Re: Prescription...

[Guest guest]

I thought CII were only good from the written date for 6 months but I will

check on that. Char

Charleen A. CphT

Technician Representative

Spokane Pharmacy Association

&

Pharmacy Technician/Trainer

Sixth Avenue Pharmacy

W. 508 6th Avenue

Spokane, WA 99204

(509) 455-9345 wk.

(509) 953-9308 cell.

[Guest guest]

I just wanted to say that my son takes a CII drug and the prescription is

good for 30 days from the day it is written.

Donna

[Guest guest]

" No prescription for a control substance listed in a schedule III or IV shall

be filled or refilled more than 6 months after the date on which such a

prescription was issued and no such a prescription authorized to be refilled

may be refilled more than 5 times. " This was out of the Federal Law Book!!

I am still searching for the CII law but I'm sure Jeanetta will beat me to

it--haha

Charleen A. CphT

Technician Representative

Spokane Pharmacy Association

&

Pharmacy Technician/Trainer

Sixth Avenue Pharmacy

W. 508 6th Avenue

Spokane, WA 99204

(509) 455-9345 wk.

(509) 953-9308 cell.

[Guest guest]

Hello Everyone,

Written prescriptions are valid for 1 year from the date on which they were

written. Controlled drugs (CIII-IV) are valid for 1 month from the date on

which they were written and may not be refilled for more than a 6 month supply.

Controlled drugs (CII) are valid for 7 days from the date on which they were

written and are not refillable at all.

Sincerely,

Lynch-Brunozzi

Prescription...

How long is a prescription good for from the date the doctor writes

it? How long is a CII prescription good for?

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/29/2002 4:47:39 AM Eastern Standard Time,

rxjm2002@... writes:

> Dear Donna,

>

> What state are you in?

>

I am located in South Carolina.My son has taken Adderall or Ritalin for the

past 8 years and the pharmacist has always told me that the prescriptions are

only good for 30 days after they are written and that is by federal law.I

always take my son off the meds during the summer and didn't get his

prescription filled once right around the time school got out and thought I

could hold on to it and just get it filled at the end of the summer before

school started back so I wouldn't need to go into the doctor's office.That

was when the pharmacist said he could not fill it.I am currently going to

school to be a tech(formal training) and no where in my book does it say

this.I just knew it from what the pharmacist told me. :-)

Donna

PharmTech student in SC

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

Read carfully! You may wish to discuss with your pharmacist the

following scenarios for your state:

To my knowledge there is a Federal law that applies to every state

except those states that have a law that is MORE STRINGENT (strict):

Class III, IV and V Prescriptions ( the paper it is written on! Not

the med) are valid for 6 months from the time written with a max of 5

refills, for a total of 6 fills in a six month period. That is the

maximum that the doctor may write for a Class III, IV or V.

O fcourse a doctor may write for less refills or no refills!

States may be more strict than the above. And some health insurances

do not allow certain drugs to be written with that much leeway. As

you retail techs know this can " hang up " the adjudication process!

Examples :

Scenario 1

Let us say this was a narcotic such as Tylenol # 3 (hydrocodone +

APAP)

Sig: i tab q 4-6 hr prn mild to mod pain # 30, Refill 5

Theoretically the patient could get the first # 30 on Day 1

If this Rx lasted 7.5 days, 1 tab q6 hr prn == 4 doses in a day, if

pt used all of the 4 doses only, because it was necessary or needed,

he or she could return to get a refill on day 7 or 8 {30/4=7.5 )

Which day? Day seven or day 8 ? This would be up to pharmacists

discretion or up to the adjudication process of a particular health

plan or a specific state law).

So this could be a refilled for another 30 tabs at that time.

If the patient continued to use this pain med as if it were an ATC

order, ALL THE TIME AS IF IT WERE SCHEDULED AS Q 6 HR, because he/she

was in constant pain, then the pt would be returning every 7 or 8

days, for 5 refills. At every 7.5 days the Rx drug is used up.

