of refills that may be authorized by the prescriber on this prescription?
Answer: Zero
Oxycodone is a Schedule II controlled substance. According to federal law, prescriptions for Schedule II medications cannot be refilled. A new prescription is required each time the medication is dispensed. The other options represent incorrect refill limits.
- Which of the following methods is federally permissible for receiving a new prescription for testosterone gel (a C-III substance)?
Answer: Written, faxed, electronic, or oral.
Prescriptions for Schedule III, IV, and V controlled substances can be received in several formats. They can be submitted as a signed written prescription, a valid electronic prescription (EPCS), a fax of a written prescription, or as an oral (phoned-in) order that is promptly reduced to writing by the pharmacist.
- A patient has a prescription for Tylenol with Codeine #3 that has been refilled five times. The prescriber's office calls the pharmacy and authorizes five more refills. How should the pharmacy handle this request?
Answer: Treat the authorization as a new oral prescription.
Tylenol with Codeine #3 is a Schedule III medication. Once a C-III or C-IV prescription has reached its limit of 5 refills or 6 months, any new authorization from a prescriber must be treated as a new prescription. It can be taken orally (phoned in) and assigned a new prescription number.
- Under federal law, which DEA form is used by registrants to surrender controlled substances for destruction?
Answer: DEA Form 41
This question tests knowledge of federal requirements for controlled substance prescriptions, specifically surrendering for destruction. The Controlled Substances Act establishes rules for handling prescriptions, including destruction protocols. DEA Form 41 is used for surrendering controlled substances for destruction. The correct answer reflects the federal guideline for this form, demonstrating understanding of DEA regulations. A common distractor might choose Form 106 for theft. To aid understanding, teach the importance of distinguishing between DEA forms and emphasize inventory management. Practice destruction procedures in training.
- Under federal law, what is required when a pharmacist receives an oral Schedule III prescription?
Answer: Reduce to writing or store electronically with all required elements
This question tests knowledge of federal requirements for controlled substance prescriptions, specifically handling oral Schedule III orders. The Controlled Substances Act establishes rules for handling prescriptions, including documentation for oral ones. Pharmacists must reduce oral Schedule III prescriptions to writing or electronic record with all elements. The correct answer reflects the federal guideline for documentation, demonstrating understanding of DEA regulations. A common distractor might require a follow-up written Rx, confusing with Schedule II emergencies. To aid understanding, teach the importance of accurate recording and emphasize differences from Schedule II. Practice documenting oral prescriptions.
- Under federal law, which controlled substance schedule has no accepted medical use and cannot be prescribed?
Answer: Schedule I
This question tests knowledge of federal requirements for controlled substance prescriptions, specifically schedules with no medical use. The Controlled Substances Act establishes rules for handling prescriptions, including limits on refills and transfers based on drug schedules. Schedule I drugs have no accepted medical use and cannot be prescribed. The correct answer reflects the federal guideline for Schedule I, demonstrating understanding of DEA regulations. A common distractor might select Schedule V, misunderstanding abuse potentials. To aid understanding, teach the importance of distinguishing between DEA schedules and emphasize prescribing restrictions. Practice identifying non-prescribable schedules.
- Under federal law, what is required to transfer a Schedule II prescription to another pharmacy?
Answer: A new prescription must be issued; transfers are not permitted
This question tests knowledge of federal requirements for controlled substance prescriptions, specifically transfer protocols for Schedule II drugs. The Controlled Substances Act establishes rules for handling prescriptions, including limits on refills and transfers based on drug schedules. For Schedule II, transfers are not permitted, and a new prescription must be issued. The correct answer reflects the federal guideline prohibiting transfers, demonstrating understanding of DEA regulations. A common distractor might suggest limited transfers, often due to confusion with lower schedules. To aid understanding, teach the importance of distinguishing between DEA schedules and emphasize strict rules for Schedule II. Practice handling Schedule II requests in real-world scenarios.
- Under federal law, how many refills are permitted for a Schedule IV controlled substance prescription?
Answer: Up to 5 refills within 6 months of issuance
This question tests knowledge of federal requirements for controlled substance prescriptions, specifically refill limits for Schedule IV drugs. The Controlled Substances Act establishes rules for handling prescriptions, including limits on refills based on drug schedules. For Schedule IV drugs, federal law permits up to 5 refills within 6 months of issuance, similar to Schedule III. The correct answer reflects the federal guideline that Schedule IV substances can be refilled within this limit, demonstrating understanding of DEA regulations. A common distractor might suggest no refills, confusing it with Schedule II protocols. To aid understanding, teach the importance of distinguishing between DEA schedules and emphasize the refill similarities for Schedules III-V. Practice applying these rules in pharmacy settings to avoid errors.
