Information for Pharmacies
Behavioral and Developmental Pediatrics
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Prescribing and Dispensing Controlled Substance Prescription Forms
See More Senate Bill 151 Questions and Answers (PDF format) Note highlighted sections addressing common questions our office receives from pharmacies regarding Schedule II prescriptions. These are also included below for your convenience.
You may download More Senate Bill 151 Questions and Answers directly from the Board of Pharmacy website at:
1346 Foothill Blvd., # 301
La Canada, CA 91011
818.790.1587
Descanso Medical Center
for Development and Learning
Descanso Medical Center
for Development and Learning
Behavioral and Developmental Pediatrics
Do prescriptions for all controlled substances have to be entirely in the prescriber’s handwriting?
No, the prescriber is only required to sign and date controlled substance prescription, with limited exceptions.
Can a pharmacist fill a prescription for a controlled substance if an error is found on the prescription?
The prescriber’s signature and the date written are required to be written by the prescriber. Everything else can be written by the prescriber or his or her agent. Therefore, the pharmacist can make changes to any other information on the prescription as long as the pharmacist verifies the change with the prescriber first.
It appears that a pharmacist’s ability to correct an error or errors on a Schedule II prescription is eliminated on January 1, 2005, is that true?
No, as of July 1, 2004, Health and Safety Code section 11164, subdivision (a)(5) allows a pharmacist to fill a Schedule II prescription containing errors if the pharmacist notifies the prescriber of the errors and the prescriber approves any correction. The prescriber must fax or mail a corrected prescription to the pharmacist within 7 days of the drug being dispensed. As of January 1, 2005, a Schedule II prescription containing errors should be handled as any other prescription that is uncertain, unclear, and/or ambiguous: the pharmacist must contact the prescriber to obtain the information to validate the prescription (Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations section 1761, subdivision (a).)
How long is a controlled substance prescription valid?
Since January 1, 2004, prescriptions for all controlled substances (Schedules II–V) are valid for 6 months from the date written. Pharmacists can disregard the 14-day restriction currently printed on the triplicate prescription form for Schedule II drugs; it is no longer correct.
Can more than one Schedule II medication be written on the same form?
Yes. As long as the new prescription form has the statement at the bottom that reads, “Void if the number of drugs is not noted” and a line provided for the physician to write in the number of drugs prescribed
Can prescribers write a prescription for a non-controlled substance on the new tamper-resistant security prescription forms?
Yes.
Can a prescriber write a non-controlled and a controlled substance prescription on one tamper-resistant security prescription form?
Yes, as long as 1) the prescriber uses the security prescription blank that comes preprinted with the statement “Prescription is void if the number of drugs prescribed is not noted” and 2) the total number of drugs are written in the designated space on the security prescription form. See Health and Safety Codesection 11162.1, subdivision (a)(8).
Can a prescription include more than one controlled substance (Schedules II - V) on the same tamper-resistant security prescription form?
Yes, as long as 1) the prescriber uses the security prescription blank that comes preprinted with the statement “Prescription is void if the number of drugs prescribed is not noted” and 2) the total number of drugs are written in the designated space on the security prescription form. See Health and Safety Codesection 11162.1, subdivision (a)(8).
Prescribing and Dispensing Controlled Substance Prescription Forms:
from "More Senate Bill 151 Questions and Answers"
