Final answer:
A faxed prescription can serve as the hardcopy for a Schedule II narcotic when the drug is compounded for injectable solutions that are directly administered to a patient, under specific federal exceptions. This waiver of a written prescription prior to dispensing is tightly regulated and varies by state.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of whether a faxed prescription can serve as the hardcopy for a Schedule II (CII) controlled substance for a injectable solution to be directly administered to a patient is subject to specific legal and regulatory requirements. Generally, for CII substances, a written prescription must be presented to the pharmacist. However, there are certain exceptions under the federal Controlled Substances Act and DEA regulations that allow a faxed prescription to serve as the original written prescription for a Schedule II substance under certain circumstances.
One such exception includes when a Schedule II narcotic is to be compounded for the direct administration to a patient by parenteral, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, or intraspinal infusion. This provision allows a fax of the prescription to act as the hardcopy and waives the requirement for the physical presence of a written prescription prior to dispensing. It is essential that all federal and state regulations are strictly followed, and the provisions can be different depending on the laws of the state in which the prescription is being dispensed.