kimbell1
Enthusiast
Reged: 08/20/03
Posts: 274
Loc: Route 666, Painville, Texas 6...
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I found a perscription for a controlled substance that I thought that I had lost .
I use Walgreens and asked if the perscription for clonopin was still good. The perscription was within a few days of being 6 months old. I was told that non controlled substance perscriptions were good for one year from the date they are written but controlled substances were good for only 6 months and that they would fill it one time since 6 months had not quit lapsed but they would not let me have refills.
Having read so many negative things about Walgreens, is this true?
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Paranoia is just hightened awareness.
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Beetlenut
Threadhead
Reged: 09/09/02
Posts: 764
Loc: Colorado
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I would suggest calling another pharmacy in your area and asking them your question just as you stated (without, of course, the reference to Walgreens)...
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Zowie
Newbie

Reged: 12/14/02
Posts: 35
Loc: Beautiful Atlantic Coast
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Yes, Walgreens is right. Controlled substance prescriptions are only good for six months. I know nonnarcotic medications such as Nexium, Toprol, etc., is one year as Walgreens stated but narcotics at least in my state is 6 months and I would assume that is a federal standard.
Take care,
Zowie
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There are people who have money and people who are rich.
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night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 907
Loc: The State of Hockey
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I generally fill my kids' Adderall prescriptions at large pharmacy chains. Right before school started and with an old prescription that had been written 9 months earlier, I was able to fill for Adderall with no problems at Target.
But my doc always writes for 6 months' worth of prescriptions as my kids must go in twice a year for Adderall--and many people think that itself is illegal.
Who knows? Could be that I always use the same pharmacy and have for over a decade?
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
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cleo911
Board Addict

Reged: 08/21/02
Posts: 371
Loc: BFE
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Anyone know if albuterol is a controlled substance? My pharmacy wouldn't refill it because it was two weeks past six months.
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night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 907
Loc: The State of Hockey
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Albuterol is not controlled. Perhaps you could take it to a different pharmacy, if they give you trouble, have them call the doctor. Mine will do it without bothering me about it if they have any questions or to verify C-2's.
Different pharmacies, different policies. Who knows?
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
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bango
Member
Reged: 02/10/03
Posts: 187
Loc: midwest
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In my experiance it depends on the pharm, I had a script for seconal (C2) filled a year + after it was written at a local non chain pharm, while i was told that the regulations are that CII lasts only for a month in another. dont you hate it that doctors and pharamcisit sjust assume that you are ignorant and make up whatever laws to justify their personal biases towards you?
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Sweetz
Diamond Mind

Reged: 05/11/02
Posts: 764
Loc: Texas!
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that's good your doc does that, we had one that did that once. I tried to use the mail in service and get 3 months' worth, but I had to express the script since it's only good for 7 days. Well, one didn't get to the PHARMACY until after that, although it arrived at the service within the time. another one was lost and my PCP wouldn't write another script. so, I had to go through the hassle of finding another psychiatrist to see and get a script from them. After a few weeks, my PCP called and said the script hadn't gone through and was void after 7 days, so she would refill again. After all that mess, I just pick it up at the doc's office. 30 pills lasts her more than a month anyway.
I have been told controlled: 6 months, non controlled: 12 months, CII: 7 days (at least here in TX) My only experience is with ritalin, Adderall and Demerol. 'course the demerol I got filled immediately. Once, the doc's office talked of charging me for another Adderall script cuz I waited *8* days, but they didn't.
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"If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice."
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Billyl
Board Addict
Reged: 06/14/02
Posts: 389
Loc: NorthEast
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You are correct 6 months to fill a scheduled medication schedules 3 through 4 and 7 days for schedule 2 medications and 1 year for non narcotic prescriptions, now refills must also be dispensed for schedules 3 through 5 before the script expires. It is 100 percent illegal for a doctor at the federal level or a pharmacist to accept scripts that are post dated for any scheduled medications. In other words the doctor can't legally write them and the pharmacy can't hold the post dated scripts or fill them if they are aware or suspect that the doctor is doing this. I guess if you had a post dated schedule 2 script and held it then went to the pharmacy no the pharmacist wouldn't know this and possibly fill the prescription. The laws on scheduled medications can be found on the DEA website under the Controlled Substance Act and I believe the National Board of Pharmacist's website under prescribing laws.
