Final answer:
Only pharmacists or pharmacy interns under the supervision of a pharmacist can transfer prescriptions for controlled substances in schedules II, III, or IV. Schedule II substances can be transferred once, while Schedules III and IV substances can be transferred once or more if pharmacies share a real-time database.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the United States, the transfer of a prescription for controlled substances in schedules II, III, or IV is regulated by the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and is typically limited to pharmacists. Only pharmacists or pharmacy interns acting under the supervision of a pharmacist are allowed to transfer these prescriptions. The transfer rules differ depending on the schedule of the substance. For example, Schedule II controlled substances generally cannot be refilled and thus cannot be transferred for refill purposes. However, a one-time transfer of the original prescription information is permitted for the purpose of filling the prescription at another pharmacy. On the other hand, substances in Schedules III and IV can be transferred for refill purposes but are limited to a one-time transfer only, unless pharmacies share a real-time, online database, which then allows for additional transfers. Substances such as oxycodone, Vicodin, methadone, and morphine are some examples of controlled substances that may be transferred under these rules, always considering the specific restrictions of their respective schedules.