7.5 days x 6 fills ( one original fill + 5 refills) this prescription

would only be good for 45 days. Even though the paper it is written

on is valid for 6 months =1 original plus 5 refills max ( unless the

Dr orders less refills) This means that at the rate that the patient

is using this drug and if the patient continues to use it at this

rate, this particular Rx would only be valid for 45 days min or 8

times 6 fills (1 original plus 5 refills, because of the 0.5 day)

for 56 days max.

Whew that was a hard one!

Scenario 2

If the patient used the drug q4 hr ATC instead of prn because it was

needed this would be used at 6 doses per day . 30 /6 = 5 days. 5

times 6 fills = 30 days. That means the Rx would not be valid after

30 days if the patient used all of the Rx at the rate of 6 doses in a

day.

Let's try it another way: Scenario 3

Same Prescription: Sig: i tab q 4-6 hr prn mild to mod pain # 30,

Refill 5

Patient is using 1 tablet at night for nocturnal pain, instead of

the 6 max a day that he/she could be using. In other words her/his

pain is not as great as

the doctor had anticipated. After 30 days the patient wants another

refill. Can he/she get one? Yes because the doctor wrote for a max of

5 refills . If the patient continues to use this drug at this rate,

the patient would return (to pick up) to the Rx every 30th day. 30

days times 6 fills (1 original + 5 refills) = 180 days or 6 months.

So by Federal Law the patient could in fact use all of this med and

all of the refills at this rate in 6 months or less. Technically the

Rx would not have any refills left on it on day 150. So it would not

be valid after 150 days ( the last refill) even thought the patient

would have the meds to last a total of 180 days.

Scenario 4

Same Rx!

If the pt gets a Rx filled on Day 1 and returns on day 160 about 5.33

months or 5 months and 10 days later for a refill, this too would be

legal because he or she wants the second refill with in the 6 month

period. She /he is using this drug sporadically, or possibly the

original pain has returned full blast, or they just realized they

have some time left an just want to have some drug on hand ( or some

other reason that I am not thinking clearly about right now & #61514;) .

Adjunct Information - A good pharmacist would wonder (in fact a good

tech would `wonder' and show this to the pharmacist before computer

generating a label etc), what is going on with the pt. The pharmacist

has the right to ask the pt some questions, to ascertain what is

going on and to make a judgement call as to whether or not to fill

the med, or if this patient should see the doctor again. Here

the `good' pharmacist (depending upon the patient's " story " ) may call

the physician to discuss what is going on. Re-injury is one of the

most common complaints and reasons for this type of `behavior " and

most pharmacists would fill if the patient discusses `re-injury'

reasons.

About YOUR STATE!

If your state only allows 3 refills or if it says that the Class III,

IV or V (paper) Rx is good for only 3 months and 2 refills, then your

state would have a more stringent law than the Federal Law. ( I am

not aware of such a state, but you all would know that one better

than I, and will inform me I am sure!) .

What now????

Okay Let us move on to Class II Rx's , AKA Triplicates in

some states, California being one of them.

In the state of California the law was identical the original Federal

law which stated that a Class II Rx could be valid for up to 7 days

and NO ABSOLUTELY NO Refills. Now if your state had a more stringent

law then that would apply such as the case that someone (sorry I

forgot who) mentioned older scripts were valid for only 2 days.)

Now only recently (last 2 or 3 yrs) in the State of California, the

law changed. Now Class II – Triplicate scripts are valid for a

maximum of 14 days – NO REFILLS. This means that the Federal law has

changed or else Ca could not have made a `looser' law than the

Federal Law.

Okay so what does this mean? It means that each state may mandate

anything more stringent than the Federal Law. But exactly what the

new Federal Law is, I do not know. I believe it is 30 days max. Does

any one know? Ask your " practicing " pharmacist about these Federal

laws. Let us know what they say. But fair warning! RPh's sometimes

can not quote it unless it is the more stringent law compared to the

state law.

The change?? Why?? It came about when more and more states went to

paperless Triplicate prescribing and more electronic Class II

prescribing. Supposedly California is to do away with paper Trips in

about 2 more years. Many other states already have. Since the

government `felt' that electronic prescribing would help the DOJ

keep `tabs' on the prescribing habits, use and or abuse of the

patients, and dispensing habits/practices of CII drugs etc., they

changed the tolerance or if you will the `strictness' of the Fed

laws. This in turn allowed for states to change their laws. The

Triplicate is not valid in California longer than 14 days. After

which the patient must get a new paper Rx triplicate. A phone call

will not do.

