Prescription writing

Question 1

Who can prescribe medications?

Answer 1

Licensed providers or some appropriately trained ancillary providers in some states can authorize prescriptions:

• WI: certification as an APNP required
• MN: certification as a CNP

Question 2

Who can regulate prescriptions?

Answer 2

Federal government
State government
Local government

Question 3

What is considered a schedule 1 substance?

Answer 3

Heroin, LSD, marijuana (cannabis), MDMA

• high potential for abuse
• lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision
• no currently accepted medical use in the US by the federal government.

Question 4

Scheduled 2 substances:

Answer 4

• high potential for abuse
• currently accepted medical use
• abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence
• No refills and limited quantities

Examples:
NARCOTICS (morphine, cordoned, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone)
STIMULANTS: (Ritalin, adderall)

Question 5

Schedule 3 substances:

Answer 5

-stimulants and depressants with abuse potential less than scheduled 1or 2 controlled substances

• currently accepted medical use
• include mixtures of limited specified quantities of codeine with no controlled substances

Examples: Tylenol with codeine, ketamine, anabolic steroids, testosterone, buprenorphine(suboxone=combination of buprenorphine and naloxone which is added to decrease its potential for misuse).

Question 6

Schedule 4 controlled substances:

Answer 6

-low potential for abuse or dependence relative to schedule 3 substances

Examples: Xanax, soma, Darvon, darvocet, Valium, Ativan, tale in, ambien, Tramadol

Question 7

Schedule 5 controlled substances:

Answer 7

• decreasing potential for abuse than schedule 4 substances
• consists on preparations containing limited quantities of certain narcotic and stimulant drugs
• generally used for anti diarrheal, a Titus dive, and analgesic purposes

Examples: antitussive cough medicines with codeine (robitussin AC), lomotil, lyrica

Question 8

Components needed to write a prescription:

Answer 8

1. Know your rights: Right medication, Right dosage, Right time, Right indication, Right patient
2. Office name, address, and phone number.
3. Date
4. Prescriber name, DEA, NPI
5. Drug information (name, strength of dose, quantity for dispense)
6. Directions (dose schedule, route, duration of treatment, reason for the medication)
7. Ability to substitute (if not allowed)
8. Number of refills

Always document that you went over the risks and benefits of the medication, and inform the patient to call if experiencing any ill effects from the medication.

Address cross-sensitivities, contraindications, drug interactions, is it affordable?, is it part of the patient’s formulary?, is there potential for abuse?, can the patient read?