Drug Schedule requirements

Question 1

What are the requirements for the sale of a schedule 3 substance? To which substances does this not apply?

Answer 1

Substance must be personally handed to the customer by the pharmacist or pharmacy intern, and the customer must be provided with the opportunity to seek advice about the medicine (usage, dosage and safety).
Does not apply to customers purchasing salbutamol with a current asthma card, or a certified first aider purchasing adrenaline.
The s3 substance must be labelled with the pharmacy name and address

Question 2

What are the minimum particulars to be included on a prescription for a schedule 4 substance?
What are the additional requirements for a PBS prescription?

Answer 2

*Date of issue
* patient name and address (not PO box)
* name strength and quantity of medication
* number of repeats if any
* adequate directions for use
* prescriber signature
Name of prescriber, address at which Rx was written and telephone number and prescriber number
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PBS Rx:
* maximum of 3 items per prescription form
*Authority items should be on separate forms
*must include prescriber number
* PBS prescriber must not write narcotic Rx for themselves
* forward or backdating is not permitted

Question 3

When can’t a schedule 4 prescription be dispensed?

Answer 3

• does not meet the minimum legal requirements
• it has expired
• marked “cancelled” or all repeats have been dispensed
• if the repeat interval has not passed
• it is illegible or defaced
• appears altered other than by the prescriber
• appears forged or illegally obtained

Question 4

What are the conditions for continued dispensing, and to which medications does this apply?

Answer 4

Continued dispensing applies to oral contraceptive pills and statins (may supply the standard PBS quantity)

• patient must be in immediate need of the medication for continuation of treatment
• no other supply of this kind has been made in the previous 12 months.
• it is not practicable to get a prescription
• the patients therapy is stable
• the patient has been taking the substance regularly for an uninterrupted period, and the prescriber has determined the patient has a clinical need for the substance
• last supply of the substance was from a valid prescription
• the pharmacist records the information that he/she used to support his/her decision to supply the substance, and sends that information and details of the supply to the most recent prescriber.

Question 5

What are the rules for emergency 3 day supply of a schedule 4 substance?

Answer 5

• must be an immediate need for the supply of the substance
• must have been previously supplied for the patient
• impracticable to obtain a prescription for the substance
• for pre packaged liquids, aerosols, creams or ointments, the smallest sized package may be supplied
  must be recorded and labelled as emergency supply

Question 6

What are the requirements for the supply of schedule 4 B substances and their prescriptions?

Answer 6

• valid for 6 months
• repeat interval must be stated
• Rx to be retained by the pharmacy
• Rx must be stored away from other prescriptions (non-S4Bs)

Question 7

What are the requirements for a schedule 8 prescription?

Answer 7

• must be on their own prescription form
• date of issue and name and address of patient
• name and strength of drug
• quantity in words and figures
• repeat intervals
• Rx valid for 6 months
• repeats to be retained by the pharmacy
• pharmacist must be familiar with prescribers hand writing or know the person for whom it is prescribed, or the prescription has been verified with the prescriber
• if pharmacist not satisfied as to the authenticity of the prescription then 2 days verification supply can be given until the Rx can be verified with the prescriber