Okay I hope that I have not confused any one.

Simply put what ever the Federal law is your specific state may have

a stricter or more stringent law or an identical one.

If you are studying for the PTCB exam, the question is seeking the

Federal Law only. In addition, be careful with questions that

ask " how long is the prescription good for?: What are they talking

about? The stability factors in expiration dates, or beyond use dates

or shelf-life or the paper it is written on?

To all Retail Techs feel free to comment on this stuff. But remember

no debating except for actual Federal law since we are from various

states. Therefore please include your state. Now if we get two techs

from the same state say different things we will have a problem! :0

Oh no!

Okay I am waiting for someone to research the CURRENT federal law on

Class II Rx's and Class III, IV and V.

Respectfully,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BSChemistry

Founder/Owner

> I thought CII were only good from the written date for 6 months but

I will

> check on that. Char

>

> Charleen A. CphT

> Technician Representative

> Spokane Pharmacy Association

> &

> Pharmacy Technician/Trainer

> Sixth Avenue Pharmacy

> W. 508 6th Avenue

> Spokane, WA 99204

> (509) 455-9345 wk.

> (509) 953-9308 cell.

[Guest guest]

Dear PTG,

You cetainly know how to get a discussion going! keep up the great

questions!~ As each of them have pertained to PTCB exams!

Love ya

Jeaentta Mastron CPhT BS Chem

Founder/Owner

> How long is a prescription good for from the date the doctor writes

> it? How long is a CII prescription good for?

[Guest guest]

Dear Char,

I sincerely doubt that this is true. I am aware that the Federal Law

was changed about 3 to 5 yrs ago. But I think you are confusing

Class II which has more strict requirements with the Class III's,

IV's and V's less strict requirements. (Please read my response to

Kara about legend drugs it may also help you understand why.) I hope

I do not have to eat dirt on this one! But please do correct me if I

am wrong!

I plan to ask my educators on my educator site what is being taught

and what do they know of the Federal law.

Thanks

Jeaentta

> I thought CII were only good from the written date for 6 months but

I will

> check on that. Char

>

> Charleen A. CphT

> Technician Representative

> Spokane Pharmacy Association

> &

> Pharmacy Technician/Trainer

> Sixth Avenue Pharmacy

> W. 508 6th Avenue

> Spokane, WA 99204

> (509) 455-9345 wk.

> (509) 953-9308 cell.

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

You are the closest one to the truth. What you have written is

SIMILAR but not exact as what I taught for many years .....Until

California changed its law from this to read to the effect:

" Written legend drug prescriptions are valid for 1 year from the date

on which they were written.

Controlled drugs ClassIII and IV are valid for 6 months from the date

on which they were written and may not be refilled for more than 5

times in six months.

Controlled V prescriptions are good for 6 months with as many refills

as the doctor orders or dems needed, know as prn refills.

Controlled drugs (CII) are valid for 14days from the date on which

they were written and are not refillable at all " .

Since California has changed to 14 days for CII's about 2 to 3 years

ago, that means that the Federal is the same or less stringent.( The

state can be less, but not more stingent than the Federal law.)

I hope you or someone finds the MOST CURRENT LAW SOON!

Love ya

Jeanetta

> Hello Everyone,

>

> Written prescriptions are valid for 1 year from the date on which

they were written. Controlled drugs (CIII-IV) are valid for 1 month

from the date on which they were written and may not be refilled for

more than a 6 month supply. Controlled drugs (CII) are valid for 7

days from the date on which they were written and are not refillable

at all.

>

> Sincerely,

>

> Lynch-Brunozzi

>

> Prescription...

>

> How long is a prescription good for from the date the doctor

writes

> it? How long is a CII prescription good for?

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Donna,

What state are you in?

I actually believe that this is the Federal Law on CII. California

allows 14 days on the written script. Ca has traditonally followed

the exact Fed law on this issue or was more stringent by being 1/2

the time. Since the Current California law is 14 days and your state

(?) is 30 days ( 4 weeks) and because I believe that is what I

remember from the time that the state law changed, I tend to agree

with you.