Take care. Billylll
Take care. Billylll
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bango
Member
Reged: 02/10/03
Posts: 187
Loc: midwest
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my doc postdates all the time 3 month in advance for CII so i dont know if she has no idea , or it is a state to state matter.
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Billyl
Board Addict
Reged: 06/14/02
Posts: 389
Loc: NorthEast
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It is a federal law and many doctor's are not aware of it or ignore it. It is not a state issue although in many states they mirror the federal law. Take care. Billylll
Here is the law.
Section 1306.05 Manner of issuance of prescriptions.
This page includes changes to the Code of Federal Regulations since April 1, 2003. View Key.
(a) All prescriptions for controlled substances shall be dated as of, and signed on, the day when issued and shall bear the full name and address of the patient, the drug name, strength, dosage form, quantity prescribed, directions for use and the name, address and registration number of the practitioner. A practitioner may sign a prescription in the same manner as he would sign a check or legal document (e.g., J.H. Smith or John H. Smith). Where an oral order is not permitted, prescriptions shall be written with ink or indelible pencil or typewriter and shall be manually signed by the practitioner. The prescriptions may be prepared by the secretary or agent for the signature of a practitioner, but the prescribing practitioner is responsible in case the prescription does not conform in all essential respects to the law and regulations. A corresponding liability rests upon the pharmacist, including a pharmacist employed by a central fill pharmacy, who fills a prescription not prepared in the form prescribed by these regulations
Edited by Billyl (12/29/03 07:53 PM)
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Billyl
Board Addict
Reged: 06/14/02
Posts: 389
Loc: NorthEast
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Here is a partial answer to your question on refills and the timeline on a prescription. Take care. Billylll
Section 1306.22 Refilling of prescriptions.
(a) No prescription for a controlled substance listed in Schedule III or IV shall be filled or refilled more than six months after the date on which such prescription was issued and no such prescription authorized to be refilled may be refilled more than five times. Each refilling of a prescription shall be entered on the back of the prescription or on another appropriate document. If entered on another document, such as a medication record, the document must be uniformly maintained and readily retrievable. The following information must be retrievable by the prescription number consisting of the name and dosage form of the controlled substance, the date filled or refilled, the quantity dispensed, initials of the dispensing pharmacist for each refill, and the total number of refills for that prescription. If the pharmacist merely initials and dates the back of the prescription it shall be deemed that the full face amount of the prescription has been dispensed. The prescribing practitioner may authorize additional refills of Schedule III or IV controlled substances on the original prescription through an oral refill authorization transmitted to the pharmacist provided the following conditions are met:
(1) The total quantity authorized, including the amount of the original prescription, does not exceed five refills nor extend beyond six months from the date of issue of the original prescription.
(2) The pharmacist obtaining the oral authorization records on the reverse of the original prescription the date, quantity of refill, number of additional refills authorized, and initials the prescription showing who received the authorization from the prescribing practitioner who issued the original prescription.
(3) The quantity of each additional refill authorized is equal to or less than the quantity authorized for the initial filling of the original prescription.
(4) The prescribing practitioner must execute a new and separate prescription for any additional quantities beyond the five refill, six-month limitation.
(b) As an alternative to the procedures provided by subsection (a), an automated data processing system may be used for the storage and retrieval of refill information for prescription orders for controlled substances in Schedule III and IV, subject to the following conditions:
(1) Any such proposed computerized system must provide on-line retrieval (via CRT display or hard-copy printout) of original prescription order information for those prescription orders which are currently authorized for refilling. This shall include, but is not limited to, data such as the original prescription number, date of issuance of the original prescription order by the practitioner, full name and address of the patient, name, address, and DEA registration number of the practitioner, and the name, strength, dosage form, quantity of the controlled substance prescribed (and quantity dispensed if different from the quantity prescribed), and the total number of refills authorized by the prescribing practitioner.
