DEA Practitioner’s Manual: Schedule III-V Controlled Substances
Federal regulations in the United States governing the prescribing, dispensing, and refilling of Schedule II, III, IV, and V controlled substances according to the DEA Practitioner’s Manual and relevant parts of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and United States Code (U.S.C.).
For Schedule II substances:
- Written or electronic prescriptions are mandatory, with oral prescriptions permitted only in emergency situations.
- Refilling is prohibited.
- Multiple prescriptions are allowed up to a 90-day supply under certain conditions.
- Faxing a prescription is allowed, but the original must be verified.
- Emergency oral prescriptions have specific rules, including a 7-day follow-up with a written prescription.
- Partial filling is possible but comes with restrictions.
For Schedule III-V substances:
- Prescriptions can be paper, faxed, electronic, or oral.
- Schedule III and IV substances can be refilled up to five times within six months.
- Schedule V doesn't have specific refill limits but must be for a legitimate medical purpose.
- Facsimile prescriptions are generally accepted as equivalent to original prescriptions.
- Oral prescriptions must be promptly written down by the pharmacist, capturing all details except for the practitioner's signature.
These regulations are in place to balance the medical need for these substances against the potential for abuse or diversion. Note that these are federal guidelines and state laws can impose additional restrictions.
CLICK HERE to read the DEA Practitioner's Manual - Part 9: Schedule II Controlled Substances