Then again I may have to eat dirt if Char is right about those 6

months!

Love to you all,

Jeanetta

> I just wanted to say that my son takes a CII drug and the

prescription is

> good for 30 days from the day it is written.

>

>

> Donna

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Char,

I answered these posts as they are posted, in chronological order!

Good for you for looking this one up to verify that the " old hag

Jeanetta " is right. Glad I do not have to eat dirt!

But I may make you all eat dirt for reporting before looking it up or

KNOWING THE LAW!!! Bad members! But I love you all!

Recall the long scenario post I did. I have to correct one thing.

Class V are not in the same stringent law. Class V prescriptions are

good for 6 months, but may be refilled as many times as the doctor

wrote for it.(sometimes refered to as a prn refll order).

I have not looked up the CII Fed Law. But to my knowledge it is 30

days. As I wrote before California is now 14 days just about 3 yrs

ago. California is usually more strict than the FedLaw on this issue.

Okasy so I may have to eat dirt on this one!

Any bets? did someone say Las Vegas and betting???Hee! (Inside joke)

Gotta love ya!

Jeanetta

> " No prescription for a control substance listed in a schedule III

or IV shall

> be filled or refilled more than 6 months after the date on which

such a

> prescription was issued and no such a prescription authorized to be

refilled

> may be refilled more than 5 times. " This was out of the Federal

Law Book!!

> I am still searching for the CII law but I'm sure Jeanetta will

beat me to

> it--haha

>

> Charleen A. CphT

> Technician Representative

> Spokane Pharmacy Association

> &

> Pharmacy Technician/Trainer

> Sixth Avenue Pharmacy

> W. 508 6th Avenue

> Spokane, WA 99204

> (509) 455-9345 wk.

> (509) 953-9308 cell.

[Guest guest]

Dear Donna,

Let us hope that your pharmacist is right and that I do not have to

eat dirt! I'm a bad member too for not looking this up! Worse cuz

I am the owner. ButI think this is a lesson for me! I got lazy since

I spent so much time this wekend looking up the 's Rule, videos

and stuff. I apologize to you and all.

Sorry for not recalling your state, but you must realize that there

are over 144 members and I can not always remember who is from

where.

So I would make it a general practice that whenever one is discussing

Law or 'practices' that one mention their specific state, so that we

do not have to keep looking it up.

I so appreciate your input and sharing your personal experiences.

That is so valuable to us all. It is certainly above and beyond

thecall of duty.

Please ask your instructor about this law and see what he/she says.

Please get back to us.

In addition I have a site specifically for formal educators all over

the USA. Please give your instructor my email of rxjm2002 @

Take care and get back to us when you can about this!

Love ya

Jeanetta

> In a message dated 10/29/2002 4:47:39 AM Eastern Standard Time,

> rxjm2002@y... writes:

>

>

> > Dear Donna,

> >

> > What state are you in?

> >

>

> I am located in South Carolina.My son has taken Adderall or

Ritalin for the

> past 8 years and the pharmacist has always told me that the

prescriptions are

> only good for 30 days after they are written and that is by federal

law.I

> always take my son off the meds during the summer and didn't get

his

> prescription filled once right around the time school got out and

thought I

> could hold on to it and just get it filled at the end of the summer

before

> school started back so I wouldn't need to go into the doctor's

office.That

> was when the pharmacist said he could not fill it.I am currently

going to

> school to be a tech(formal training) and no where in my book does

it say

> this.I just knew it from what the pharmacist told me. :-)

>

>

> Donna

> PharmTech student in SC

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Jeanetta,

I've been searching but to no avail. What I am thinking is that the NJ laws are

differerent or more stringent than the federal law but I won't swear to that yet

since I haven't found it. The way I wrote it is the way we practice it here.

If a patient comes in with a written rx for a control (not CII) that is older

than 30 days we must call the md to verify the rx. If the rx is for a CII and

is older than 7 days we will not fill it. Calling the md would not help as we

are not permitted to change the date on a CII rx. I didn't mention C V ( the

only law I did actually find looking on the internet) because we don't even take

written rx's for them so I didn't think they pertained to this topic. I have

the actual law in my file cabinet at work but I've been off for 4 days. As soon

as I can quote some statutes and regulations I will. If I can't, then it's my

turn to eat dirt.

