Question

If a prescribing practitioner forgets to write ACUTE PAIN EXCEPTION or NONACUTE PAIN on an rx for a CII may the pharmacy confirm with the prescriber and annotate the rx?

Answer 1

Pharmacies must confirm with the prescribing practitioner and annotate the prescription if 'ACUTE PAIN EXCEPTION' or 'NONACUTE PAIN' is omitted on a CII prescription to ensure proper regulation and patient safety.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a prescribing practitioner inadvertently omits to specify either ACUTE PAIN EXCEPTION or NONACUTE PAIN on a prescription for a Schedule II controlled substance (CII), it is crucial for the accuracy and legality of the prescription that the pharmacy communicates with the prescriber for clarification. Once contacted, with confirmation from the prescriber, the pharmacy is then able to annotate the prescription with the appropriate designation. This action supports the safe dispensing of powerful opioids and aligns with regulatory efforts to mitigate the opioid crisis that escalated in part due to insufficiently controlled prescription practices.

The opioid crisis has been driven by a combination of aggressive marketing of opioids as non-addictive during the 1990s and the high potential for dependence, even when these medications are taken as prescribed. Understanding the importance of correctly labeling prescriptions is part of a broader clinical focus to ensure patient safety and proper use of medication.