- Under federal law, which schedule classification indicates high abuse potential with severe dependence risk?
Answer: Schedule II
This question tests knowledge of federal requirements for controlled substance prescriptions, specifically schedule classifications by abuse potential. The Controlled Substances Act establishes rules for handling prescriptions, including risk-based scheduling. Schedule II indicates high abuse potential with severe dependence risk. The correct answer reflects the federal guideline for this classification, demonstrating understanding of DEA regulations. A common distractor might select Schedule V, misunderstanding the scale. To aid understanding, teach the importance of distinguishing between DEA schedules and emphasize risk factors. Practice classifying example drugs.
- Under federal law, which DEA form is used for ordering Schedule II controlled substances by registrants?
Answer: DEA Form 222
This question tests knowledge of federal requirements for controlled substance prescriptions, specifically DEA forms for ordering. The Controlled Substances Act establishes rules for handling prescriptions, including use of specific forms for registrants. DEA Form 222 is required for ordering Schedule II substances. The correct answer reflects the federal guideline for this form, demonstrating understanding of DEA regulations. A common distractor might confuse it with Form 106 for theft. To aid understanding, teach the importance of distinguishing between DEA forms and emphasize their purposes. Practice matching forms to scenarios in pharmacy training.
- A pharmacy receives a written prescription for Ritalin for an adult patient. Which of the following elements is required on the prescription for it to be valid for dispensing?
Answer: Prescriber's DEA number.
Ritalin (methylphenidate) is a Schedule II controlled substance. A valid prescription for any controlled substance must contain several key elements, including the full name and address of the patient, the drug name, strength, dosage form, quantity, directions for use, and the name, address, and DEA registration number of the prescriber.
- What is the maximum number of refills federally permitted on a new prescription for testosterone cypionate injection?
Answer: 5 refills within 6 months
Testosterone is a Schedule III controlled substance. According to federal law, prescriptions for Schedule III and IV medications may be refilled up to 5 times within 6 months of the date the prescription was written, if authorized by the prescriber.
- A prescription for butalbital, acetaminophen, and caffeine is presented. This combination product is a Schedule III controlled substance. If the prescriber does not specify a number of refills, how should the prescription be interpreted?
Answer: As having zero refills.
For any prescription, including controlled substances, if the prescriber does not explicitly authorize any refills, the prescription is considered to have zero refills. The pharmacy cannot assume refills are intended.
- A prescription for pregabalin is received at the pharmacy. Which of the following rules for refills is correct according to federal law?
Answer: It can be refilled up to 5 times in 6 months.
Pregabalin (Lyrica) is a Schedule V controlled substance. Federally, the refill regulations for Schedule V substances are often treated the same as those for Schedule III and IV substances, allowing for a maximum of 5 refills within a 6-month period from the date of issue, if authorized by the prescriber.
- Under federal law, how do refill rules differ for Schedule II versus Schedule III prescriptions?
Answer: Schedule II allows no refills; Schedule III allows up to 5 within 6 months
This question tests knowledge of federal requirements for controlled substance prescriptions, specifically differentiating refill rules between Schedule II and III. The Controlled Substances Act establishes rules for handling prescriptions, including limits on refills and transfers based on drug schedules. Schedule II drugs allow no refills, requiring a new prescription each time, while Schedule III allows up to 5 refills in 6 months. The correct answer reflects the federal guideline highlighting this distinction, demonstrating understanding of DEA regulations. A common distractor might suggest both have similar refill allowances, a misconception from schedule confusion. To aid understanding, teach the importance of distinguishing between DEA schedules and emphasize unique refill protocols. Practice comparing schedules in pharmacy case studies.
- A patient has a prescription for 90 fentanyl patches. The pharmacy has only 30 patches in stock. The patient agrees to take the partial amount. If the patient is not terminally ill or in an LTCF, how long does the pharmacy have to dispense the remaining balance?
Answer: 72 hours
When a pharmacy is unable to supply the full quantity of a Schedule II prescription, a partial fill is permitted. However, according to federal law, the remaining portion of the prescription must be filled within 72 hours of the partial filling. If it is not filled within that timeframe, the remainder is void and a new prescription is required.
- A new prescription for zolpidem is written on June 1st with 5 refills authorized. What is the latest date that a patient can obtain a refill for this prescription according to federal law?
Answer: December 1st of the same year
Zolpidem is a Schedule IV controlled substance. Prescriptions for Schedule III and IV substances expire 6 months after the date they are written. Therefore, a prescription written on June 1st would expire on December 1st of the same year.