Love You All,

maria

Prescription...

>

> How long is a prescription good for from the date the doctor

writes

> it? How long is a CII prescription good for?

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I asked my instructor(Don Ballington at Midlands College) and he said that a

prescription for a CII drug is only good for 30 days.Now he did not tell me

if that was just in the state of S.C. or not but I wanted to just let you

know I e-mailed and asked the instructor and that was what he said :-)

Take care!

Donna in SC

[Guest guest]

I was talking with a few techs from another pharmacy and they told me their

pharmacy manager called the WA Board of Pharmacy and they told them that the CII

they had in their pharmacy was good for 6 months from written date. Again--I

still don't know what is true as we have never filled a CII that was that old.

However, we do fill CII up to 30 days in our own pharmacy. I wish the Law Book

in our pharmacy was a little more user friendly--hahah However, with all that

being said I am not placing my bets yet--haha Back To Research--Char

[Guest guest]

Karin: We have the blue one!! I will look at it a little closer but when I

looked briefly yesterday all I could find was CII are not refillable but as

for how long they are good for I was having no luck. Let me know if you find

it in there--I'll really be eating dirt then--hahah Chat with ya more--char

Charleen A. CphT

Technician Representative

Spokane Pharmacy Association

&

Pharmacy Technician/Trainer

Sixth Avenue Pharmacy

W. 508 6th Avenue

Spokane, WA 99204

(509) 455-9345 wk.

(509) 953-9308 cell.

[Guest guest]

I hear ya, Char. I'm doing the same thing.

Re: Re: Prescription...

I was talking with a few techs from another pharmacy and they told me their

pharmacy manager called the WA Board of Pharmacy and they told them that the CII

they had in their pharmacy was good for 6 months from written date. Again--I

still don't know what is true as we have never filled a CII that was that old.

However, we do fill CII up to 30 days in our own pharmacy. I wish the Law Book

in our pharmacy was a little more user friendly--hahah However, with all that

being said I am not placing my bets yet--haha Back To Research--Char

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

You are so gracious!

I don't think any of us will be eating dirt since it is so darn hard

to find laws pertaining to our law discussions.

You do not have to have a written Rx for a class V? Is that what I

understood? wow!

Any way thanks for sharing the dirt with me.

Love ya

Jeanetta

> > Hello Everyone,

> >

> > Written prescriptions are valid for 1 year from the date on

which

> they were written. Controlled drugs (CIII-IV) are valid for 1

month

> from the date on which they were written and may not be refilled

for

> more than a 6 month supply. Controlled drugs (CII) are valid for

7

> days from the date on which they were written and are not

refillable

> at all.

> >

> > Sincerely,

> >

> > Lynch-Brunozzi

> >

> > Prescription...

> >

> > How long is a prescription good for from the date the doctor

> writes

> > it? How long is a CII prescription good for?

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I spoke to one of our class instructors last night and he said that there are

laws about how long these prescritpions are good for(CII).He said that it

differs from state to state(the state decides how strict to make it).He is a

pharmacist and has practiced in land,DC, and South Carolina and he said

they all differ.In land CII prescriptions could only be filled up to 72

hours after it was written(that was four years ago and he said that could

have changed).He said when he moved down here to SC that they told him that

here it is 30 days from the date it was written.So I picked up the phone and

called the pharmacist who fills all of our presciptions and just asked him

and he said the same thing.He said 30 days here in SC but could be different

elsewhere.I would love to hear from you about what they tell you for

NJ.Have a nice day!

Donna in SC

[Guest guest]

Yes--this is true!! I just got off the phone with our legal instuctor and

she said it depends on the state. To clarify anyone in WA our law reads here

that a CII is good for 6 months from the written date!! I'm glad I didn't

have to taste dirt this time--haha Char

Charleen A. CphT

Technician Representative

Spokane Pharmacy Association

&

Pharmacy Technician/Trainer

Sixth Avenue Pharmacy

W. 508 6th Avenue

Spokane, WA 99204

(509) 455-9345 wk.

(509) 953-9308 cell.