(2) Any such proposed computerized system must also provide on-line retrieval (via CRT display or hard-copy printout) of the current refill history for Schedule III or IV controlled substance prescription orders (those authorized for refill during the past six months.) This refill history shall include, but is not limited to, the name of the controlled substance, the date of refill, the quantity dispensed, the identification code, or name or initials of the dispensing pharmacist for each refill and the total number of refills dispensed to date for that prescription order.
(3) Documentation of the fact that the refill information entered into the computer each time a pharmacist refills an original prescription order for a Schedule III or IV controlled substance is correct must be provided by the individual pharmacist who makes use of such a system. If such a system provides a hard-copy printout of each day's controlled substance prescription order refill data, that printout shall be verified, dated, and signed by the individual pharmacist who refilled such a prescription order. The individual pharmacist must verify that the data indicated is correct and then sign this document in the same manner as he would sign a check or legal document (e.g., J. H. Smith, or John H. Smith). This document shall be maintained in a separate file at that pharmacy for a period of two years from the dispensing date. This printout of the day's controlled substance prescription order refill data must be provided to each pharmacy using such a computerized system within 72 hours of the date on which the refill was dispensed. It must be verified and signed by each pharmacist who is involved with such dispensing. In lieu of such a printout, the pharmacy shall maintain a bound log book, or separate file, in which each individual pharmacist involved in such dispensing shall sign a statement (in the manner previously described) each day, attesting to the fact that the refill information entered into the computer that day has been reviewed by him and is correct as shown. Such a book or file must be maintained at the pharmacy employing such a system for a period of two years after the date of dispensing the appropriately authorized refill.
(4) Any such computerized system shall have the capability of producing a printout of any refill data which the user pharmacy is responsible for maintaining under the Act and its implementing regulations. For example, this would include a refill-by-refill audit trail for any specified strength and dosage form of any controlled substance (by either brand or generic name or both). Such a printout must include name of the prescribing practitioner, name and address of the patient, quantity dispensed on each refill, date of dispensing for each refill, name or identification code of the dispensing pharmacist, and the number of the original prescription order. In any computerized system employed by a user pharmacy the central recordkeeping location must be capable of sending the printout to the pharmacy within 48 hours, and if a DEA Special Agent or Diversion Investigator requests a copy of such printout from the user pharmacy, it must, if requested to do so by the Agent or Investigator, verify the printout transmittal capability of its system by documentation (e.g., postmark).
(5) In the event that a pharmacy which employs such a computerized system experiences system down-time, the pharmacy must have an auxiliary procedure which will be used for documentation of refills os Schedule III and IV controlled substance prescription orders. This auxiliary procedure must insure that refills are authorized by the original prescription order, that the maximum number of refills has not been exceeded, and that all of the appropriate data is retained for on-line data entry as soon as the computer system is available for use again.
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Billyl
Board Addict
Reged: 06/14/02
Posts: 389
Loc: NorthEast
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No way that schedule 2 prescription could be legally dispensed. The pharmacist could lose his dispensing privilages. Take care. Billylll
Section 1306.13 Partial filling of prescriptions.
(a) The partial filling of a prescription for a controlled substance 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 he 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.
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Sweetz
Diamond Mind

Reged: 05/11/02
Posts: 764
Loc: Texas!
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So that's why every month they check to see if they have the med in stock before they ever accept the script for Adderall.... I always wondered why they did it on that script but none others. Thanks!
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"If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice."
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Trampy
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/02/02
Posts: 1222
Loc: Southwest U.S.
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Billy didn't mention that quite a few states allow for C-II scrips for future fills to be written with the notation "Do Not Fill Before ....." It'd be state law so check with the pharmacy by phone. This a slightly grey area because federal law says C-II scrips expire 7 days after they are written, but the DEA has no problem if the state allows the "Do Not Fill Before ...."
You might have to bring those future-fill scrips in to a pharmacy before they expire. Call first. A pharmacist can hold and refuse to fill a scrip that they deem illegal.
Any doctor who writes (or a pharmacist who knowingly fills) a post-dated scrip for a controlled substance is violating the federal Controlled Substances Act and they can face criminal charges as well as losing their license. If a patient accepts and then fills a post-dated scrip, the patient could be charged with illegal possession.
Trampy
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Your mileage may vary ...
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