Final answer:
A physician can generally request refills for Fiorinal, which is a Schedule III controlled substance, but they must adhere to federal and state laws which allow no more than five refills within a six-month period from the prescription date.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to whether a physician can request refills for a controlled substance, Fiorinal. The ability to refill a prescription for controlled substances, such as Fiorinal, which contains a combination of aspirin, butalbital, and caffeine, is subject to regulation by both federal and state laws. Fiorinal is classified as a Schedule III controlled substance because it contains butalbital, which has a potential for abuse and could lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
Under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), refills for Schedule III substances can be authorized by a physician. However, there are restrictions; the prescription cannot be refilled more than five times within a six-month period after the date on which the prescription was written. After this, a new prescription is required. Furthermore, some state regulations may be more stringent than federal laws, so the physician must comply with both. Therefore, while the answer is generally yes, the physician can request a limited number of refills for Fiorinal, they must ensure that they are adhering to the appropriate federal and state laws.