[Guest guest]

Being a Legal Assistant and a CPhT does come in handy. The length of

time for a Schedule II script to remain valid does vary from state to

state. Anyone in Texas can refer to the Health and Safety Code & #65279;§

481.074. Prescriptions. Just an excerpt: (hope this isn't too long to

post)

& #65279;(d) Except as specified in Subsections (e) and (f) of this section,=

a

person may not fill a prescription for a controlled substance listed

in Schedule II after the end of the seventh day after the date on

which the prescription is issued. A person may not refill a

prescription for a substance listed in Schedule II.

& #65279;(e) The partial filling of a prescription for a controlled substanc=

e

listed in Schedule II is permissible, if the pharmacist is unable to

supply the full quantity called for in a written or emergency oral

prescription and the pharmacist makes a notation of the quantity

supplied on the face of the written prescription or written record of

the emergency oral prescription. The remaining portion of the

prescription may be filled within 72 hours of the first partial

filling; however, if the remaining portion is not or cannot be

filled within the 72-hour period, the pharmacist shall so notify the

prescribing individual practitioner. No further quantity may be

supplied beyond 72 hours without a new prescription.

& #65279;(f) A prescription for a Schedule II controlled substance written f=

or

a patient in a long-term care facility (LTCF) or for a patient with a

medical diagnosis documenting a terminal illness may be filled in

partial quantities to include individual dosage units. (There is more

but it doesn't apply to retail)

[Guest guest]

I just noticed that my message didn't post quite right. The section

of the Health and Safety Code that I referred to is 481.074 and the

title is Prescriptions....just in case anyone gets confused...I

copied and pasted excerpts but it didn't paste properly. (Don't know

where those stupid little symbols and numbers came from in front of

Subsections d,e,f.)If anyone is interested and cannot find where the

code is located..let me know and I will give instructions on how to

find this information on the web.

[Guest guest]

Hi Jeanetta,

The Schedule V drugs I am sure about. In the state of New Jersey, one does not

need to present a written prescription in order to obtain the drug. All you

need to do is ask for whatever it is you want in the pharmacy and we have a log

book that you have you have sign. It has your name, address, what you bought

and how much of it. It's called the Exempt Narcotic Log. We sell drugs like

Robitussin-AC for instance OTC with a signature in the log. The only

restriction we have is when the same person comes in for the same item 4 times

and the pharmacist suspects abuse. I don't have the whole statute in front of

me right now but that's the gist of it. Isn't it peculiar how much laws vary

from state to state?

Prescription...

> >

> > How long is a prescription good for from the date the doctor

> writes

> > it? How long is a CII prescription good for?

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hey !

I found this to be so very interesting!

Can I ask you is there a length of time between that fourth

Robitussin ant the last ro over a certain period of time or is it at

the RPh's discretion or just the 4th time?

Here in Ca all CV's are by script only.

Thanks,

Jeanetta

> > > Hello Everyone,

> > >

> > > Written prescriptions are valid for 1 year from the date on

> which

> > they were written. Controlled drugs (CIII-IV) are valid for 1

> month

> > from the date on which they were written and may not be refilled

> for

> > more than a 6 month supply. Controlled drugs (CII) are valid

for

> 7

> > days from the date on which they were written and are not

> refillable

> > at all.

> > >

> > > Sincerely,

> > >

> > > Lynch-Brunozzi

> > >

> > > Prescription...

> > >

> > > How long is a prescription good for from the date the doctor

> > writes

> > > it? How long is a CII prescription good for?

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Hi Jeanetta and all,

In some states specific Schedule V drugs can be obtained without a

prescription. But there are guidelines and protocols established.

To clarify, not ALL CV drugs can be obtained over-the-counter.

In some states C-V drugs (cough syrups) may be sold over-the-counter

with the following guidelines:

The sale must be made by a pharmacist

No more than eight ounces or no more than 48 solid dosage forms may

be dispensed in a 48 hour period of time

The purchaser is at least 18 years of age with ID

The sale is recorded in a bound book by listing the name/address of

purchaser, name/quantity of item, date of purchase, and the name of

the pharmacist.

Respectfully,

Joe Medina, CPhT

http://www.techlectures.com